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Easy Pan Fried Cod

Name: Easy Pan Fried Cod
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 35 min
Ingredients: 1 lb green beans, trimmed; 1/3 cup slivered almonds, toasted; 4 cod filets, skin removed (about 150-170g each); 1/3 cup Bob's Red Mill Almond Flour; 1/4 cup panko bread crumbs; 1/4 tsp ground paprika; 1 tsp kosher salt; 1/2 tsp ground pepper; 1 tsp garlic powder; 1 egg; 1/4 cup Bob's Red Mill All-Purpose Flour; avocado oil for frying; 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil; 2/3 cup fresh chopped basil; 1 jalalpeno, seeds removed and finely chopped; 1/4 cup finely chopped green olives; 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese; zest from one lemon; 1 tbsp lemon juice; 1/2 tsp kosher salt

Last Updated: January 14, 2025

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Hands holding a platter with crispy fried chicken topped with herbs served over a bed of sautéed green beans. In the background, a blurred kitchen setting with bottles and a vase.

Prep

20 minutes

Cook

15 minutes

Yield

This Pan Fried Cod is so easy to make and delicious. Served with a feta and herb gremolata, over a bed of green beans, this is the perfect healthy recipe for the new year (or any time).

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Fried Cod is such an easy dinner to make in just 35 minutes. Whip up this dish for a healthy meal that delivers flaky, moist fish, with a crispy exterior, and a flavorful feta and herb gremolata. This dish is a great one for your new year goals to eat healthier, and it’s perfect for a quick, weeknight meal that is packed with nutrients.

A plate of crispy salmon topped with herbed feta cheese, served on a bed of green beans garnished with chopped almonds and herbs. The dish is presented on a metal plate.

❤️ Why You’ll Love Fried Cod

Quick: This Fried Cod is so easy to make that it only takes 35 minutes to get it on the table. It’s made with simple, easy-to-find ingredients and is so good for a busy week.
Healthy: Fish is so good for you and it’s very versatile. You can cook it and use it in so many recipes (more on that below). This recipe you can feel good about fueling your body with.
Flavorful: I love the feta and herb gremolata on top. It adds saltiness, a pop of flavor, and make this simple dish feel restaurant quality.

🍲 Ingredients

Cod – Cod is a great source of lean protein and help build and repair tissues in your body. It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids that support your heart, along with many other benefits. Cod is also rich in vitamins B12 and is so easy to incorporate in your diet because it’s a mild tasting fish. Try this easy recipe for Baked Cod or this Fish Marinade if you’re looking for another way to make it.

Almond Flour – For this recipe I used almond flour in the coating that helps you achieve the crispy crust on this Fried Cod. Almond flour is a great alternative for all-purpose flour and it is a good source of fiber, naturally gluten-free, and rich in healthy fats. Therefore, it packs more nutrients than plain white flour. I use Bob’s Red Mill Almond Flour.

👩‍🍳 How to Make Fried Cod

For the gremolata

Place chopped basil, finely chopped jalapeno, finely chopped olives, crumbled feta cheese, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt in a small bowl and stir to combine. Alternatively, you could use a mortar and pestle to combine the ingredients. Taste and adjust the seasoning with salt, lemon juice, or oil to make the consistency looser. Set aside.

For the green beans

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and set aside a bowl of ice water nearby (3 cups water with 1 cup ice). Once the water is boiling, add the green beans to the boiling water and blanch for 4 minutes. After 4 minutes, remove the beans from the boiling water and immediately place them into the ice water to cool, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Drain the beans and set aside on a towel and pat to dry.

For the cod

Setup the breading stations – In one shallow bowl add the flour. / In another shallow bowl whisk the egg. / In a final bowl mix together the almond flour, panko breadcrumbs, ground paprika, salt, pepper, and garlic powder.
Season the cod filets with salt and pepper on both sides. Then, working with one cod filet at a time, dredge in the flour and gently shake off any excess. Then dip the cod filet in the whisked egg and let any excess egg drip off. Finally coat the cod in the almond flour – breadcrumbs mixture, pressing gently to adhere the breadcrumbs to each side of the cod. Add the breaded cod to a parchment-lined sheet pan or plate.
Set a 10-12 inch nonstick pan or skillet over medium-low heat and add the slivered almonds. Toast, stirring often until just golden brown. Set aside in a bowl.
To a 10-12 inch nonstick pan or skillet, add about 1/4 inch avocado oil and turn to medium heat. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the breaded cod filets to the pan, spaced evenly apart. Pan fry for 5 minutes and then gently flip the cod and turn the heat to medium-low. Fry for 5 more minutes or until cooked through to 145F.
Set finished filets on a paper towel-lined plate.

Assemble the dish

Set aside ¼ cup of the gremolata. Mix the green beans with the remaining gremolata and the toasted slivered almonds. Divide the green beans between 4 plates, top with a filet of cod, and then top each filet with 1 tbsp each of gremolata.

🗒 Tips and Tricks

Pat the Cod Dry: By patting the cod dry you’ll get rid of the excess moisture that can cause the fish to steam vs. sear. This also contributes to a soggy finished product. Just use some paper towel and dry it off.
Flour: You can totally play around with the seasoning in your flour and panko mixture. Get creative and make it your own. Add in different fresh or dried herbs or things like more garlic or onion powder.
Heat: The key to frying cod and fish is to get the pan nice and hot This helps prevent any sticking. Ensure before you add any of the ingredients it’s nice and hot before you add your fish.
Don’t Overcrowd the Pan: If you overcrowd the pan, the fish will steam instead of sear. Cook the fillets in batches if necessary.
Don’t Move It: Once the fish is in the pan, resist the urge to move it around. Let it cook undisturbed until it’s nicely browned on one side before flipping.

🗒 Variations

You can totally use this Fried Cod recipe as a base and make it your own. Fry the fish as directed in the recipe and consider serving it with something other than the feta and herb gremolata and green beans. You can take into consideration some of these other serving recommendations instead:

Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Briam (Greek Style Roasted Vegetables)
Sheet Pan Salmon (remove the salmon from this recipe and just cook the veggies to serve with your Fried Cod)

🗒 Substitutions

Cod: Tilapia or halibut are great substitutes for cod if you can’t get your hands on cod in your grocery store.
Panko: You can swap the panko in this recipe for regular bread crumbs but I love the crunch of panko!
Almond Flour: Substitute the almond flour for whatever flour you have on hand. Anything will work in this recipe.
Almonds: If you are nut-free or have any allergies in your house, eliminate the slivered almonds and swap the almond flour as per above.

🗒 Best served with

Mashed Potatoes
Crispy Roasted Potatoes
Rice or your favorite grain

👝 How to Store Leftovers

I always love Fried Cod fresh but you can definitely store and enjoy the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

🤔 Common Questions

Can I use frozen cod?

You sure can! Thaw frozen cod in the refrigerator overnight. Pat it dry thoroughly with paper towels before proceeding with the recipe.

How do I know my cod is cooked through?

The fish should flake easily with a fork and the internal temperature should reach 145°F as measured with a food thermometer. It also usually goes from a more translucent color to opaque.

How can I make fried fish less oily?

Make sure you don’t overcrowd your pan, ensure you place the fish on paper towel when you take it out of the pan, and lastly, simply use a little less oil.