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+ servings
Overhead view of garlic butter cod filets in a silver skillet with garlic butter sauce and lemon coins.

Garlic Butter Cod

Tender, flaky white fish draped in a rich garlic-butter sauce for a crowd-pleasing entrée that goes well with almost anything.
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 25 minutes
Yield:4 servings

Equipment

  • Cutting board
  • Small bowl
  • mixing spoon
  • Large skillet
  • Paper towels
  • thin metal spatula fish spatula preferred
  • Plate

Ingredients

For the Garlic Butter Sauce

  • ½ cup butter softened
  • ½ tablespoon minced garlic
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 pinch salt more or less to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley optional

For the Cod

  • 4 6-ounce cod fillets approximately 1-inch thick
  • salt to taste
  • 1 tablespoon neutral oil avocado, olive, vegetable, etc.
  • ½ cup white wine see Notes
  • lime wedges optional, for serving

Instructions

  • Place cod fillets on cutting board. Sprinkle salt liberally over both sides of fillets, then set aside.
  • Add all ingredients for garlic butter to small bowl. Mix well until ingredients are thoroughly combined, then set aside.
  • Heat large skillet over medium-high heat for approximately 2 minutes. While skillet warms, pat cod fillets completely dry with paper towels.
  • When skillet is hot, add neutral oil and swirl pan to spread oil around. Heat oil over medium-high heat just until wisps of smoke begin to rise.
  • Immediately place cod fillets in skillet, spaced apart and skin-side down (or side of fillets where skin used to be). Lower heat to medium and cook fillets undisturbed for 4 minutes or until bottoms of fillets begin to caramelize.
  • When fish is ready, carefully try to lift fillets from skillet with thin metal spatula. Fillets should lift easily, or only stick in 1 or 2 spots. If fish does not, continue cooking until fillets release easily, then transfer fillets to plate and set aside.
  • Pour white wine into skillet and scrape up any browned bits stuck to bottom of skillet with spatula. Bring wine to boil, then reduce heat to medium-low and simmer until liquid is reduced by 50%.
  • Add garlic butter to reduced wine and gently stir until butter is completely melted. Return fillets to skillet with browned-sides up. Tilt skillet and spoon garlic butter sauce over cod fillets until fillets turn opaque and can be easily flaked with fork. Add salt to taste.
  • Transfer fish to serving plates, seared-side up. Squeeze lemon wedge over fillets if desired, and serve immediately with additional lemon wedges and desired sides.

Notes

  • White Wine: Chicken stock, vegetable stock, or seafood stock can be used instead.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1garlic butter cod fillet | Calories: 402kcal | Protein: 31g | Fat: 28g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 134mg | Sodium: 287mg | Potassium: 745mg | Total Carbs: 1g | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 0.3g | Net Carbs: 1g | Vitamin A: 861IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 40mg | Iron: 1mg
Recipe By:Cheryl Malik