Chestnut Free Lemon Butter Cod
Flaky, golden-seared cod bathed in a bright, buttery lemon sauce is the kind of weeknight dinner that feels far more impressive than the effort it takes. The fillets get a proper sear in garlic-infused oil until they're beautifully caramelized on the outside and perfectly opaque all the way through. Then the real magic happens: butter is swirled in the same pan until it turns light golden and nutty, before lemon juice, zest, scallions, and fresh parsley go in to create a sauce that's tangy, rich, and just a little herbaceous. A pinch of red pepper flakes adds a gentle kick if you're into that. This is a naturally tree-nut-free dish built entirely from fresh, straightforward ingredients — no specialty swaps or label-checking required. Serve it straight from the skillet with extra lemon wedges and you've got a restaurant-worthy plate on the table in minutes.
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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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