Description
Succulent lemon butter sautéed cod delights seafood enthusiasts with its elegant simplicity. Delicate fish fillets create a Mediterranean-inspired dish perfect for quick weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cod fillets (6 oz/170 g each)
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 4 tbsps (½ cup/120 ml) unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh parsley
- Juice of 1 lemon
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Extra lemon slices for serving
Instructions
- Preparation: Thoroughly dry cod fillets with paper towels, ensuring pristine surface. Season generously with salt and pepper to enhance natural flavors.
- Searing: Heat non-stick skillet over medium-high flame, adding olive oil until surface gleams. Carefully place cod fillets, allowing golden crust to develop for approximately 4 minutes.
- Flavor Infusion: Flip fillets with precision, reducing heat to medium. Introduce butter and minced garlic, creating an aromatic environment. Continuously baste fish with melted butter-garlic mixture, allowing rich flavors to penetrate deeply.
- Doneness Check: Monitor cod’s texture, watching for effortless flaking when gently tested with fork. This culinary transformation typically occurs within 3-4 minutes of second-side cooking.
- Citrus Finale: Elevate dish with fresh lemon juice and vibrant zest. Scatter chopped parsley across fillets and arrange lemon slices alongside. Serve immediately with steamed green vegetables or crisp garden salad, creating a harmonious and elegant meal.
Notes
- Dry Fish Thoroughly: Remove all surface moisture to ensure a perfectly crisp, golden exterior when searing.
- Watch Heat Carefully: Medium-high heat creates the ideal caramelization without burning the delicate cod.
- Master Basting Technique: Continuously spooning melted butter and garlic over the fish infuses maximum flavor and keeps the fish moist.
- Check Doneness Precisely: Cod is ready when it flakes easily with a fork, typically 3-4 minutes per side – avoid overcooking to prevent dryness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg