Description
This Baked Cod Recipe with Lemon and Garlic offers a flavorful twist on classic baked fish, featuring a zesty lemon sauce, aromatic garlic, and a spiced flour coating. The cod is first seared in a skillet for a golden crust before being finished in the oven, ensuring a tender, flaky texture with vibrant, savory notes. Perfect for a healthy and elegant Greek-inspired meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Fish and Herbs
- 1.5 lb Cod fillet pieces (4-6 pieces)
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
Lemon Sauce
- 5 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp melted butter
- 5 garlic cloves, minced
For Coating
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 3/4 tsp sweet Spanish paprika
- 3/4 tsp ground cumin
- 3/4 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit to ensure it’s ready for baking the cod after searing.
- Prepare Lemon Sauce: In a shallow bowl, combine fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, and melted butter, but hold off adding the garlic until later. Set this lemon sauce aside.
- Mix Coating: In another shallow bowl, mix together all-purpose flour, ground coriander, sweet Spanish paprika, ground cumin, salt, and black pepper. This mix will coat the fish, adding flavor and texture.
- Coat the Fish: Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels to remove moisture. Dip each piece first into the lemon sauce, then dredge them in the seasoned flour mixture, shaking off any excess flour. Reserve the lemon sauce for basting.
- Sear the Cod: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a cast iron skillet or any oven-safe pan over medium-high heat. Once the oil shimmers (but does not smoke), add the fish pieces. Sear each side for about 2 minutes to develop color and texture, but do not cook the fish through. Remove the skillet from heat.
- Add Garlic and Lemon Sauce: To the reserved lemon sauce, stir in the minced garlic cloves. Drizzle this garlicky lemon sauce evenly over the seared fish fillets in the skillet.
- Bake the Fish: Place the skillet in the preheated oven and bake the cod fillets until the fish flakes easily with a fork, about 10 minutes. Begin checking at 8 minutes to avoid overcooking.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove the skillet from the oven. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the fish, then serve immediately with your choice of sides for a delicious, Mediterranean-inspired meal.
Notes
- Serving suggestions: Serve immediately with Lebanese rice and Mediterranean chickpea salad or a traditional Greek salad for a complete meal.
- Cook’s Tip: Use a fish spatula when turning the fish in the skillet to prevent it from breaking apart. The added searing step improves color and texture.
- Leftover Storage: Allow leftover fish to cool before placing in a shallow glass container with a tight lid. Refrigerate for 2-3 days or freeze for up to one month. Freezing fish may alter its texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet (approx. 6 oz)
- Calories: 280
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3.5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9.5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 7 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
