PAN-FRIED COD

If you prefer, you can make a butter sauce to pour over the cod when you serve it. If you use frozen cod, make sure that it is thawed all the way through before cooking. Do not thaw in the microwave as this may ruin the texture and even partially prepare the cod. The cod is done when the meat is flaky, and the translucent appearance is gone. Pat the cod dry with a kitchen towel. If it is wet, the seasoning will have trouble sticking to it and the fish will not get crisp. You also risk it falling apart while cooking. Transfer the fish to a serving plate as soon as it is done. If you leave it in the pan, it will continue cooking and get overcooked. Make sure that the pan is hot before you sear the cod.

The mild flavour of the cod makes this dish very easy to pair with almost any side dish and whatever herbs and spices you want. In this recipe we only cook the cod in butter, but you can easily add, for example, garlic, thyme, or rosemary to the pan to give the cod those flavours. Other herbs such as dill, basil, and coriander also go very well with the mild fish. If you like a bit of spiciness, try adding a dust of chilli or cayenne pepper. Just make sure that you hold back as the cod is very delicate and easily takes on the spiciness. Of course, you can also change the side dish if you are not in the mood for mashed potatoes as we make here. Cod in butter is very commonly served with asparagus or other vegetables, for example, roasted carrots or courgettes.

Cod is an all-round fish with a mild flavour. When cooked in butter it gets even better. The creamy and buttery fish will delight and to top it all off: it is so quick to make that it can easily become an everyday dinner dish. Cod – and similar fish types such as haddock or pollock – has a very mild taste and is very versatile to work with. This means that these fish take on seasoning very well and take on the flavours they are cooked with so you can adjust it in whatever direction you like. It also means that you can use this recipe as a starting point and then adjust it to fit your preferences or whatever you have in your kitchen. Use herbs and side dishes that matches the season or the occasion and get away with serving cod more often because of the many different flavours and side dishes you can pair it with. You can use frozen cod, but make sure that it is thawed before you cook it. The best way to thaw frozen cod is by placing it in the fridge the day before. If that is too late, you can thaw it in a big bowl of cold water. Place the cod in a bag – make sure that you remove as much of the air as possible before closing the bag. Change the water as soon as it reaches room temperature. With this method it takes about 30 minutes to thaw the cod.

Cod is a light fish, so it can easily do with a heavier side dish such as this rustic potato mash. The mashed potatoes are a perfect partner as they support the soft texture of the fish. Also, you can add a lot of different flavours to the cod as well as to the mashed potatoes to make the recipe your own. The fresh spinach makes a perfect finish. When raw, the spinach is mild and slightly sweet, but by giving it a little heat and seasoning the flavour becomes more acidic and robust, which pairs really well with the soft and buttery cod and mashed potatoes. The lemon at the end makes it all fresh and bright.

Start by patting the cod dry and heating a pan. Melt butter and fry the cod for a few minutes on each side. When the flesh turns opaque and it flakes, the cod is done. See more details and tips in our recipe.

Depending on the size, it takes about 4-5 minutes to cook a cod fillet. When the fish flakes apart easily, it is done.

Yes, cod in butter is absolutely delicious! You can add extra flavour to the cod by adding, for example, garlic to the butter when you fry the cod.

You can reheat cod in the microwave or the oven. It can be a good idea to add water or butter to keep the moist texture.

Cod in butter sauce can be served with various side dishes. In this recipe we make a lovely potato mash with nutmeg and serve it with crunchy spinach. You can also serve cod in butter sauce with other vegetables such as asparagus, pan fried carrots, or green peas.