Description
Lemon Butter Baked Cod delivers a delightful seafood experience straight from your kitchen. Tender fish fillets get dressed with zesty citrus and rich butter, creating a simple yet satisfying dinner your family will adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 cod fillets (about 150 g/5.3 oz each)
Primary Seasonings and Fats:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Supporting Flavor Enhancers:
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon honey
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano or thyme
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Garnish:
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon slices
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to precisely 200°C (400°F). Carefully line a rectangular baking dish with parchment paper or brush your dish with 1 tbsp olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Take each 150g cod fillet and thoroughly pat dry using paper towels. Eliminate all surface moisture for better seasoning adherence.
- Drizzle ½ tbsp olive oil across each fillet. Sprinkle ¼ tsp salt, 1/8 tsp black pepper, and 1/8 tsp paprika directly onto the fish surfaces.
- Melt 3 tbsp unsalted butter in a small ceramic bowl. Whisk in 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, 2 minced garlic cloves, 1 tsp honey, ½ tsp dried oregano, and ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes until completely combined.
- Arrange seasoned cod fillets in the prepared baking dish. Pour entire lemon butter mixture evenly over each fillet, ensuring complete coverage.
- Slide baking dish into the preheated oven. Bake exactly 12-15 minutes, watching carefully until fish flakes effortlessly with a fork.
- Remove dish from oven. Scatter 2 tbsp freshly chopped parsley across the fish. Garnish with 2-3 thin lemon slice rounds for extra brightness.
Notes
- Pat the cod fillets completely dry before seasoning to ensure a crisp exterior and prevent steaming.
- Choose fresh cod with firm, white flesh and no strong fishy smell for the best flavor and texture.
- Adjust baking time based on fillet thickness, checking for opaque, flaky fish that separates easily with a fork.
- For a low-carb or keto version, replace honey with a sugar-free sweetener like stevia or monk fruit.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg