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Creamy Lemon Garlic Cod recipe in a stainless steel skillet with a blue napkin to the side and fresh green onion and garlic next to the skillet.
Servings: 4 servings

Creamy Lemon Garlic Cod

4.50 from 18 votes
Quick and easy Creamy Lemon Garlic Cod comes together in a flash for nutritious weeknight eating! Serve it up with your choice of brown rice or cauliflower rice and steamed or roasted veggies for a complete meal!
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 pound cod cut into 4 fillets
  • 1 (14-oz) can full-fat coconut milk light or full-fat both work
  • 5 cloves garlic
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 Tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 cup fresh basil or spinach
  • ½ tsp sea salt to taste
  • ¼ tsp black pepper
  • 3 stalks green onion chopped

Instructions

  • Remove the cod fillets from its packaging and pat the fish dry with a paper towel. Sprinkle both sides with sea salt.
  • Add the avocado oil to a large non-stick skillet and heat to medium-high heat. Carefully place the cod filets on the hot skillet flesh-side down (if your cod doesn’t have skin, no worries...either side will work).
  • Cook 3 minutes, until the cod is slightly golden brown. Carefully flip using a spatula (the cod is very tender and will likely break if you aren’t gentle) and cook another 3 minutes. There is no need to cook the fish all the way through just yet. Transfer the seared cod to a plate and set aside.
  • Place the skillet back on the heat and add a little more avocado oil. Leave the stove top setting at medium-high heat. Transfer the minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for 1-2 minutes, or until very fragrant. Transfer the seared cod to the skillet with the sauce and use a spoon to spoon the sauce over the white fish.
  • Add the coconut milk, lemon zest, and lemon juice to the skillet and stir well. Bring the sauce to a full boil, then reduce the heat to cook the sauce at a gentle boil for 12-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Note: if you have more time, cook the sauce for 15-20 minutes for even more flavorful sauce.
  • Continue cooking until the cod flakes easily when poked with a fork. The cooking time will depend on the thickness of the cod fillet. Cod is cooked through once it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the center of the fish to check its internal temp.
  • Stir in the fresh basil and the green onions right before serving. Taste the sauce for flavor and add sea salt and black pepper to your personal taste.
  • Serve with choice of side dishes such as rice, cauliflower rice, or roasted vegetables, and enjoy!
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Nutrition

Serving: 1of 4, Calories: 278kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 31g, Fat: 15g, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 2g
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Keyword: cod recipe, healthy dinner recipe, low-carb, paleo, whole30
Author: Julia