Description
This Baked Lemon-Garlic Cod with Butter Sauce is a simple, flavorful dish featuring tender cod fillets baked to perfection with a luscious lemon-garlic butter sauce. Ready in just 20 minutes, it’s an elegant yet easy meal ideal for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
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 get it ready for baking the cod fillets.
- Prepare Cod: Pat the cod fillets dry using paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring better seasoning adherence and cooking.
- Season Fillets: Season both sides of each cod fillet generously with salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavors.
- Make Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, grated garlic, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and extra virgin olive oil until well combined, creating a flavorful sauce.
- Arrange Fillets: Place the seasoned cod fillets in a single layer inside a baking dish to ensure even cooking.
- Coat with Sauce: Pour half of the prepared butter sauce evenly over the cod fillets, coating them thoroughly for flavor infusion.
- Bake Fish: Bake the cod in the preheated oven for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork indicating it’s fully cooked.
- Baste Fillets: Halfway through baking, remove the dish briefly to baste the cod with the remaining butter sauce, keeping the fish moist and flavorful.
- Rest and Serve: Once baked, take the cod out of the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving to allow the juices to redistribute.
Notes
- Ensure the cod fillets are fully thawed before cooking for even baking.
- Do not overbake the cod as it can become dry; watch for the fish to flake easily with a fork.
- Use fresh garlic and lemon juice for the best flavor.
- You can garnish with chopped parsley or lemon wedges for added freshness.
- European-style cultured butter adds a richer flavor but unsalted butter works perfectly well.
