🐟 Pan-Fried Cod with Lemon Butter Sauce
🛒 Ingredients
For the cod:
-
4 cod fillets (about 5–6 oz each)
-
Salt and pepper, to taste
-
½ cup all-purpose flour (for dredging)
-
2–3 tbsp olive oil or butter (for frying)
For the lemon butter sauce:
-
3 tbsp unsalted butter
-
2 cloves garlic, minced
-
Juice of 1 lemon (about 2–3 tbsp)
-
1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
-
2 tbsp chopped parsley or chives (optional)
-
Salt and pepper, to taste
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Prep the cod:
-
Pat cod fillets dry with paper towels.
-
Season both sides with salt and pepper.
-
Lightly dredge in flour, shaking off any excess.
2. Pan-fry the cod:
-
Heat oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
-
Add cod and cook for 3–4 minutes per side, until golden brown and opaque throughout.
-
Remove cod from pan and keep warm.
3. Make the lemon butter sauce:
-
In the same pan, reduce heat to medium.
-
Add butter and garlic. Cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant (don’t let garlic burn).
-
Stir in lemon juice and zest. Season to taste.
-
Optional: Add a tablespoon of water or white wine if the sauce is too thick.
4. Serve:
-
Spoon lemon butter sauce over cod fillets.
-
Garnish with parsley or chives and lemon slices, if desired.
✅ Tips
-
Cod is delicate — flip gently using a fish spatula.
-
Use skinless fillets or remove skin before cooking for easier pan-frying.
-
Serve with steamed veggies, mashed potatoes, or rice pilaf.
Would you like a gluten-free or dairy-free version, or a creamy lemon caper twist?