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Cod is a white fish with a delicate, mild flavor and firm flesh. While you can prepare cod in a variety of way, baking it is quick, easy, and hassle-free. It also allows you to pack a lot of flavor into the fish, whether you want it mild and unadorned, spiced up with vegetables, or lightly breaded.
Ingredients
Servings
: 4
- 1 pound (450g) cod fillets, cleaned
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon pepper
- 1-4 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon onion or garlic powder
- 1-1/2 cup bread crumbs (for breaded cod only)
- Spices, to taste
Steps
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Rinse and thaw your cod fillets. When done, pat them dry. You want your fillets to be roughly the same thickness, as this ensures that they all cook at the same rate in the oven. -
Preheat your oven to 350ºF/180ºC and prepare your pan. Get out a baking dish and line it with parchment paper so the cod do not stick to the bottom while cooking.- You can also line the pan with foil, if you prefer. [1]
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Expert Source
JoAnna Minneci
Professional Chef Expert Interview. 23 December 2021.
Advertisement - You can also line the pan with foil, if you prefer. [1]
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Expert Source
JoAnna Minneci
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Lightly season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper. Mix 1-2 teaspoons of salt and pepper in a small bowl and apply this to both sides of the fish, sprinkling it on top. There is no "right" amount to use, but when in doubt go light -- you can always add more before serving. Place the fillets in the baking dish when you are done.- If you have coarse or kosher salt, use this instead of table salt. The larger grains of salt will not dissolve as quickly, leading to a more even flavor in the fish.
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Mix together the soft butter or margarine, lemon juice. In a small bowl, stir together 1 tablespoon of butter and lemon juice and a dash of onion or garlic powder
- This is a good time to add any additional seasonings you enjoy. Try out a teaspoon of chili powder, paprika, and/or cayenne for a hotter fish, or oregano, rosemary, thyme, and/or basil for an Italian herb mixture.
- While you can substitute some olive oil for butter, the fat in butter is essential for keeping the fish moist and flaky.
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Spread the butter/margarine mixture over the tops of the fish fillets. Place small dollops of the mixture over the fish and use a rubber spatula to evenly coat the tops of the fish. As the fish cooks the butter will melt into the flakes of the fish, coating the inside for a moist, silky, and flaky texture at the end.
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Bake the fish 15 to 20 minutes. When the fish is done the white flesh will easily flake off when pulled with a fork. There should be big full flakes when the fish is cut, not a thin crumb-like texture..- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the inside of the fish is cooked to 165 °F (74 °C). If you'd like, you can remove the fish from the oven once it reaches 160 °F (71 °C)—the temperature will continue to climb for a few minutes, and it should reach 165 °F (74 °C). [2]
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Expert Source
JoAnna Minneci
Professional Chef Expert Interview. 23 December 2021.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure the inside of the fish is cooked to 165 °F (74 °C). If you'd like, you can remove the fish from the oven once it reaches 160 °F (71 °C)—the temperature will continue to climb for a few minutes, and it should reach 165 °F (74 °C). [2]
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Expert Source
JoAnna Minneci
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Try out variations on baked cod. You can quickly adapt this recipe to get surprising new flavors with your main dish:- Cook the cod with chopped vegetables, such as 1 large tomato, 1 green bell pepper, 1 yellow squash or zucchini, 1/2 cup pitted Kalamata olives, halved, and cloves garlic, all finely chopped, for a full one-pan meal. Toss the veggies with 1 tablespoon olive oil and place them around the fish, letting them cook simultaneously. [3] X Research source
- Chop up 1/2 cup of fresh parsley and add it to your butter mixture before applying.
- Melt your butter ahead of time and dip the cod in it, coating the entire thing in seasoning. You can then dip the buttered fillets in flour for a light bread coating.
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Rinse, clean, and dry your cod fillets. Try and purchase fillets that are roughly the same texture. This ensures that they all cook at the same temperature and you don't end up with any undercooked of dry pieces. [4] X Research source -
Pre-heat your oven to 425 and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. The foil will prevent the fish from sticking to the bottom. In the event that you don't have foil, lightly brush the bottom of the pan with olive oil or cooking spray.
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Mix your breadcrumbs in with seasoning in a small bowl. Take 1-1/2 cups of bread crumbs (regular if you want smooth-textured cod, panko for extra crispy) and mix in 1 teaspoon sea salt, cracked black pepper, 1/3 cup chopped parsley, 1/4 cup chopped green onions, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, and any other desired spices. Toss the mixture so that the ingredients are mixed in evenly and set aside.- This breadcrumb mixture is easily customized, as the only "essential" ingredients are the breadcrumbs and the salt.
- If you want new seasonings, you can't go wrong with a teaspoon of chili powder, paprika, and/or cayenne for a hotter fish. For an herb mixture, try 1 tsp dried oregano, rosemary, thyme, and/or basil.
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Melt 4 tablespoons of butter in the microwave. Chop the butter in small cubes to help it melt faster, and work the microwave in intervals of 30 seconds or less. You don't need the butter to be hot, just melted into a liquid. Mix in the juice from 1 large lemon once it is melted.
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Coat the fish in the butter mixture, then the breadcrumbs. Dip each fillet in the butter, coating both sides, then move it to the breadcrumb mixture. Lightly press the fish into the breadcrumbs so that it is coated completely, then set in the baking dish. Once all the fish is in the pan, pour any remaining butter mixture over the fillets. -
Cook the fish for 12-15 minutes. The fish should be flaky and moist when removed. and it will feel firm. If the inside is shiny and translucent, cook them for another 2-3 minutes. Garnish with a lemon wedge and a sprig of fresh parsley and serve. [5] X Research source -
Try out several variations on the dish to suit your liking. Cod has a mild flavor that makes it easy to adapt. This means you can customize the dish to your liking with a few easy tweaks.- For a low-cal version, cut the butter and breadcrumb mixtures in half. Simply drizzle the butter on top of the fish and sprinkle your breadcrumbs only on the top of the fish.
- Toss 2-3 chopped tomatoes, 4 cloves of garlic, and one sliced onion with a tablespoon of olive oil and surround the fish with the vegetables when cooking for an easy side-dish to go with the fish.
- Substitute breadcrumbs for 1/2 cup of flour for a lighter coating on your cod. [6] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat do you put on cod when cooking?JoAnna Minneci is a retired Professional Chef based in the Nashville, Tennessee area. With 18 years of experience, Chef JoAnna specialized in teaching others how to cook through private cooking lessons, team-building events, and wellness and nutrition classes. She also appeared in numerous television shows on networks such as Bravo and Food Network. Chef JoAnna received Culinary Arts training from the Art Institute of California at Los Angeles. She is also certified in sanitation, nutrition, kitchen management, and cost control.Lemon juice is a great option! You could also sprinkle some olive oil on top, along with some salt and pepper.
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QuestionI baked the cod in oven at 400 degrees for 12 to 15 minutes and it came out like rubber. What should I do?Community AnswerPreheat your oven to 350 degrees and check the fish after 12 minutes and again after 14 minutes to make sure that you are not overcooking it.
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QuestionIs there another option for the bread crumbs? I can't have gluten.Community AnswerToast 2 pieces of gluten free bread until crispy. Put them in a Cuisinart for 20 seconds and you've got your gluten free bread crumbs.
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Tips
- Large cod tends to be cut into fillets, slices or pieces, ready for purchase. [7] X Research source Cod is generally well liked by chefs because its larger bone structure makes it easy to see and pick out the bones.Thanks
- Cod is not a fatty fish and it's full of mineral salts. [7] X Research source Oil found in lean fish, like cod, is stored in your liver rather than in your flesh, making it especially healthy. [8] X Research sourceThanks
- Add 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese into bread crumbs, it'll turn out really good!Thanks
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Warnings
- Avoid prolonged cooking of cod––too much time in the oven will spoil its delicate flavor and can destroy its flaky presentation.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring spoons
- Baking dish (cover with parchment paper if needed)
- Oven mitts
References
- ↑ JoAnna Minneci. Professional Chef. Expert Interview. 23 December 2021.
- ↑ JoAnna Minneci. Professional Chef. Expert Interview. 23 December 2021.
- ↑ http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/baked-cod-summer-vegetables
- ↑ http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/recipe/baked-breaded-cod
- ↑ http://www.food.com/recipe/easy-oven-baked-cod-133718
- ↑ http://www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/lemon-parsley-baked-cod
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Larousse Gastronomique, p. 278, (2009), ISBN 978-0-600-62042-6
- ↑ The Essential Seafood Cookbook , p. 197, (2000), ISBN 0-86411-889-9
About This Article
Article Summary
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To bake cod, start by seasoning both sides of the fillet. Then, spread some melted butter or oil over the fillet, which will help it stay moist and flaky when it's baking. When you're finished preparing the cod, put it on a lined baking sheet and bake it for 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. To learn how to make breaded cod, scroll down!
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Reader Success Stories
- "Thank you for this recipe, I just used it tonight! I used the simple method, no breadcrumbs and it turned out sooooo delicious! I used 1 tbsp lemon juice, olive oil, pink Himalayan salt, pepper, onion salt and garlic powder. 20 minutes, turned out perfectly. " ..." more
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"Thank you for this recipe, I just used it tonight! I used the simple method, no breadcrumbs and it turned out sooooo delicious! I used 1 tbsp lemon juice, olive oil, pink Himalayan salt, pepper, onion salt and garlic powder. 20 minutes, turned out perfectly. "
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"The step-by-step tips helped a great deal, plus the other recipe ideas that were given. It was so easy to follow, and it was cooked exactly the way my husband likes his fish. Thank you for your help."
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"I like to make simple meals, but I get overwhelmed with the same old thing. This recipe was simple, and just confirmed that simple is fine!"
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"It helped with timing, but sure didn't come out golden brown and crispy like the photo! A little disappointing, but was OK-tasting."
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"Thank you for your help. The dish with the butter sauce was a success!"
