There are several popular and delicious ways to cook cod, including baking and pan-frying. Here are some well-regarded methods: Baked Cod with Lemon and Garlic:
- Coat cod fillets in a seasoned flour mixture after dipping in a lemon sauce made of lemon juice, olive oil, and melted butter.
- Sear the fillets briefly in olive oil to add color, then pour minced garlic added to the lemon sauce over the fillets.
- Bake in a 400°F (205°C) oven for about 10 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
Pan-Fried Garlic Butter Cod:
- Bring cod to room temperature, pat dry, and season with salt and pepper.
- Pan-fry in hot oil skin side down for 3-4 minutes until a golden crust forms, then flip and cook another 3 minutes.
- Remove fish and in the same pan melt butter, cook garlic briefly, add parsley, then baste fish with the garlic butter.
- Finish with lemon juice and serve immediately.
Simple Oven-Baked Cod (Moist and Juicy):
- Place cod in a baking dish, drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, season with salt and cayenne pepper.
- Bake at 400°F (205°C) for 10-12 minutes depending on thickness.
- Garnish with parsley and serve.
Pan-Fried Cod with Lemon Butter and Herbs:
- Dry and season fillets, then cook in hot oiled skillet undisturbed for 2-3 minutes per side until golden.
- Add butter and baste fish, cook until flaky.
- Finish with lemon juice and chopped fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, dill, or thyme.
Overall, cod should be cooked until it turns opaque white and flakes easily with a fork. Overcooking can make it dry, so watching the time and temperature is important. These methods provide flavorful, tender results whether baked or pan-fried.
