Baked Cod with Lemon-Caper Butter and Herb Crust

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

Tender cod fillets baked under a zesty lemon-caper butter and fresh herb crust, delivering bright, savory flavors with a crisp topping. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs cod fillets, unsalted butter, lemon zest for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 280 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 280 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Preheat oven to 400°F. Pat dry 4 cod fillets (5 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper; place on a greased baking sheet.
  2. Step 2: In a small bowl, combine 4 tbsp softened unsalted butter, 1 tbsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp chopped capers, 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley, and 2 minced garlic cloves until smooth.
  3. Step 3: Spread the lemon-caper butter evenly over the top of each cod fillet.
  4. Step 4: Sprinkle 1/4 cup panko breadcrumbs over the buttered fillets and drizzle with 1 tbsp olive oil to help crisp the topping.
  5. Step 5: Bake in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork and the crust is golden brown.
  6. Step 6: Remove from oven and let rest for 2 minutes before serving with lemon wedges.

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