A straightforward but delectable recipe for Lemon Butter Cod! Contains flaky cod fish, a straightforward seasoning, zesty lemon, and incredibly rich butter! It takes about 25 minutes to prepare and then pan-seared to get a light browning and taste increase.
Cod Cooking Methods
There are several ways to prepare cod, which makes it simple to prepare. Lemon Butter Cod Recipe can be baked, grilled, seared in a skillet, or even smoked. Pan-seared food is my fave.
Why? Time and flavor are the main factors. Cooking in about 10 minutes on the stovetop, pan searing adds more flavor than other methods (imagine golden brown perfection)!
The Best Method for Making Cod!
This fish recipe is my go-to method for cooking it. I’ve tried several things, but they never quite taste as good.
Lemon Butter Cod Recipe is a versatile fish that takes to different flavors well and has a generally mild flavor.
Here, we improve it by browning it in a hot skillet and adding a striking and well-balanced sauce at the end.
A delectable and pleasant trio of components is employed as a traditional seafood upgrade to enhance flavor. Lemon, butter, and garlic are simple but assertive ingredients.
Additionally, we don’t just use regular butter. We are adding a special ingredient, Danish Creamery European Style Butter, to make it extra delectable.
These days, I can’t get enough of this butter! It improves your favorite savory recipes as well as the best pastries, cakes, and buttered toast.
What makes it superior? decreased water content and more fat. It has 85% butterfat, which is greater than typical butter’s 80% butterfat and the majority of European butter’ 82% to 83% butterfat levels.
Additionally, it is gently churned in small batches, giving it a velvety texture, and it is wrapped in foil to protect its fantastic flavor and prevent it from absorbing any unfavorable smells from the refrigerator.
It is exceptionally creamy and buttery, just what butter ought to be. Since 1895, the recipe has been unchanged; why alter something that works so well?
You’ll understand why there’s such a fuss once you give it a try!
Overhead view of a white circular dish holding four cod fillets.
They have a sauce poured over them, and parsley serves as a garnish. On the side, a butter package and some fresh parsley are shown.
Ingredients for a Lemon Butter Cod Recipe
- Look for fillets of Lemon Butter Cod Recipe that are about an inch thick. Cooking times just need to be modified proportionately if the mixture is thinner or thicker. The ideal option is fresh, but if frozen (and thawed) is all you have, that works just as well.
- Flour: This absorbs moisture, promotes browning, and aids in the sauce’s adhesion to the fish. Not much is required.
- Paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper are among the seasonings.
- European Style Butter from Danish Creamery: Either the salted or unsalted variety will work here. Add a couple of pinches of salt to the sauce if using unsalted.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is added to the butter to prevent burning at higher temperatures.
- For the finest flavor, use fresh garlic instead of packaged or powdered.
- Only fresh lemon juice should be used. The retained flavor of the bottle will be noticeable in this situation.
- A small amount of chicken stock is added to thin out the sauce.
- Used as a lovely finishing touch to add color and a hint of fresh herb flavor is parsley.
How to Prepare Cod in Lemon Butter?
- Mix flour and seasonings: In a small mixing bowl whisk together flour, paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper.
- Spread mixture over cod: Sprinkle and spread flour mixture over both sides of the cod fillets (use up all of the mixtures).
- Heat fats in skillet: Melt 1 Tbsp butter and 1 Tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Cook cod in skillet, transfer: Add cod and sear until golden brown and cooked through on each side, about 4 minutes per side (fish should flake easily with a fork when done). Transfer to serving plates.
- Melt remaining butter in a skillet: Reduce burner temperature to medium-low. Melt the remaining 4 Tbsp butter in the same skillet.
- Saute garlic: Add garlic and saute just until fragrant and just lightly deepened in color (but not browned), about 15 seconds.
- Add liquids to butter: Remove from heat and carefully pour and stir in chicken broth and lemon juice (careful it will steam!).
- Pour sauce over cod, garnish and serve: Immediately pour sauce over cod fillets. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
Lemon Butter Cod Recipe Cooking Tips That Will Help
- Make sure to fully defrost it if it is frozen before cooking. Typically, it needs to thaw in the refrigerator for one day; never defrost in the microwave as you risk ruining the texture and possibly partially cooking it.
- Use paper towels to fairly dry the fish if it is excessively damp. It needs to be just a little moist so the flour clings, but dry enough so it can brown well.
- The cod should not be overcooked because it will become tough and bouncy.
- Cod should flake readily with a fork and lose its translucent, uncooked aspect when it is finished.
- Cod can be prepared with or without skin. I like to remove the skin, but you are welcome to keep it on if you’d rather.
- Cook with the skin side down if you decide to leave it on. To keep the skin perfectly crisp, serve it skin-side up on a dish with sauce underneath.
- You can use Atlantic or Pacific cod, however, many people think the Atlantic is superior. Some subtle texture and taste variances exist.
- White fish fillet is served on a dish with sauce drizzled over it.
Different flavors of Lemon Butter Cod Recipe
- Try different blends or seasonings.
- Finish with a different herb, such as cilantro, dill, or basil.
- Cayenne pepper can be made hotter or milder by adding more or less of it.
- Chicken broth can be swapped out for vegetarian broth.
- Lime juice can be substituted for lemon juice in a hurry.
More Delicious Seafood Recipes
- Shrimp Baked
- Ceviche
- Cod tacos
- Grilled salmon with a marinade
- Salmon with a Buttery Garlic Lemon Sauce
- Thai-style salmon
Ingredients
- 4 (6 oz each) cod fillets, skinless, about 1-inch thick
- 1 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp dried oregano
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 3/4 tsp salt, or to taste
- 3/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 5 Tbsp Danish Creamery Butter, cut into 1 Tbsp pieces, and divided
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 Tbsp minced garlic
- 1 1/2 Tbsp low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 1/2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Flour, paprika, onion powder, thyme, oregano, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper should all be combined in a small mixing basin.
- The cod fillets should be dusted and evenly covered with the flour mixture (use up all of the mixture).
- Melt 1 tablespoon each of butter and olive oil in a pan over high heat.
- Add the cod, and cook it for three to four minutes per side, until it is golden brown and cooked through (fish should flake easily with a fork when done). Place on serving trays.
- Medium-low burner heat should be used. Melt the final 4 tablespoons of butter in the same skillet.
- Add the garlic and cook for approximately 15 seconds, or until it is aromatic and just beginning to darken in color (but not brown).
- Take care because it will steam as you carefully pour and whisk in the chicken stock and lemon juice.
- Pour sauce over the cod fillets right away. Serve heated and top with parsley.