Pan-Seared Cod with North Sea Herb 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 drafted and published.

Delicate cod fillets pan-seared and topped with a fresh herb butter inspired by northern coastal flavors. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 20 minutes, pairs cod fillets, unsalted butter, fresh dill 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: 10 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) with paper towels and season both sides with 1 tsp sea salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, about 2 minutes.
  3. Step 3: Place the cod fillets skin-side down if skin-on, and sear for 4 minutes without moving, until the edges are golden and crispy.
  4. Step 4: Flip the fillets carefully and cook for another 3 minutes until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
  5. Step 5: In a small bowl, mix 4 tbsp unsalted butter softened with 2 tbsp fresh dill, 2 tbsp fresh parsley, 1 tsp lemon zest, and 1 tbsp lemon juice until combined.
  6. Step 6: Remove the cod from heat and immediately top each fillet with 1 tbsp of the herb butter, allowing it to melt over the warm fish before serving.

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