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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

mylifeinbalancegroup.com/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
Recipe Makes (Approximate): 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)
  • lemon 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.

Recipe Notes

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

Nutrition Information (Approximate)

Serving Size: 1garlic butter cod filletCalories: 402calProtein: 31gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 15gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 134mgSodium: 287mgPotassium: 745mgTotal Carbs: 1gFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.3gNet Carbs: 1gVitamin A: 861IUVitamin C: 3mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1mg
Recipe By: Cheryl Malik
https://mylifeinbalancegroup.com/garlic-butter-cod/