Description
This Pan Fried Garlic Butter Cod is a quick and easy dish featuring tender, flaky cod fillets cooked to perfection in a savory garlic butter sauce with hints of lemon and white wine. Ready in less than 20 minutes, it makes for a delicious and elegant meal any day of the week.
Ingredients
Fish
- 4 cod fillets, 3-4 ounces each
Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Cooking
- 1 tablespoon olive oil or avocado oil
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the cod: Pat the cod fillets dry with a paper towel to remove excess moisture and set aside to ensure even cooking and prevent splattering.
- Season the fish: In a small bowl, combine Italian seasoning, garlic powder, paprika, crushed red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over both sides of each cod fillet.
- Heat the skillet: Preheat a large skillet over medium heat. Add the olive or avocado oil and tilt the pan to fully coat the bottom, preventing the fish from sticking.
- Cook the first side: Place the seasoned cod fillets in the skillet and cook for about 3 minutes until the underside turns golden brown and crispy.
- Flip and cook second side: Carefully flip the fillets to the other side. While it cooks, add butter, lemon juice, and dry white wine to the skillet.
- Baste and finish cooking: As the butter melts and the wine reduces, continually spoon the sauce over the fish. Cook for another 3 minutes or until the internal temperature reaches 145°F, ensuring the cod is cooked through but still tender.
- Reduce sauce if needed: Remove the pan from heat and transfer the cod to plates, leaving the sauce in the skillet. If the sauce hasn’t thickened, return the pan to heat and allow it to reduce for an additional minute.
- Add garlic: Stir the minced garlic into the sauce in the pan and mix well to infuse garlic flavor without burning it.
- Serve: Spoon the garlic butter sauce generously over the cod fillets. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately for best flavor and texture.
Notes
- Patting the cod dry is essential to achieving a crispy crust when pan-frying.
- You can substitute the dry white wine with chicken broth or water if preferred.
- For a spicier kick, increase the crushed red pepper flakes slightly.
- Use a non-stick or well-seasoned skillet to prevent the fish from sticking.
- Check the internal temperature with a meat thermometer to avoid overcooking the fish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
