Description
This Lemon Herb Butter Baked Cod is a light and flavorful seafood dish that combines tender cod fillets with a zesty lemon-herb butter sauce. Bursting with fresh herbs, garlic, and bright citrus notes, this easy-to-make recipe is perfect for a healthy weeknight dinner or a special occasion meal. The cod bakes to flaky perfection alongside juicy cherry tomatoes and lemon slices, creating a deliciously aromatic and satisfying plate.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 4–6 cod fillets (about 1 1/2 lbs of cod)
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 4–6 lemon slices
- 1 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper
Herb Butter Sauce
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon parsley, minced
- 1 teaspoon thyme leaves
- 1 teaspoon dill leaves, minced
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C) and grease a 9×13 inch baking dish to prevent the fish from sticking.
- Prepare Herb Butter Sauce: In a small bowl, whisk together the melted butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, paprika, thyme, dill, and parsley until all ingredients are well combined, creating a fragrant sauce.
- Season the Cod: Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Season both sides of the fillets evenly with the coarse salt and fresh ground black pepper. Brush each fillet generously with the prepared herb butter sauce.
- Arrange in Baking Dish: Place the seasoned and butter-coated cod fillets in the greased baking dish. Scatter the halved cherry tomatoes and lemon slices evenly around and on top of the fillets. Drizzle any remaining herb butter mixture over the entire dish to enhance flavor.
- Bake the Cod: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the cod becomes opaque in color and flakes easily when tested with a fork, ensuring it is cooked through but still tender.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from the oven and sprinkle with any remaining fresh herbs if desired. Serve the baked cod hot, spooning the pan sauce over the fillets for extra moisture and flavor.
Notes
- To ensure even cooking, choose cod fillets of similar thickness.
- You can substitute cod with other white fish such as haddock or halibut if preferred.
- For a spicier version, add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the butter mixture.
- If fresh herbs are unavailable, dried herbs can be used, but reduce quantity by half for potency.
- Serve with steamed vegetables, rice, or a fresh green salad to complete the meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cod fillet (approximately 6 oz)
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 580 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
Keywords: baked cod, lemon herb cod, healthy fish recipe, lemon butter fish, easy baked fish, cod fillets recipe, lemon garlic fish, low fat seafood
