Description
Lemon Dill Cod becomes your go-to weeknight dinner solution that’s both elegant and simple to prepare. Perfectly flaky fish gets dressed up with a tangy sauce that makes your meal feel special without any complicated cooking techniques.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 cod fillets
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ⅓ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
Seasonings and Spices:
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 small garlic clove
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Crank your oven to 400°F and grab a baking sheet. Line it with parchment paper or give it a quick spray of cooking oil.
- Take your cod fillets and gently pat them completely dry using paper towels. This helps get a nice crisp exterior.
- Brush each 6-oz fillet with ½ tablespoon olive oil, covering both sides thoroughly.
- Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon salt, ⅛ teaspoon black pepper, ¼ teaspoon garlic powder, and a pinch of paprika across your fillets. Press the seasonings gently into the fish.
- Arrange the seasoned fillets on your prepared baking sheet, ensuring they aren’t touching each other for even cooking.
- Slide the baking sheet into the 400°F oven and bake for exactly 12-15 minutes. Your fish should flake easily and reach an internal temperature of 145°F.
- While the cod bakes, whisk ⅓ cup Greek yogurt with 2 tablespoons mayonnaise in a small bowl.
- Add 1 tablespoon fresh dill, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard, and 1 minced garlic clove to your sauce. Stir until combined.
- Season your sauce with a pinch of salt and pepper. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Once the cod reaches 145°F, remove from the oven and let rest for 1 minute.
- Transfer fillets to serving plates and generously drizzle with lemon-dill sauce.
- Finish with fresh dill sprigs and lemon slice garnishes for a restaurant-quality presentation.
Notes
- Always pat cod fillets completely dry before seasoning to ensure a crisp exterior and prevent steaming.
- Check fish doneness by gently pressing the fillet – it should flake easily and look opaque throughout without any translucent sections.
- For a lighter version, replace mayonnaise with additional Greek yogurt and use less olive oil when brushing the fish.
- Fresh dill makes a massive difference in the sauce’s flavor compared to dried herbs, so grab fresh whenever possible.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 210 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 11 g
- Saturated Fat: 2 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg