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Quick Lemon Garlic Butter Cod Recipe Perfect for Easy Roasted Asparagus Dinner

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A quick and easy recipe featuring tender cod fillets infused with lemon garlic butter, paired with perfectly roasted asparagus. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s a fresh, comforting, and crowd-pleasing weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cod fillets (6-ounce / 170g each), skinless and thawed if frozen
  • 1 bunch fresh asparagus (about 1 pound / 450g), trimmed
  • 4 tablespoons (55g) unsalted butter, melted (or coconut oil for dairy-free option)
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 large lemon, juiced and zested
  • 2 tablespoons (30ml) olive oil for roasting asparagus
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Rinse the asparagus and trim the tough ends (about 1 to 2 inches). Spread the stalks evenly on a rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with 2 tablespoons olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss gently to coat and set aside.
  3. In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Stir in the minced garlic and cook gently for about 1 minute until fragrant, avoiding browning. Remove from heat and mix in the juice and zest of 1 lemon, plus a pinch of salt and pepper. Add chopped parsley now or save for garnish.
  4. Pat the cod fillets dry with paper towels. Place the fillets on the baking sheet next to the asparagus, leaving space between pieces. Brush each fillet generously with the lemon garlic butter mixture, reserving some for later.
  5. Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast for 12 to 15 minutes until asparagus is tender with a bit of char and cod is opaque and flaky (internal temperature 145°F / 63°C). Watch closely after 12 minutes to avoid overcooking.
  6. Remove from oven. Spoon any leftover lemon garlic butter over the cod. Garnish with fresh parsley and an extra lemon wedge if desired. Serve hot.

Notes

Dry the cod before cooking to help the butter stick and encourage a nice crust. Melt butter and garlic gently to avoid burning the garlic. Keep asparagus spaced out to roast properly, not steam. Watch fish closely after 12 minutes to prevent drying out. Fresh lemon juice and zest are essential to balance the richness of butter. Variations include adding red pepper flakes for heat or swapping parsley for dill or tarragon. Butter can be replaced with coconut oil for a dairy-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: lemon garlic butter cod, roasted asparagus, quick fish recipe, easy dinner, weeknight meal, healthy seafood, low-carb, gluten-free

Find it online: https://fuzzyforker.com/quick-lemon-garlic-butter-cod-recipe-perfect-for-easy-roasted-asparagus-dinner/