Blackened cod recipe! The cod fillets and loins are seasoned with homemade cajun seasoning before pan fried in hot simmering oil and finished off with butter baste. The result is a tender flaky fish with a smoky and flavorful crust that is delicious.
This is one 15-minute flavorful fish dinner your family will love. I love to serve it with Pico de Gallo or sauteed spinach with sliced avocado or seasoned rice or have a blacked cod taco Tuesday. Let me show you how to make it
This is about to be the best cod recipe you will ever cook well apart from my baked cod with tomatoes, cod piccata and garlic butter pan-fried cod because I am always partial to them. The flavors in my homemade blacked cod is bold, spicy, and delicious.
There is something about this recipe that transports you to a place of pure gastronomic bliss. The cod is cooked to perfection with a seasoned crusty outer layer and yet tender and succulent on the inside. If you love a quick fish dinner recipe then you will love this one.
Why you will love this recipe
Blackened cod is an easy and quick recipe to make, no need to wait around in the kitchen to make it. You can make it in 15 minutes from prep to finish, this dish will surely please everyone at your table including those that don't usually like fish.
It is healthy: codfish is a lean white fish but still high in protein and low in mercury, 100g of cod provides you with about 20g of protein. Depending on your appetite, you can serve one or two for yourself and won't feel it on your waistline as it is also low in calories. It is also a good source of omega-3 acids (although not as high and fatty as salmon) and B vitamins.
It has a great flavor: Thanks to the homemade Cajun seasoning, it gives an instant boost of flavor to the fish. It is bold, yet it doesn't overpower the mild flavor of the cod. You will love this blacked fish recipe, so stay with me and let me show you how to make it.
What you will need
To make this blackened Cajun cod recipe at home, you will the following ingredients. I used my homemade Cajun seasoning, you can use store-bought or any other fish seasoning you prefer.
Codfish: I used a combination of cod fillets and cod loin. You can use either one, I just prefer to use both on this occasion
Lemon juice to serve
Butter: I used unsalted butter for this recipe, if you will be using salted butter make sure to adjust the amount of salt you would be adding to the fish.
Vegetable oil: substitute with olive oil, avocado oil, or any other neutral cooking oil with a high smoking point.
Salt and black pepper
Blackened cod seasoning
To season this codfish I used the following spices and herbs or should I say my go-to homemade Cajun seasoning. Smoked paprika, garlic, oregano, cumin, onion powder, and cayenne pepper
How to make blackened cod
Prep the fish: Pat the cod dry carefully with a kitchen paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is important and the blackening seasoning will adhere more to the fish this way. Transfer the fish to a plate
Season the fish: season the cod fillet or loins with salt and black pepper then sprinkle the blackening seasoning on it generously making sure it is well coated (pat it down with a dry hand if need be). Flip the fish and repeat the seasoning process.
Cook the fish: place a skillet or cast iron on medium-high heat, add vegetable oil, and heat until shimmering hot.
Carefully place the seasoned cod in the hot pan then reduce the heat a tad bit. Cook the fillet for 3 minutes then carefully flip and cook for 2 minutes. Add the cubed butter to the skillet and once melted, tilt the pan to one side and spoon the butter-oil mixture on the fish for a few seconds.
Carefully remove the fish from the pan and rest it on a plate for 1-2 minutes before serving.
What is blackening in cooking
Blackening is a cooking technique used in cooking fish or other types of proteins.
This technique uses high heat, a seasoned mix (known as blackening seasoning), and little hot oil or butter to achieve a delicious smoky seasoned crusty layer on the fish, poultry, or vegetables.
Blackening is a popular cooking technique used in Cajun or Creole cuisines.
How to serve
This blackened cod is versatile and can be served in a variety of ways from potatoes to rice to vegetables or salad. I like to serve it with seasoned rice, potatoes or beans. You can also make a fish taco, use all the ingredients listed in my shredded chicken taco and just swap the chicken for fish.
Here are other ways to serve it
Christmas rice: yes, that's the name given to this easy vegetable rice but it can be served any time of the year.
How do I know cod is cooked
This is very easy and can be done without a thermometer. You will know your cod is fully cooked when it is opaque and pulls away easily with a fork. If checking with a meat thermometer then the internal temperature must register at least 145F/54C.
Fish sauce you can serve with this
Tips
- Cod is a delicate fish that can be easily overcooked. This recipe cooks the fish quickly over high heat, ensuring that it is cooked through without becoming dry or overcooked. make sure you don't overcook it in order to enjoy the best flavor.
- Keep an eye on the food so that the seasoning doesn't burn.
- Do not overcrowd the pan as that can cool off the pan and lower the temperature. Also, make sure the pan is hot before adding the fish.
- Not a fan of Cajun seasoning then you need to try my homemade fish seasoning or all-purpose seasoning or use old bay seasoning instead. Any good paprika based seasoning would work here.
- Use good quality butter as this will add a more delicious buttery flavor to the fish.
Watch how to make it
How to store
This fish is best served on the day it is made and while it is still fresh as cod tends to dry out quickly. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
More fish recipes to try next
Instant pot frozen fish sticks
Blackened Cod Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 Codfish fillets
- 1 Lemon
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
- Salt and black pepper
Blackened seasoning
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic granules
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Prep the fish: Pat the cod dry carefully with a kitchen paper towel to remove any excess moisture. This step is important and the blackening seasoning will adhere more to the fish this way. Transfer the fish to a plate
- Season the fish: season the cod fillet or loins with salt and black pepper then sprinkle the blackening seasoning on it generously making sure it is well coated (pat it down with dry hand if need be). Flip the fish and repeat the seasoning process.
- Cook the fish: place a skillet or cast iron on medium-high heat, add vegetable oil, and heat until shimmering hot.
- Carefully place the seasoned cod in the hot pan then reduce the heat a tad bit. Cook the fillet on 3 minutes then carefully flip and cook for 2 minutes. Add the cubed butter to the skillet and once melted, tilt the pan to one side and spoon the butter-oil mixture on the fish to baste it for a few seconds.
- Carefully remove the fish from the pan and rest for 1-2 minutes on a plate before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional data: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients and brands you use. Under no circumstances will thedinnerbite.com be responsible for any loss or damage resulting for your reliance on nutritional information.
And there you have it, a simple and delicious fish recipe you can make at home in 15 minutes. As always, if you made this recipe, I would love to hear from you! Kindly rate the recipe 5 star and leave me feedback in the comment section below. Tag me @thedinnerbite on Instagram and save it away to your Pinterest. Please subscribe to the blog if you haven’t for free new recipes in your inbox
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