Description
Succulent cod fillets bathed in rich garlic butter create a Mediterranean-inspired seafood delight. Quick and elegant, these fillets deliver restaurant-quality flavor right from your kitchen, promising a delectable meal you’ll savor with every delicate, herb-infused bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 4 cod fillets, about 6 ounces (170 grams) each and 1 inch thick
Herbs and Seasonings:
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Fresh chopped parsley, for garnish
Cooking Components:
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
- 4 tablespoons (60 grams) butter, cut into half-inch pieces
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) lemon juice, for serving
Instructions
- Thoroughly blot cod fillets with paper towels to remove excess moisture, then generously season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Select a large skillet and warm olive oil over medium-high heat, allowing the pan to become evenly heated.
- Reduce cooking temperature to medium and gently place cod fillets in the skillet, positioning them with the skinned side facing downward.
- Apply light pressure using a spatula across each fillet for several seconds, ensuring maximum contact with the heated surface.
- Allow fillets to cook undisturbed until the bottom develops a rich golden-brown color, approximately 4 minutes.
- Delicately turn the cod fillets to prevent potential fragmentation, then introduce butter pieces into the pan.
- Continue cooking for an additional 3-4 minutes, continuously spooning the browning butter over the fish to enhance flavor and moisture.
- Monitor the fish’s internal temperature, aiming for 145°F (62°C) to ensure proper doneness.
- Transfer the cooked cod to a serving plate, keeping it warm.
- Return the skillet to the heat and add minced garlic, sautéing briefly until the aroma becomes pronounced.
- Incorporate freshly chopped parsley and a splash of lemon juice into the remaining butter, creating a vibrant pan sauce.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt if required.
- Generously drizzle the aromatic garlic butter sauce over the cod fillets before serving.
Notes
- Choose fresh, high-quality cod fillets with firm, translucent flesh for the best texture and flavor.
- Pat fish completely dry before seasoning to achieve a golden-brown, crispy exterior when pan-searing.
- Use medium-high heat initially, then reduce to medium to prevent burning while creating a perfect golden crust.
- Avoid moving fillets during initial cooking to develop a beautiful caramelized surface and prevent breaking delicate fish.
- Check internal temperature with a meat thermometer to ensure cod is perfectly cooked at 145°F without overcooking.
- Baste fillets with garlic butter during final cooking stages to infuse rich, aromatic flavors into the delicate fish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 500mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 90mg