Pan Fried Cod in a basil and citrus butter sauce. This is so easy to make, and it’s perfect for a special dinner or even a quick and light lunch. Chunks of pan fried cod are cooked in a citrus butter basil sauce!
I made some Pan Fried Cod just for you. It’s super easy if you have a decent non-stick pan (vital), some fish, a few citrus fruits, butter, and basil. Check out these tips for a really tasty dinner.
Best kitchen pan for my pan fried cod
I cook multiple times a day, usually in the morning for blog stuff and then again at night for the family, so having good equipment is important to me. This includes pots and pans, and my major pet peeve is when food sticks to the pan.
So when I was asked to try this cookware set from Wolf Gourmet, I typed a big fat yes in the email reply.
I don’t do many reviews on the blog, but since I was about to tie my current cookware set to a rocket and send it into orbit because I hate it so much, this sounded like a good idea. Wolf Gourmet cookware is made up of multiple layers of stainless steel and an aluminum core to help with durability and keeping even heat distribution. They definitely score high on looks too! I used the 3.5 quart sauté pan to cook my fish and the 8.5 inch skillet for the butter sauce. They both performed well and I was really pleased to have nothing stick to the pan.
Can I use any other fish for this recipe?
This is a really simple recipe with only a few fresh ingredients to hunt down. I used cod but you could use any firm white fish such as halibut, snapper, rockfish or sea bass. Salmon, my favorite fish of all time would work well too but just make sure it’s Copper River Salmon for the best quality! Cod is also a great fish for any occasion, see my post about how easy it is to cook cod
How to make pan fried cod
The fish gets soaked in some olive oil and the juice from the citrus. Afterward, pan fry it until almost done and then make the easy butter sauce. I poured the sauce back over the fish and then added some extra fresh basil because there was never a time when I said: “Whoa, too much basil.” You can serve this straight from the pan – geez, you can even eat it straight from the pan, just as I did once I finished shooting it. But if your manners are better than mine (and I know they are) serve it over brown rice with some of the sauce.
Should I use salted or unsalted butter for my pan fried cod?
I always tend to use salted butter just because of the added flavor, but if you’re watching your salt intake go with unsalted.
Can I use dried basil instead of fresh basil?
You could but the results will be nowhere near as good if you skip the fresh basil!
Why is cod such a good fish for this recipe?
Cod is a firm fleshed fish meaning it won’t break apart like other thinner fish like tilapia or dover sole. That’s why cod make the best fish and chips and makes it easy for the batter to stick to the fish. Cod also flakes really well and is very easy to cook
Pan Fried Cod in a Citrus and Basil Butter Sauce
Ingredients
- 1-1 ½ pounds white cod filets
- 3 oranges
- 1 lemon
- ½ cup olive oil divided
- Fresh basil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 teaspoon light brown sugar
- Salt and black pepper
Instructions
- Lay the cod filets in a shallow pan or baking dish.
- Zest 1 orange and 1 lemon and add zest to the fish.
- Squeeze the juice from the orange and lemon you just zested and add to 1/4 cup of the olive oil.
- Whisk together and pour over the fish. Cover and let marinate for at least 30 minutes.
- Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
- In a large oven safe saute pan heat the remaining 1/4 cup olive oil until hot.
- Carefully shake the excess marinade from the fish, saving it, and drop the fish into the pan.
- Cook over a medium heat for about 4 minutes and then flip and repeat on the other side.
- Season the fish with some salt and black pepper.
- Place the fish into the oven to keep warm while you make the sauce.
- In another smaller pan, melt the butter and add the sugar and remaining leftover marinade from the fish.
- Add the juice of the remaining two oranges to the pan.
- Bring to a boil whisking regularly until the sauce has thickened slightly and reduced.
- Add about 1/4 cup of finely shredded basil leaves to the sauce.
- Taste and adjust the seasoning if necessary.
- Bring the fish from the oven and pour the thickened sauce over it.
- Add more basil if desired and serve over rice or quinoa.
You had me at basil butter sauce, what a killer meal!
Gerry, what a gorgeous dish…bursting with bright flavors this is a perfect Springtime meal. I would love to try it soon. Pinned for later. Have a wonderful weekend, Catherine
This looks delicious! I should really cook with fish more often!
Can’t wait to try this…..sounds delish!
This sounds delicious! I have pinned it and hope to make it this weekend. Your photos are stunning. To enter the giveaway, do you just leave a comment or did I miss something in the post? Thanks!
Beautiful pan and the cod with basil butter sauce looks amazing!
I adore cod in any form but this sounds particularly delicious! Pinning!
I love this recipe! It looks so pretty and delicious.
I’ve been looking for a yummy recipe for fish. I’m a novice at cooking fish so is helpful. Sounds like dinner to me.
Basil butter – YUM! The recipe AND the cookware are gorgeous!
Can’t wait to give this one a try with the oranges and lemons from the backyard!
This cod! This sauce! I want to pour that sauce on the cod AND my face! Can’t wait to try this recipe! Pinned!
Gorgeous photos! I really need to master cooking fish :)
Basil and orange – I can’t say I’ve tried this combination before, but something tells me I’d be all over it. What a perfect way to cook fish – and in a rather nice looking pan!
This recipe looks so fresh, bright, and delicious
That sauce looks so delicious and I am a big fish fan so yum! Thanks for the chance.
I’m always looking for new ways to prepare fish, and this recipe looks amazing! And I have my fingers crossed, hoping to win a shiny new pan :)
The recipe look sgreat.
Can’t rate the recipe as I haven’t tried it yet, but it sounds fantastic! Love citrus and basil with fish (ok – LOVE citrus and basil!). Definitely trying this over the weekend. Found your blog through Elise at Simply Recipes.
Not sure how to enter the giveaway, but would love to … could use a new saute pan. Will check your blog again when I have more time to check out your other recipes.
Glad to have you visit Cathy!
I love fish and with basil and citrus, it’s a hands down,winner. Love the pans also. Do you have to enter somewhere to win the pan?
A comment is how you enter Patricia :)
The food and photos are amazing
Thanks Harmony :)
I brought this to a dinner and it was a hit! It’s light, refreshing, and satisfying all at the same time. I added some paprika before serving for a little kick. Will definitely be making it again thank you!
Hi Rachel, thanks for the feedback, it’s really important and i’m so glad you liked it. Love the paprika touch!
Thanks for sharing the recipe! I tried it last night and it was excellent. I did have to add a little more sweetness to the sauce, went with some honey instead of more sugar, guessing my citrus was much more tart. But overall a wonderfully flavorful dish.
Yum! Looks like the perfect springtime meal. I have this bookmarked for tomorrow night. We have to mark National Grilled Cheese Day with some chicken avocado grilled cheese sandwiches tonight.
zested – not tested.
Oh my goodness this makes me want to go to the kitchen right now (and do what, I don’t know haha)!! Looks amazing!
Having lived for many years in New England, I do love cod and shall try this recipe for Meatless Monday. Thanks for the inspiration.
Basil butter sauce? Yes, please! This will be my dinner tomorrow night!
Not a fish fan, but think I could like this!
I would feel like Queen of the Kitchen if I had such gorgeous cookware!
Wow, I cant wait to try this recipe. We love cod and who doesn’t LOVE butter??? Thanks for the opportunity to win a pan. Good Luck y’all!
Umm, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t love butter Lynn ;)
Made this last night came out great using orange roughy.
Great Renda, I love the feedback :)
I made this recipe, loved the idea of. Citrus and basil but instructions were complicated to follow. I loved the flavor of the recipe, husband did not.
Hey Ronda, glad you liked the flavor and I really appreciate the feedback :)
Trying it out now sounds great and tasty will comeback with feedback
This was a fantastic recipe . Bright and very citrusy.
I started by quartering a sweet potato and baking it at 400 degrees for 20 min on both sides. I also added half of a chopped onion when frying the fish. Additionally, rather than placing the fish in the oven while making the sauce, I fried the fish and made the sauce at the same time – both took 8 minutes. I sliced the potato and combined everything along with roughly a cup of quinoa. I’m going to try the dish with carrots and perhaps some red peppers for color nex time.
Awesome Courtney and I love the way you adapted it! Thanks :)
This was very tasty. I would omit the sugar next time. I rarely make recipes with sugar, but included a scant tbls of brown sugar in this one. I feel it would def., be sweet enough for us without. Adding this to my go to fish recipes.
Thanks for the feedback Rachel!!
Wonderful flavor! Thanks for this recipe!
Thanks Kay, glad you liked it!
So good! By far my favorite fish dish.
Great recipe substituted haddock for cod and paired with dry Riesling
https://ecwb.ca/erie-shore-vineyard-2017-riesling-dry-with-pan-fried-haddock-in-a-basil-and-citrus-butter-sauce/
Love the pans also. Do you have to enter somewhere to win the pan?
What is the nutritional values, particularly sodium