How to Cook Cod

When learning how to cook cod you will find how easy it is. Like most fish it cooks very quickly. Being a very mild white fish all kinds of great ingredients can be added to it for special flavors. One of the most popular cooking methods for this delicious firm fish is by deep frying. It makes such a good sandwich when deep fried or even pan fried. Cod filets can be dipped in egg, buttermilk or milk and then dredged in various breading like seasoned flour, cornmeal or a mixture with different spices.

How to Cook CodHow to Cook Cod

There are many recipes for cooking in the oven and on the stovetop as you will find when learning how to cook cod.  With both methods vegetables and other ingredients are added to the fish totally changing the flavor. This is one fish which is also often used in soups, stews and casseroles. Because it is easy and quick cooking, the broiler is another great method of cooking. Added flavor can be as easy as sprinkling with salt, pepper, lemon pepper, dill or other seasoning. Warm lemon butter with a little garlic makes an excellent condiment to serve with broiled cod.


Poaching or steaming is a very common way of cooking fish producing a light finish taste.   I remember from years ago, doctors and even Weight Watchers would instruct the poaching and boiling methods as healthy ways of cooking fish.  I do not recommend boiling for filets or steaks because they cook too quickly for placing in a lot of water. (Remember this when making soups; serve as soon as fish is done.) I always thought it to be very bland tasting by cooking in any water but I found herbs and spices really give it flavor. Many sauces also add a lot of flavor. Many are not so healthy but certainly do make delicious fish recipes.


Poaching is done with liquid; water or fish stock usually. If you want to poach whole fish you will need a fish poacher. Smaller steaks and filets can be easily done with a steamer, saucepans or skillets with lids. Place fish filets in a steamer basket over boiling water. If using a saucepan or skillet also start with boiling liquid. Unlike boiling (With a lot of water) you only need a little liquid for poaching fish. It usually only takes about 7 to 8 minutes to cook steaks or filets until done at the flaking stage. If not using a basket, carefully lift the cooked fish out with a spatula.

PRETZEL COATED FRIED COD

Learn how to cook cod with a pretzel coating.

  • 4 Cod fillets
  • 2 Beaten eggs
  • ½ Cup milk
  • Salt/pepper to taste
  • 1 cup crushed pretzels
  • Oil

Combine eggs and milk; mix well.

Combine and blend eggs, milk salt and pepper.

Dip fish into egg mixture and coat with crushed pretzels.

Fry fish in hot oil until golden brown and fish flakes.

POACHED COD AND SPINACH

Poached Cod and Spinach with a Mustard SaucePoached Cod and Spinach with a Mustard Sauce

Learn how to cook cod with spinach and mustard sauce.

Mustard sauce

  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons flour
  • 1 Cup light cream
  • 1 Tablespoon dry mustard
  • Salt/ pepper to taste

Spinach

  • 2 Pounds fresh spinach (Remove stems)
  • ¼ cup butter
  • ¼ Teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Cod Fish

  • 4 Cod filets (About 1 inch thick)
  • 1 Sliced lemon
  • Dill springs or dill weed (For garnish)

TO MAKE SAUCE melt 2 tablespoons butter in saucepan over medium heat.

Stir in flour to a smooth paste; add cream and stir until smooth.

Add mustard; season with salt and pepper.

Continue stirring and cooking until slightly thickened.

Set sauce aside and keep warm while finishing recipe.

TO COOK SPINACH rinse in cold water, remove stems and drain well.

Cook over high heat stirring until limp; drain off and squeeze out excess liquid.

Melt ¼ cup butter in saucepan; sauté spinach tossing until well coated and hot.

Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg; keep hot.

TO COOK FISH poach fish filets until flaky when tested with fork (See above info).

Serve fish with spinach and mustard sauce; Garnish with lemon slices and dill.

PAN SEARED COD RECIPE

Learn how to cook cod by skillet cooking.

  • 1/3 cup flour
  • 2 Teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
  • 2 Teaspoons salt
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • 2 Tablespoons olive oil

Rinse fish fillets and pat dry; Combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish.

Heat butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.

Dredge fish fillets in seasoned flour mixture; place in skillet without touching.

Cook filets 4 to 5 minutes; carefully turn over with a spatula.

Finish cooking until flaky about 4 minutes; lift onto plates with spatula.

PROVENCAL COD SOUP RECIPE

  • 1 ¾ Pounds potatoes (Peel, dice fine)
  • 1 Large onion (Slice thin)
  • 1 Leek (Trim, chop fine)
  • 1 Large tomato (Skin, chop fine)
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 2 Cloves minced garlic 
  • 6 Cups hot water
  • Bouquet garlic
  • Strip of orange rind
  • ¼ Teaspoon saffron
  • Salt/pepper to taste
  • 1 Pound cod (Cut into 1 inch chunks)
  • 4-6 Thick slices bread
  • 1 Tablespoon chopped parsley

Combine potatoes, onion, leek, tomato, garlic and oil in a large soup pot.

Stir and cook over medium heat about 10 minutes.

Add water, bouquet garni, orange rind and saffron to pot.

Bring mixture to a boil; season with salt and pepper and cook about 10 minutes

Add cod to pot; cook about 15 minutes longer until fish and veggies are done.

Place a slice of bread in each large soup bowl.

Sprinkle bread with parsley; spoon soup on top.

Serves 4-6

HOW TO COOK COD RECIPE BAKED

Learn how to cook cod in the oven with rosemary.

  • 6 Cod filets (4 Ounces each)
  • 1 Cup seasoned bread crumbs (Recipe below)
  • ¾ Cup dry white wine
  • 8 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • ½ Cup herb butter (Recipe below)

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Place fish in a buttered casserole baking dish; sprinkle with seasoned bread crumbs.

Pour wine and lemon juice over the fish; bake for 15 minutes.

Dot filets with herb butter and bake 10 minutes longer.


Seasoned Bread Crumbs

  • 1 Cup made from dry Italian bread
  • 1 Teaspoon granulated or garlic powder
  • 1 Teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Teaspoon Italian seasoning

COMBINE and mix all ingredients; makes 1 cup.


Herb Butter

  • ½ cup softened butter
  • 1/8 Teaspoon ground thyme
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped parsley
  • 1/8 Teaspoon granulated or garlic powder
  • 1/8 Teaspoon oregano leaves
  • 2 Teaspoon finely chopped shallots
  • 2 Teaspoons grated lemon peel

COMBINE and mix all ingredients until well blended; let stand a couple hours for good flavor.

Makes ½ cup.

BROILED COD RECIPE

Learn how to cook cod seasoned with bacon.

  • 2 Large cod fillets
  • 2 Tablespoons cooking oil
  • Salt/ pepper to taste
  • 2 Ounces thin bacon slices (Fry crisp)
  • 2 Tablespoons butter
  • Lemon juice
  • Sprigs of parsley
  • Lemon wedges

Preheat broiler.

Brush cod with oil; season with salt and pepper.

Place under broiler and cook 8 minutes; turn over and cook 7 minutes longer.

Melt butter in small saucepan (Do not brown).

Place cod on warm serving plates; crumble bacon on top.

Pour melted butter over the top; sprinkle with lemon juice.

Garnish with parsley sprigs and lemon wedges.

COD CROQUETTES RECIPE

Learn how to cook cod and serve as appetizers.

  • 1 Pound cooked cod (Ground fine)
  • 2 Cups mashed potatoes
  • Salt/ pepper to taste
  • 1 Beaten egg
  • Fine dried bread crumbs
  • Cooking oil
  • Cocktail sauce for dipping

Combine cod and mashed potatoes; season with salt and pepper.

Shape mixture in small round balls; dip in egg and then roll in breadcrumbs.

Fry in hot deep oil (360F degrees) about 5 minutes; drain on paper towels.

Place on serving platter and serve with cocktail sauce.

DEEP FRIED FISH AND CHIPS

Fish Marinade

  • 3 Pounds cod 
  • 1 Cup lemon juice
  • 1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ Teaspoon salt
  • ¼ Teaspoon white pepper
  • 2 Tablespoons vegetable seasoning
  • Oil for deep frying
  • Frozen or homemade French fries (Enough for 12 servings)

Batter

  • ¾ cup cornstarch
  • 2 2/3 Cups flour
  • 1 Teaspoon salt
  • 3 Teaspoons sugar
  • 1/8 Teaspoon white pepper
  • 1 ¾ Cups water
  • 2 Egg yolks
  • 1/3 cup flat beer
  • 2 Teaspoons baking powder

TO MAKE MARINADE first cut fish in fingers about 2 ounces in each.

Place fish fingers in a glass shallow dish.

Combine and mix lemon juice, Worcestershire, salt, pepper and vegetable seasoning.

Pour marinade over the fish, cover and refrigerate for several hours turning to coat.

Remove fish from marinade and drain; DISCARD marinade.

Heat oil to 375F degrees.

Dip fish in batter and fry about 5 minutes turning to brown both sides.

FOR BATTER combine and mix flour, salt, sugar and pepper; set aside.

Combine and beat together with whisk water, yolks and beer.

Slowly add dry ingredients to liquids beating with a whisk.

When mixture is smooth stir in the baking powder.

Makes 4 cups batter; enough for 3 pounds fish.

FRY potatoes according to package directions; serves 12.

COD WITH LEEKS AND ONIONS RECIPE

Learn how to cook cod with onions and dry white wine.

  • 1 ¾ Pounds Cod fillets
  • 3 Tablespoons lemon juice
  • Salt/ pepper to taste
  • 2 Large chopped onions
  • 2 Leeks (Trim and chop)
  • 3 Tablespoons cooking oil
  • ¾ cup dry white wine
  • 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

Combine and blend lemon juice, salt and pepper in shallow dish.

Place cod filets in mixture turning to coat; set aside.

Heat oil in a large skillet; sauté onion and leeks until tender.

Add cod with any juices to the skillet; add dry white wine.

Cover skillet; simmer until fish is flaky and cooked through (About 15 minutes)

Sprinkle with parsley before serving; serves 4 to 6.

BAJA COD TACOS RECIPE

Learn how to cook cod in flavorful tacos.

  • ½ Cup sour cream
  • 6 Green onions (Chop)
  • ¼ Cup fresh chopped cilantro
  • Juice of 1 lime
  • 1 Teaspoon paprika 
  • ¼ Teaspoon garlic powder
  • Salt/pepper to taste
  • Cod filets
  • Cooking oil for cooking
  • 8 Inch soft flour tortillas
  • Avocado slices

Combine and blend sour cream, green onions, cilantro and lime juice; set aside.

In shallow dish combine paprika, garlic powder and salt and pepper to taste.

Sprinkle spice mixture over cod filets on both sides.

Heat a little oil in a large skillet over medium heat; place cod in skillet.

Sauté filets about 3 to 4 minutes on each side until opaque and flaky.

Place fish filets on warmed tortilla; top with sour cream mixture and slices of avocado.

Serve with salsa; make as many as you like and REMEMBER they are delicious.

FRIED COD FISH RECIPE

Fried Cod with a Garlic Potato SauceFried Cod with a Garlic Potato Sauce

Learn how to cook cod; fried with garlic potato sauce.

  • 4 Cod filets (About 4 ounces each)
  • 2 Cups flour (Divided)
  • Salt/ pepper
  • 1 ¼ cups water
  • Oil for frying
  • Garlic and potato sauce (Recipe below)
  • Lemon wedges

Combine 1 cup flour, salt and pepper; blend well and set aside.

Mix 1 cup flour with the water; blend until smooth.

Pat fillets dry and coat with seasoned flour; dip into flour batter.

Pour oil about 1 inch in deep skillet; when oil is hot put in fish.

Fry until golden brown turning one time.

Drain and serve with garlic potato sauce; serves 4.


Garlic Potato Sauce Recipe

  • 1 Pound peeled and diced potatoes
  • 4 Cloves minced garlic
  • 1 Cup olive oil
  • ¼ Cup vinegar
  • Salt/pepper to taste

Boil potatoes until tender; drain in colander then on paper towels.

Mash potatoes in potato ricer; add garlic.

Beat potatoes with mixer gradually adding olive oil.

Beat in vinegar; season with salt and pepper.

If sauce is too thick add a little more olive oil.

Serve with fish.

BAKED ROSEMARY COD FISH RECIPE

Learn how to cook cod in the oven with anchovies.

  • 2 ½ Pounds cod (Tail piece/ bones removed)
  • ¼ Cup cooking oil
  • 8 Anchovy fillets
  • Fresh rosemary
  • 4 Basil leaves
  • 2 Tablespoons dried bread crumbs
  • Salt/ pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350F degrees.

Heat half of the oil in a flameproof casserole.

Add the anchovies to the casserole and thoroughly heat.

With a fork mash the anchovies well; transfer to a bowl.

Put a little of the mashed anchovies inside the fish.

Add a few sprigs of fresh rosemary and basil inside the fish.

Place fish in the casserole dish.

Mix remaining mashed anchovies and remaining oil; pour over the fish.

Add a little more rosemary; sprinkle with bread crumbs, salt and pepper.

Bake 30 minutes until fish is golden and flakes.