Garlic Herb Butter Cod with Vegetables (Print Version)

Tender cod baked with garlic herb butter, served with roasted baby potatoes and crisp green beans for a wholesome dinner.

# Components:

→ Fish & Marinade

01 - 4 cod fillets (about 5.3 oz each), skinless
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
04 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
05 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

→ Garlic Herb Butter

06 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, finely chopped
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, finely chopped
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh chives, finely chopped
11 - 1 teaspoon lemon juice
12 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Vegetables

13 - 1 lb baby potatoes, halved
14 - 10 oz green beans, trimmed
15 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
16 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
17 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a large baking tray with parchment paper.
02 - Toss baby potatoes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Spread on half of the tray. Roast for 10 minutes.
03 - In a small bowl, mix softened butter with garlic, parsley, dill, chives, lemon juice, and 1/4 teaspoon salt until well combined.
04 - Pat cod fillets dry. Rub with 2 tablespoons olive oil, lemon zest, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
05 - After potatoes have roasted for 10 minutes, add green beans to the tray. Drizzle lightly with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Toss gently.
06 - Place seasoned cod fillets on the tray. Top each fillet with a generous dollop of garlic herb butter.
07 - Return tray to oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes until cod is opaque and flakes easily, potatoes are golden, and green beans are tender-crisp.
08 - Serve immediately, spooning any melted herb butter from the tray over the cod and vegetables.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The whole meal roasts on one tray, which means you spend more time at the table and less time washing dishes.
  • Garlic herb butter makes even simple cod taste like something from a proper restaurant, without any fancy techniques.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and comes together in under an hour, making it perfect for weeknight dinners that don't feel rushed.
02 -
  • Don't skip drying the cod fillets, because any moisture on the surface will steam off instead of letting them develop that light golden exterior that makes the texture so appealing.
  • The herb butter needs to go on the fish while it's still in the oven so it melts into the flesh rather than sitting on top, creating a silky coating that flavors every bite.
03 -
  • Taste the herb butter before it goes on the fish and adjust the salt, because once it melts into everything you can't easily fix it if it's underseasoned.
  • If you're worried about the cod drying out, place it skin-side down on top of the vegetables rather than directly on the tray, so it steams gently from below while the top browns.
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