Easy Lemon Cod Recipe: How to Make Lemon Cod at Home

Lemon cod is a savory preparation of pan-fried fish cooked in a lemon and garlic butter mixture. As a buttery, mild white fish similar to tilapia, cod is a flexible ingredient that adapts well to various flavors. Home cooks of any level can follow a simple lemon cod recipe to have a nutritious meal on the table in under thirty minutes, perfect for busy weeknights.

Lemon cod fish goes well with many side dishes, including:

1. 1. Greens: Pair your lemon cod with a simple red wine vinaigrette–dressed arugula salad. Add herbs like dill, parsley, or tarragon for pops of aromatic flavor, or toss in an assortment of bitter leaves like radicchio, frisée, or mustard greens for a mesclun mix.
2. 2. Purées: For a rich contrast to your pan-fried fish, pair lemon cod with a creamy root vegetable purée, like pomme, sweet potato, turnip, or parsnip purée.
3. 3. Roasted vegetables: Roasted vegetables pair perfectly with lemon garlic cod. Pick your veggies based on what’s in season. Snappy green asparagus, ramps, new potatoes, zucchini, and meaty mushrooms come in the spring and summer. Opt for brassicas like carrots, baby beets, fennel, parsnips, and cauliflower in fall and winter.
4. 4. Sauces: A bright, tangy salsa verde, roasted red pepper romesco sauce, or a loose olive tapenade with red onion, capers, fresh parsley, and lemon juice adds dimension and depth to lemon cod fillets.
5. 5. Whole grains: A whole grain like farro adds a nutty, earthy dimension to your buttery lemon cod and a pleasing textural counterpoint. Sprinkle fresh pomegranate seeds or toasted pine nuts into a quinoa pilaf to add a crunchy texture to your meal.

Follow these tips, and lemon cod is sure to become one of your go-to seafood recipes.

1. 1. Use frozen cod in a pinch. If you don’t have access to fresh fish fillets, frozen cod is a suitable replacement. Let the fish thaw fully in the refrigerator overnight before cooking it. Don’t speed up the thawing process by microwaving it, which will result in a tough, chewy texture.
2. 2. Experiment with seasonings. Customize this simple fish recipe with a variety of spices and flavorings. Incorporate dried and fresh herbs, like dill, cilantro, thyme, and oregano. Add cayenne pepper for heat. Fine-tune the seasoning blend with spices like paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and lemon pepper. For a keto and gluten-free dish, swap the wheat flour dredge for gluten-free all-purpose flour, almond flour, or another wheat-free alternative.
3. 3. Bake or air fry your cod. If you’re not a fan of pan-frying, replicate this unfussy cod recipe in an air fryer or oven. Place the fish in a baking dish, dress it with olive oil, spices, and lemon slices, and cook it in the oven to make flavorful lemon baked cod. Alternatively, cook the seasoned cod in your air fryer to produce a crispy, golden crust.
4. 4. Cook it just right. Monitor the fish throughout the cooking process for tender, flaky cod that melts in your mouth. Remove the cod from the heat just when the surface becomes golden brown. Overcooked cod will have a tougher texture.