Soy Free Lemon Butter Cod
Flaky, golden-seared cod bathed in a bright, nutty lemon butter 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 release cleanly from the pan, then a quick brown butter sauce built right in the same skillet ties everything together with lemon juice, zest, scallion tops, and fresh parsley. Soy can sneak into a surprising number of store-bought sauces and seasoned fish products, so cooking from scratch with straightforward ingredients like these is the cleanest way to keep a meal worry-free. Every component here — butter, fresh lemon, herbs — is naturally free of soy, so there's no label-scanning required. The optional pinch of red pepper flakes adds just enough warmth to balance the richness of the butter without overpowering the delicate fish. Serve it straight from the skillet with extra lemon wedges and you've got a restaurant-quality plate that took almost no time at all.
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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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