Meals Under 30 min- Best Lemon Butter Cod

I’ve never cooked with Cod before so why now? I shopped via Kroger online and opted for the substitute option just in case something I wanted wasn’t available. I purchased tilapia and somehow ended up with Cod. I wasn’t sure on what to do with the cod and the only thing I could think of was sandwiches. I wasn’t any in a sandwich type mood, so I snooped around the internet and come across some ideas. I looked in my fridge to see what I had and came up with the idea to make pan seared Lemon Butter Cod over Jasmin rice.

The recipe takes about 30 mins from preparation to plating, so this is a great recipe to make if you’re short on time a looking for a quick fix for the family.

About Cod

Cod is mild in flavor, flaky fish that it packed with protein and vitamin B. High in protein but low in calories, fat, and carb makes Cod a healthy option. If you are expecting, Cod is also a good option because it’s low in mercury. However, it is in lower in omega-3s than other fatty fish like salmon.

Atlantic Cod vs. Pacific Cod

Generally, when you hear people speaking about Cod they are referring to the Atlantic cod, found throughout the northern Atlantic Ocean. Lighter in color and said to be sweeter than its counterpart. Then you have the Pacific Cod which is smaller and has a milder flavor than Atlantic cod and found in abundance in Alaska.

What Cod pairs Good With

If you want to pair you Cod with some sides here are a few options

Rice
Mash potatoes
Vegetables such as asparagus, broccoli, or French green beans
Baked potatoes

How To Prepare Cod

Cod can be prepared various ways. So there isn’t really a best way to cook it. It can be baked, fried, broiled, grilled, smoked, and seared. But be mindful that if overcooked, it may cause the Cod to dry out and become tough, which no one wants. Depending on how the Cod is cooked, cooking time may vary but when the flesh turns opaque and flakes easily upon being scraped gently with a fork, you can consider it done.

I have to admit that pan frying the Cod in the lemon butter sauce was oh sooo delicious. A recipe that I plan to make again and especially when entertaining guest. It’s simple, elegant, tasteful and did I mention delicious?

I am a fan of garlic and that’s generally the first season I put on my food. And the rich butter flavor mixed with the zesty and flavorful lemon sets its off. Not to mention the floral, tangy, and saltiness that capers bring. If you’re not a fan of capers then the dish is still great without them but I think the capers just add another dynamic flavor profile to this dish.

Why Combine Butter and Olive Oil

When cooking with butter and olive oil you want to make sure not to use to much olive oil because it will overpower the butter taste. Using olive oil and butter has its advantages. One benefit is that you cut down on the amount of fat intake from the butter. Secondly, olive oil has a higher smoking point then butter does. Butter will burn faster than the olive oil and the olive oil will begin to smoke later than the butter. So ultimately what does this mean for you? When you want to create a butter sauce that’s not too thick –this is when you want to use the mix.

Lemon Butter Cod Ingredients

Cod- 1-inch thick fillets (roughly 4 to 5 pieces)
Flour- enough to coat your fish
Seasonings (Salt, Pepper, Garlic, Onion powder, and whatever else you may like).
Fresh garlic
Fresh Lemon or Lemon Juice. Fresh lemon is preferred, but avoid the seeds.
Capers
Butter (unsalted preferably)
Olive Oil

How to Make Lemon Butter Cod

Prep Time: 15 mins. Cook Time: 15 mins

Mix flour and seasonings: In a mixing bowl mix together your flour and seasoning. You want to make sure that the seasoning is well mixed well with the flour.
Decrease the water in Cod: Cod has a high-water content so I recommend to lay out your cod and use a paper towel to soak up the access water. Doing so will help keep the Cod together when cooking and doesn’t cause the oil/fat to splash on you.
Put the Cod in flour mixture: Put the Cod in the flour mixture and cover both sides. Make sure to get a nice coating, in order to get the golden flaky look.
Heat oil and butter in skillet: Melt 2 Tbsp olive oil and 2 Tbsp of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat.
Cook cod: Add cod to pan and cook on both sides roughly for about 5 mins and sear until golden brown. After cooking, place aside for flavoring.
Melt remaining butter: Reduce temperature to medium-low and add roughly 8 Tbsp butter in same skillet. If the amount of butter is too much for you, you can substitute 4 tbsp of butter with chicken broth.
Sauté the garlic: Add fresh garlic to the butter and sauté until it slightly changes color but you don’t want it burned. So, 15 seconds should do it.
Add lemon juice and capers to butter: You can turn off the stove and add your lemon juice and capers. Be careful because there will be a lot of steam. I generally count to four as I squeeze.
Pour sauce over cod, garnish and serve: Immediately pour sauce over cod fillets so it can soak up all the buttery goodness and ENJOY!

This simple cod recipe will surely be a hit at the table. Let me know how it turned out. Please feel free to follow me on Instagram @christandcreativetherapy.

For a wonderful dessert. Check out our sweet potato pie recipe by clicking here.