Lemon-Garlic Baked Cod is a light, flavorful dish that emphasizes the tender and flaky texture of cod with a crisp, zesty herb butter. Butter, lemon, garlic, and herbs come together to form a light, but rich sauce that brings out the use of the fish. This simple dish is ideal for a healthful and hearty meal that can be ready in less than 30 minutes.
The herb butter mixture — brightened with lemon juice, garlic, parsley, thyme, paprika and dill — adds layers of brightness and depth, and a small amount of salt helps bind it all together. An oven temperature of 400°F helps the cod cook through gently, so it stays nice and flaky. Lemon slices around the fillets offer a suggestion of citrus fragrance that mixes with the butter and herbs and makes for an inviting dish as perfumed as it is tasty.
A good alternative for a quick dinner is to bake cod in the oven until it’s beautifully tender, for serving with steamed vegetables, roasted potatoes or crisp green salad. This dish is great for weeknight dinner, but also serves up at a nice dinner party — with little fuss for you as a host in getting up and out of the kitchen; it would be perfect for an a please-the-little-kids plan too, being nutritious but that you let ’em dose down as much of it as they like.
