Description
A quick, 15-minute weeknight dinner featuring tender cod fillets and crisp asparagus cooked in a zesty lemon-garlic butter sauce, all made in a single skillet for easy cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cod fillets (6–8 oz each / 170-225g), thawed if frozen
- 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 lb / 450g), woody ends snapped off
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup dry white wine (e.g., Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- 1 large lemon, juiced and zested
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Optional: 1 teaspoon dried oregano or thyme
Instructions
- Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once foaming, add the cod fillets and sear for 3-4 minutes without moving them to develop a golden crust.
- Flip the fish and cook for another 2-3 minutes until opaque and flaky. Remove fish to a plate and set aside.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the asparagus and toss to coat. Cook for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet with the asparagus. Stir constantly for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in the white wine and lemon juice, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Simmer for 1 minute to reduce slightly.
- Return the cod fillets to the skillet, nestling them among the asparagus. Spoon the sauce over the fish and heat through for 30-60 seconds.
- Remove from heat, sprinkle with fresh parsley and extra lemon zest, and serve immediately.
Notes
Pat the fish dry before cooking to ensure a good sear rather than steaming. Do not crowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary. If you don’t drink wine, substitute with chicken broth or extra lemon juice. For a dairy-free version, swap butter for olive oil.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet and asparag
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 2
- Sodium: 350
- Fat: 16
- Saturated Fat: 8
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: one pan dinner, lemon garlic butter cod, quick weeknight dinner, healthy seafood, easy cleanup, 15 minute meals, cod recipe, asparagus recipe