Pan-Seared Cod with Lemon-Caper Brown Butter

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.

Delicate cod fillets pan-seared to a golden crust and topped with a bright, nutty brown butter sauce studded with lemon and capers. 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 320 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 320 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 cod fillets (5 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Lightly dredge each fillet in 1/4 cup all-purpose flour, shaking off excess.
  2. Step 2: Heat 3 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add cod fillets and cook for 4-5 minutes per side, until golden brown and fish flakes easily with a fork.
  3. Step 3: Remove cod from skillet and set aside on a warm plate. Reduce heat to medium-low and add 4 tbsp unsalted butter to the pan.
  4. Step 4: Let butter melt and cook, swirling pan, until it turns golden brown and smells nutty, about 2-3 minutes. Stir in 2 tbsp rinsed capers, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp lemon zest.
  5. Step 5: Pour the lemon-caper brown butter sauce over the cod fillets and garnish with 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley before serving.

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