Pan-Seared Cod with Preserved Lemon Caper 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 drafted and published.

Delicate cod fillets pan-seared to perfection, topped with a bright and tangy butter sauce featuring chopped preserved lemons and briny capers. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 22 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 310 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: 12 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 310 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 cod fillets and season both sides with salt and black pepper.
  2. Step 2: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
  3. Step 3: Add cod fillets and cook for 4-5 minutes on the first side without moving until golden brown and edges are crispy.
  4. Step 4: Carefully flip fillets and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until fish is opaque and flakes easily.
  5. Step 5: Remove cod from skillet and keep warm. Reduce heat to medium-low and add 4 tablespoons unsalted butter.
  6. Step 6: Once butter melts and foams, stir in 1 tablespoon finely chopped preserved lemon peel and 2 tablespoons drained capers. Cook for 1 minute until sauce is fragrant.
  7. Step 7: Stir in 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, then pour sauce over cod fillets before serving.

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