Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts

Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts

This easy baked cod takes your weeknight cooking to wonderful heights, in just 15 minutes. While the fish bakes, you’ll make a browned-butter topping that offers richness and crunch from the pine nuts, as well as a welcome acidity thanks to the sumac and lemon juice. Serve this with some lightly steamed greens or boiled new potatoes for a complete meal.

Ingredients

  • skinless cod fillets

    each about 5 ounces and 1 inch thick

    4
  • fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • olive oil
    1 tbsp
  • lemon juice
    3 ½ tbsp
  • unsalted butter

    cut into pieces

    6 tbsp
  • pine nuts
    ⅓ c
  • sumac
    1 ½ tsp
  • finely chopped parsley leaves and tender stems
    2 tbsp

Directions

  1. 1

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

  2. 2

    While the oven is heating, pat the cod dry with paper towels, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Sprinkle them all over with ¾ teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Drizzle over the oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

  3. 3

    Bake the fish for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the center is opaque and the fish flakes easily. (Increase or decrease the cooking times depending on the thickness of your fillets.)

  4. 4

    After the fish has baked for 5 minutes, start the sauce: Add the butter to a small frying pan and melt over medium heat. Once melted, cook for 3 minutes, stirring the mixture all the while (it will start to foam). Add the pine nuts and a small pinch of salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, stirring often, until the pine nuts are golden and the butter is browned and smells nutty. Stir in the sumac, parsley and remaining lemon juice (which might spatter!) and quickly remove from the heat.

  5. 5

    Divide the cod among plates, spoon over the brown butter and pine nut mixture and serve right away.

Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts

Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts

5.0(697)456 cal

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About this Recipe

Tired of dull weeknight dinners? This easy Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts recipe transforms simple baked cod into an extraordinary meal in just 15 minutes, bringing restaurant-quality flavors right to your table.

What makes this recipe truly special is the ingenious browned-butter topping. While the cod bakes, you'll create a rich, nutty sauce with toasted pine nuts, brightened by the zesty notes of lemon juice and a hint of exotic sumac. This thoughtful combination elevates a humble fish fillet into something truly memorable, providing both richness and a delightful crunch.

When you make this dish, expect perfectly flaky baked cod, tender and moist, crowned with a vibrant, textural topping. The pine nuts offer a satisfying crunch, beautifully complementing the creamy, nutty brown butter. Fresh lemon juice cuts through the richness, while sumac adds a unique, tangy depth, making each bite an exciting balance of flavors. This naturally gluten-free main course is surprisingly simple to achieve, proving that elegant dinners don't have to be complicated.

Feel free to customize this dish to your pantry. While cod is fantastic, you could explore other mild white fish. If pine nuts aren't available, slivered almonds or even toasted breadcrumbs could offer a similar textural contrast. For an extra herbaceous note, try adding a sprinkle of fresh dill alongside the parsley.

Serve this sophisticated yet quick main course with lightly steamed greens like asparagus or green beans, or classic boiled new potatoes to soak up every last drop of that incredible brown butter sauce. It’s perfect for a speedy weeknight dinner that feels like a special occasion.

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