Description
A light and impressive pescatarian dinner featuring flaky cod fillets in a bright lemon-caper sauce, perfect for dinner parties and easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 cod fillets (about 6 oz / 170g each), fresh or thawed frozen
- ½ cup (60g) all-purpose flour (or gluten-free flour blend)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup (120ml) low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- Fresh lemon juice from 1 large lemon
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your skillet: Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium heat in your skillet until shimmering but not smoking.
- Prepare the cod fillets: Pat the cod dry with paper towels. Season lightly with salt and pepper, then dredge each fillet in the flour, shaking off excess.
- Cook the cod: Place the fillets gently in the hot pan without crowding. Cook undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until edges turn opaque and bottom is golden. Flip carefully and cook the other side for another 4-5 minutes until fish flakes easily.
- Remove the cod: Transfer cooked fillets to a warm plate and tent with foil to keep warm. Do not clean the pan.
- Make the piccata sauce: Lower heat to medium-low. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Pour in broth and lemon juice, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2-3 minutes to reduce slightly.
- Add capers and parsley: Stir in capers and half of the chopped parsley. Taste and add salt and pepper as needed.
- Return the cod to the pan: Nestle fillets back into the sauce to warm through for 1-2 minutes. Spoon sauce over the top.
- Serve immediately: Transfer to plates and garnish with remaining parsley and optional thin lemon slices.
Notes
Patting the fish dry is essential for a crispy crust. Use fresh lemon juice for best flavor. Don’t rush the sear; let the fish cook undisturbed. If sauce is too tart, add a pinch of sugar. For gluten-free, substitute all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour blend. Reheat leftovers gently in a skillet to avoid drying out the fish.
- Prep Time: 8 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cod fillet (about
- Calories: 220
- Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 5
- Fiber: 1
- Protein: 30
Keywords: cod piccata, healthy cod recipe, pescatarian dinner, lemon caper sauce, easy dinner party recipe, gluten-free cod piccata