Lemon Garlic Butter Cod
A quick yet elegant dish that highlights the delicate flavors of cod with a fragrant lemon garlic butter sauce and crispy skin.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 4 pieces cod fillets (approximately 6 oz each)
- to taste Salt and pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 zest and juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, plus more for garnish
- optional lemon wedges for serving
Instructions
Preparation
- Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels, season both sides with salt and pepper, and let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
Cooking
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once shimmering, place the cod fillets in the pan, skin-side down, for 4-5 minutes until golden and crispy.
- Gently flip the fillets and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
- Remove the cod and transfer to a plate, covering loosely with foil to keep warm.
- In the same skillet, lower the heat to medium, add the butter and let it melt. Add the minced garlic, cooking for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in the lemon juice and zest along with chopped parsley, scraping any brown bits from the pan.
- Return the cod to the skillet to coat with the buttery sauce, then plate the fillets and drizzle remaining sauce on top.
- Garnish with extra parsley and serve with lemon wedges.
Notes
Ensure skin is thoroughly dried before cooking for maximum crispiness. Adjust garlic amount according to taste, and feel free to substitute cod with other white fish. This dish pairs beautifully with steamed vegetables or rice.