Description
Zesty pan-fried cod dances with bright citrus and aromatic basil, creating a Mediterranean-inspired masterpiece. Delicate fish mingles with tangy butter sauce, inviting palates to savor ocean-fresh flavors that transport diners to coastal shores.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 2 (8 ounces/226 grams) white cod filets
Citrus Ingredients:
- 2 oranges
- 1 lemon
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
Cooking and Seasoning Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) olive oil
- Salt
- Black pepper
- Fresh basil
Instructions
- Carefully arrange cod filets in a shallow dish, ensuring they lay flat without overlapping.
- Grate citrus peels directly over the fish, releasing aromatic oils and zest from orange and lemon.
- Drench filets with freshly squeezed citrus juices, allowing liquid to coat every surface of the seafood.
- Generously drizzle olive oil across the fish, creating a flavorful marinade bath. Cover and refrigerate for minimum one hour to enhance flavor absorption.
- Warm a heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat, preparing for precise cooking.
- Gently remove filets from marinade, letting excess liquid drip away. Pat fish dry with paper towels to ensure crisp searing.
- Season cod with delicate sprinkles of salt and freshly cracked pepper on both sides.
- Slide filets into hot pan, listening for that satisfying sizzle indicating perfect temperature.
- Cook fish approximately 3-4 minutes per side until edges turn golden and center becomes translucent.
- Transfer skillet to preheated oven to maintain warmth and tenderness.
- In a separate saucepan, melt butter until it becomes frothy and golden.
- Pour reserved marinade into butter, stirring continuously to create a rich base.
- Squeeze additional orange juice into the mixture, allowing liquid to bubble and reduce.
- Whisk sauce vigorously, watching it transform and thicken into a glossy consistency.
- Tear fresh basil leaves, releasing their intense herbal fragrance directly into the sauce.
- Swirl final pat of butter into sauce, creating a silky, lustrous finish.
- Retrieve cod from oven and lavish with warm, aromatic sauce.
- Garnish with delicate basil leaves and serve immediately to capture peak flavor and temperature.
Notes
- Unleash a citrusy symphony by letting cod bathe in zesty orange and lemon marinade for deep flavor infusion.
- Carefully shake off excess liquid to ensure crispy golden edges when pan-frying the delicate fish.
- Transform simple ingredients into a restaurant-worthy dish by whisking marinade with butter until luxuriously thick and glossy.
- Prep Time: 1 hour
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 32 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg