Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts

Published March 5, 2025

Cod With Brown Butter and Pine Nuts
Ryan Liebe for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Barrett Washburne.
Total Time
15 minutes
Prep Time
5 minutes
Cook Time
10 minutes
Rating
5(515)
Comments
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This easy baked cod takes your weeknight cooking to wonderful heights, in just 15 minutes. While the fish bakes, you’ll make a browned-butter topping that offers richness and crunch from the pine nuts, as well as a welcome acidity thanks to the sumac and lemon juice. Serve this with some lightly steamed greens or boiled new potatoes for a complete meal.

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Ingredients

Yield:4 servings
  • 4skinless cod fillets (each about 5 ounces and 1 inch thick)
  • Fine sea salt and freshly cracked black pepper
  • 1tablespoon olive oil
  • tablespoons lemon juice
  • 6tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into pieces
  • cup pine nuts
  • teaspoons sumac
  • 2tablespoons finely chopped parsley leaves and tender stems
Ingredient Substitution Guide
Nutritional analysis per serving (4 servings)

456 calories; 30 grams fat; 12 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 10 grams monounsaturated fat; 5 grams polyunsaturated fat; 3 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 43 grams protein; 660 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees.

  2. Step 2

    While the oven is heating, pat the cod dry with paper towels, then place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet, spacing them evenly apart. Sprinkle them all over with ¾ teaspoon salt and a good grind of pepper. Drizzle over the oil and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.

  3. Step 3

    Bake the fish for 10 to 12 minutes, or until the center is opaque and the fish flakes easily. (Increase or decrease the cooking times depending on the thickness of your fillets.)

  4. Step 4

    After the fish has baked for 5 minutes, start the sauce: Add the butter to a small frying pan and melt over medium heat. Once melted, cook for 3 minutes, stirring the mixture all the while (it will start to foam). Add the pine nuts and a small pinch of salt and cook for 2 to 3 minutes more, stirring often, until the pine nuts are golden and the butter is browned and smells nutty. Stir in the sumac, parsley and remaining lemon juice (which might spatter!) and quickly remove from the heat.

  5. Step 5

    Divide the cod among plates, spoon over the brown butter and pine nut mixture and serve right away.

Ratings

5 out of 5
515 user ratings
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Comments

What’s a good substitute for sumac?

Lemon zest. (Also, use half the butter.)

Tasty dish to put into limited rotation so I don't feel so badly about all the butter. Served with couscous which absorbed the sauce delightfully, and a light salad. Wouldn't change a thing about this!

the sauce is really, really good and oh so easy to make. could be used with anything. maybe just the cod filets I used (defrosted from frozen) but it was a bit tough at the end of 10 minutes

The take away of this recipe is the brown butter sauce. I’ve used it in several dishes. Subbing in roasted pumpkin and sesame seeds and adding extra lemon juice and sumac powder makes it a standout!

I substituted za'atar and thought it was delicious. Served with a quinoa salad and cucumbers. Everyone liked the fish. We'll be eating this again.

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