Description
A simple and elegant baked cod recipe featuring a flavorful lemon-garlic butter sauce that enhances the mild, flaky fish. Perfect for a quick and healthy dinner that comes together in just 20 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish
- 4 cod fillets, freshly thawed and patted dry
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
Butter Sauce
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter or European-style cultured butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 cloves garlic, grated
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) to prepare for baking the cod fillets.
- Dry Fish: Pat the cod fillets dry thoroughly with paper towels to remove excess moisture, which helps achieve better texture and flavor absorption.
- Season Fish: Season both sides of each cod fillet generously with salt and pepper according to your taste.
- Prepare Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, grated garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil until the mixture is well combined and fragrant.
- Arrange Cod: Place the seasoned cod fillets in a single layer in a baking dish, ensuring they are evenly spaced for uniform cooking.
- Coat with Sauce: Pour half of the lemon-garlic butter sauce over the cod fillets, coating each piece evenly to infuse flavor during baking.
- Bake: Bake the cod in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily when tested with a fork, indicating doneness.
- Baste Midway: At the halfway mark of baking, baste the cod with the remaining butter sauce to keep the fillets moist and flavorful.
- Rest and Serve: Once baked, remove the cod from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes to allow juices to redistribute before serving.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh cod or properly thawed frozen fillets.
- European-style cultured butter adds a richer flavor but any unsalted butter works well.
- Be careful not to overbake the fish to avoid dryness; check for flakiness early.
- Serve with steamed vegetables or a light salad for a well-rounded meal.
- Leftover butter sauce can be drizzled over rice or roasted potatoes.
