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Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts

Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts
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Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts is an elegant yet easy-to-make dish featuring flaky, tender cod fillets tossed in a rich, nutty brown butter sauce with crunchy toasted pine nuts and bright lemon juice. Perfect for a quick, impressive dinner that balances savory and fresh flavors with a delightful texture contrast.

Ingredients

Scale

Fish

  • 4 skinless, boneless fresh cod fillets (about 6 ounces each)

Sauce and Toppings

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 1/4 cup pine nuts
  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Seasonings and Cooking

  • Salt, to taste
  • Black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

Instructions

  1. Prepare and Season the Cod: Pat the cod fillets dry thoroughly with paper towels to ensure a good sear. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper to enhance the natural flavor.
  2. Sear the Cod: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the cod fillets skinless side down and cook for 3-4 minutes until the bottom is golden and crisp. Carefully flip the fillets and cook the other side until the fish is opaque and cooked through. Remove the cod from the skillet and set aside.
  3. Make the Brown Butter Sauce: Reduce heat to medium. Add unsalted butter to the same skillet and stir frequently as it melts. Continue cooking until the butter foams, then turns a golden brown color with a nutty aroma, about 3-5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn it.
  4. Toast Pine Nuts and Combine: In a separate dry pan over medium heat, toast pine nuts for 2-3 minutes, shaking frequently to avoid burning, until golden and fragrant. Add the toasted pine nuts to the browned butter. Squeeze fresh lemon juice into the sauce and stir to combine.
  5. Serve: Return the cod fillets to the skillet, coating them gently in the brown butter and pine nut sauce just to warm through. Transfer the fillets to serving plates, spoon the sauce generously over each piece, and garnish with fresh chopped parsley.

Notes

  • Patting the cod dry before cooking helps achieve a golden, crispy sear.
  • Watch the butter carefully while browning; it can quickly go from brown to burnt, so stir frequently and remove from heat once fragrant.
  • Toast pine nuts separately to maintain their crunch and prevent burning.
  • Use fresh lemon juice for the best bright, balanced flavor.
  • Remove cod from heat once opaque and flaky to avoid overcooking.

Nutrition

Keywords: cod, brown butter, pine nuts, seared fish, quick dinner, healthy seafood

Find it online: https://lillysplate.com/cod-with-brown-butter-and-pine-nuts/