Description
Delightful Zesty Chili-Lime Cod Fillets bring Mexican coastal flavors to home kitchens with incredible simplicity. Home cooks can quickly prepare this light, tangy seafood dish that delivers bold Mediterranean-inspired taste.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 cod fillets
- 2 tbsps (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp (15 g) unsalted butter or ghee (for Paleo & Whole30)
- Zest and juice of 2 limes
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried parsley
- ½ tsp oregano
- ½ tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp cumin
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- Cooked rice, quinoa, or cauliflower rice
- Your favorite vegetable
Instructions
- Spice Preparation: Craft a vibrant spice blend by whisking together the seasonings in a small mixing bowl, ensuring even distribution of flavors.
- Fish Preparation: Gently brush cod fillets with olive oil, then thoroughly coat with the prepared spice mixture, massaging the seasonings into the fish for maximum flavor absorption.
- Marination: Refrigerate seasoned fillets for 15-30 minutes, allowing the spices to deeply penetrate the protein and enhance the overall taste profile.
- Oven Setup: Preheat the oven to 450°F, creating an intense cooking environment that ensures rapid and even roasting.
- Baking Surface: Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, lightly greasing to prevent sticking and facilitate easy cleanup.
- Roasting Process: Arrange marinated cod fillets on the prepared baking sheet, spacing them evenly to promote consistent cooking.
- Cooking and Sauce Preparation: Simultaneously roast fish for 10-12 minutes until it becomes flaky and opaque, while simultaneously preparing the lime butter sauce by melting butter and olive oil in a small saucepan.
- Sauce Finishing: Enhance the sauce with freshly grated lime zest and juice, creating a bright, tangy complement to the spiced cod.
- Plating and Serving: Transfer the perfectly roasted cod to serving plates, generously drizzle with the aromatic lime butter sauce, and garnish with optional fresh herbs or lime wedges.
Notes
- Marinate for Maximum Flavor: Let cod rest in spice blend for 15-30 minutes to deeply infuse seasonings and enhance overall taste profile.
- Prevent Drying Out: Use light olive oil coating to keep fish moisture locked in during high-temperature roasting, ensuring tender, succulent results.
- Check Fish Doneness Precisely: Cod is perfectly cooked when it flakes easily with light fork pressure and turns opaque white, avoiding overcooking which creates rubbery texture.
- Lime Butter Sauce Tip: Warm sauce gently to preserve delicate butter consistency and prevent separation, creating smooth, vibrant accompaniment for fish.
- Prep Time: 40 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting
- Cuisine: Mexican
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 300
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg