Description
Baked cod in coconut lemon cream sauce brings delicate fish together with zesty, creamy flavors that make dinner feel like a tropical escape. Weeknight cooking becomes simple and delicious when this elegant yet easy seafood recipe lands on your table in less than 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Proteins:
- 4 cod fillets
Supporting Liquids and Fats:
- ½ cup coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lemon
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F and coat a baking dish with 1 tbsp olive oil to prevent sticking.
- Use paper towels to thoroughly dry 4 (6 oz) cod fillets, removing any excess surface moisture.
- Season both sides of the cod fillets with ½ tsp salt and ¼ tsp black pepper, ensuring even coverage.
- Finely mince 2 cloves of garlic into tiny, uniform pieces.
- In a small bowl, combine ½ cup coconut milk, 2 tbsp lemon juice, minced garlic, and 2 tbsp butter. Whisk until ingredients are smoothly incorporated.
- Arrange the seasoned cod fillets in the prepared baking dish, making sure they are not overlapping.
- Carefully pour the coconut lemon cream sauce over the cod, distributing it evenly across the fillets.
- Place the baking dish in the preheated 400°F oven and bake for 12-15 minutes, checking that the fish turns opaque and can be easily flaked with a fork.
- After baking, remove the dish from the oven and let the cod rest for 2-3 minutes to complete cooking and retain moisture.
- Chop 2 tbsp fresh parsley into small, uniform pieces for garnishing.
- Plate the cod and sprinkle chopped parsley over the top. Add fresh lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of citrus.
- When serving, spoon the remaining sauce from the baking dish directly over the fillets to enhance flavor and moisture.
Notes
- Always pat the cod fillets completely dry before seasoning to help them brown nicely and prevent excess moisture.
- Choose fresh, high-quality cod for the best texture and flavor in this delicate dish.
- For a dairy-free version, swap butter with coconut oil or olive oil to maintain the creamy sauce’s richness.
- Use a meat thermometer to check that cod reaches an internal temperature of 145°F for perfect doneness without overcooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12-15 minutes
- Category: Cod
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 292 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 356 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 0.5 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 88 mg