Pan-Seared Cod with Citrus-Butter Sauce

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.

A flaky pan-seared cod fillet finished with a bright and tangy citrus-butter sauce that enhances the delicate seafood flavor. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs cod fillets, salt, black pepper 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: Pat dry 4 cod fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes. Add the cod fillets skin-side down and cook for 4 minutes without moving, until edges are golden and crisp.
  3. Step 3: Flip the fillets carefully and cook for another 3 minutes until opaque and flaky.
  4. Step 4: Remove the cod to a warm plate. Lower heat to medium, add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 minced garlic cloves to the skillet, stirring until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  5. Step 5: Add 2 tbsp lemon juice and 1 tbsp orange juice, stirring and letting the sauce thicken slightly, about 1-2 minutes.
  6. Step 6: Spoon the citrus-butter sauce over the cod and garnish with 1 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.

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