Artificial Food Coloring Free Lemon Butter Cod
Bright, buttery, and built entirely from real ingredients, this skillet cod is the kind of weeknight dinner that feels far more special than the effort required. Every component — fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, scallions, parsley, and a touch of red pepper flakes — is exactly what it says it is, with zero synthetic dyes hiding in the sauce. That matters more than you might think, because plenty of packaged seasonings, bottled sauces, and even some store-bought fish marinades sneak in artificial colorants you'd never expect. Here, the gorgeous golden color on the fillets comes purely from a hot skillet and garlic-infused oil doing their job, and the sauce gets its warm amber hue from butter that's been coaxed to a light, nutty brown. The technique is straightforward: sear the cod until it releases naturally from the pan, build a quick pan sauce, and spoon it right over the fish before serving. A squeeze of fresh lemon at the table ties everything together and keeps the flavors clean and vibrant. It's the kind of dish that proves simple, whole ingredients are all you ever really needed.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
- 4 cod fillets (6 oz each), about 1 inch thick
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp garlic-infused oil
For the sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice (from about 1 large lemon)
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp scallion green tops, thinly sliced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
For serving
- lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
Pat the cod fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels, then season both sides evenly with the salt and black pepper.
- 2
Heat the garlic-infused oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the cod fillets presentation-side down and cook, undisturbed, for 3–4 minutes, until the underside is golden and the fish releases easily from the pan.
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