Pan-Seared Cod with Garlic and Paprika Oil

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-07-04 · Updated 2026-07-04

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.

Delicate cod fillets pan-seared and finished with a fragrant garlic and smoked paprika oil, highlighting classic Spanish flavors. This Spanish-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs cod fillets, olive oil, garlic cloves 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 Spanish cuisine 280 cal/serving

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Ingredients

4 pieces, 150 g each cod fillets
4 tbsp olive oil
4, thinly sliced garlic cloves
1 tsp smoked paprika
1 tbsp lemon juice
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp, chopped fresh parsley

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Instructions

Step 1: Pat dry 4 cod fillets (150 g each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the cod fillets skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crisp and golden.
Step 3: Carefully flip the fillets and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily.
Step 4: In a small saucepan, heat 2 tbsp olive oil over low heat. Add 4 thinly sliced garlic cloves and 1 tsp smoked paprika, cooking gently for 2-3 minutes until the garlic is golden and fragrant — do not burn.
Step 5: Remove from heat and stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice.
Step 6: Plate the cod fillets and drizzle the warm garlic and paprika oil over the top. Garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley and serve immediately.