Description
A quick and easy pan-seared cod recipe featuring a crispy golden crust and a bright, buttery lemon sauce, perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
- Cod fillets (about 6 oz / 170 g each, skinless and boneless)
- Unsalted butter (3 tbsp / 45 g, divided)
- Fresh lemons (1 large, juiced + zest of half)
- All-purpose flour (1/4 cup / 30 g)
- Garlic cloves (2, minced)
- Fresh parsley (2 tbsp, finely chopped, optional)
- Salt (to taste)
- Black pepper (freshly ground, to taste)
- Olive oil (1 tbsp)
Instructions
- Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. (5 minutes)
- Lightly coat the cod in all-purpose flour, shaking off excess. Set aside on a plate. (2 minutes)
- Place a skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter. Let the butter melt and foam but not brown. (3 minutes)
- Carefully place the fillets in the pan, leaving space between them. Cook undisturbed for about 3-4 minutes until a golden crust forms along the edges. Flip gently with a fish spatula. (3-4 minutes)
- Lower heat to medium-low. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter, minced garlic, lemon zest, and juice to the pan. Spoon the sauce over the fish as it finishes cooking—about 2-3 minutes more—until the fish flakes easily with a fork. (5 minutes)
- Remove the fish from heat. Sprinkle with fresh parsley for color and freshness. Let rest for a minute in the pan off the heat to soak up the sauce. (2 minutes)
Notes
Pat the cod dry thoroughly to ensure a crispy crust. Avoid overcrowding the pan to prevent steaming. Add most butter after flipping to avoid burning. Use fresh lemon juice and zest for best flavor. For gluten-free, substitute flour with almond or rice flour. For dairy-free, replace butter with vegan margarine or olive oil.
- Prep Time: 7 minutes
- Cook Time: 13 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cod fillet (6 oz)
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 1
- Sodium: 300
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 13
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 25
Keywords: cod recipe, lemon butter cod, crispy fish, easy weeknight dinner, pan-seared cod, lemon butter sauce, quick fish recipe