Baked Cod Lemon Butter Sauce (Printable Version)
Tender, flaky cod fillets baked and drizzled with a bright, zesty lemon butter. An elegant seafood dish perfect for weeknights.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 cod fillets (approx. 5 oz each), skinless and boneless
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Salt, to taste
04 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Lemon Butter Sauce
05 - 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
06 - 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
07 - Zest of 1 lemon
08 - Juice of 1 large lemon (approx. 3 tablespoons)
09 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
10 - 1 teaspoon capers, drained (optional)
→ Garnish
11 - Lemon slices
12 - Extra chopped parsley
# How To Make It:
01 - Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a baking dish with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Pat the cod fillets dry thoroughly with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper, then drizzle each fillet with olive oil.
03 - Carefully arrange the seasoned cod fillets in the prepared baking dish, ensuring adequate spacing between each piece for even cooking.
04 - Bake the cod for 15–18 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and appears opaque throughout its center.
05 - While the cod bakes, melt the unsalted butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add the finely minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant but not browned. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice, and capers (if using). Remove the saucepan from heat and stir in the fresh parsley.
06 - Once the cod is perfectly cooked, carefully transfer the fillets to individual serving plates. Generously spoon the warm lemon butter sauce over each fillet.
07 - Garnish with fresh lemon slices and additional chopped parsley. Serve immediately for optimal flavor and texture.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You'll be amazed at how quickly you can get a gourmet-level meal on the table, perfect for those busy weeknights.
- This dish is a secret weapon for pleasing even picky eaters, with its delicate flavor and perfectly flaky texture.
02 -
- Overcooking cod is a common mistake that leads to dry, tough fish, so keep a close eye on it during the last few minutes of baking.
- Always zest your lemon before juicing; it's much easier to get all that fragrant zest off a whole lemon.
03 -
- Don't skip patting the fish dry; it ensures a better texture and allows seasonings to adhere beautifully.
- When melting butter for the sauce, keep the heat on medium and watch it closely; burnt garlic can quickly ruin the delicate flavor.