Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Cod
Ingredients
- 4 cod fillets (about 6 oz each)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Lemon slices for serving
Instructions
- Pat the cod fillets completely dry with paper towels on both sides.
- Mix smoked paprika, onion powder, salt, pepper, and cayenne in a small bowl. Rub the seasoning evenly over both sides of each fillet. Let rest 5 minutes.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
- Place fillets gently in the pan. Cook undisturbed for 3 to 4 minutes until golden on the bottom.
- Flip each fillet once. Reduce heat to medium.
- Add butter and minced garlic to the pan. As butter melts, tilt the pan and baste the fish with the garlic butter using a spoon for about 2 minutes.
- Squeeze lemon juice over the fish, scatter fresh parsley on top, and remove from heat.
- Rest for 1 minute before plating. Serve with lemon slices.
Notes
Always pat your fish completely dry before it hits the pan. Moisture is what kills a good sear — dry fish gets golden and crisp, wet fish just steams and goes soft.