Easy Baked Greek Cod Recipe with Lemon and Garlic

Name: Easy Baked Greek Cod Recipe with Lemon and Garlic
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 16 oz cod fillets, cut into 4 pieces (1 lb) (For 6 oz portions, buy 24 oz (1.5 lb)); 3 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 1 Tbsp butter; 4 cloves minced garlic; 3 Tbsp lemon juice (juice of one large lemon); 1/2 tsp each, salt + black pepper; 1/2 tsp paprika; 1/2 tsp coriander; 1 tsp ground cumin; 1/2 tsp dried dill; 1 tsp dried oregano; 1 Tbsp fresh chopped parsley; pinch chili flakes (optional); 6 cherry tomatoes (halved); 1/3 c red onion (one small onion); 2 Tbsp olives (halved); 1 Tbsp feta cheese (crumbled for garnish)

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Last Updated on October 4, 2023 by Sabrina Currie

This easy baked Greek cod recipe with lemon and garlic is simple to prepare and delicious to eat! The mild, flaky texture of the cod blends with the boldness of Mediterranean spices and it comes together with a zesty lemon garlic sauce. Greek cod takes less than 30 minutes, uses easy to find ingredients and is gluten-free with an easy dairy-free option.

Square glass baking dish with baked cod covered in sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, olives and a deeply colored spice and lemon marinade.

This recipe come from Raneem of Eat.Enjoy By Raneem. Born and raised in Dubai, she has experienced many cuisines living in such a metropolitan city and has run several restaurants over the years. After living in Egypt and Germany, she now resides in Pennsylvania and shares her delicious recipes online.

This Mediterranean fish recipe is simple enough for a weeknight dinner yet elegant enough to serve to guests. Easy Greek baked cod is healthy, gluten-free, tender, and has no flour!

It's packed with lean protein and omega-3 fatty acids, making it a delicious dinner and nutritious choice that comes in at just 250 calories! Pair it up with rice and a spinach Greek salad for a quick and easy complete meal or easy white bean hummus for a flavorful, high protein side dish or appetizer.

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Why You Should Make This Recipe
Ingredients
Recipe Variations
Step-by-Step Instructions For Baked Cod
How to Know When Cod is Done?
Fresh Vs. Frozen
FAQ's
What to Serve with Baked Greek Cod
Pin It To Save For Later
More Cod + Seafood Recipes
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Mediterranean cauliflower salad and zucchini or eggplant antipasto are all great side dishes too and Italian style white beans make a healthy, fiber rich carb side dish. For more ideas, check out what to eat with white fish.

Why You Should Make This Recipe

This fish recipe comes together quickly (in about 20 minutes) with only a few simple fresh ingredients.

Baked Greek cod is a powerhouse of nutrients and pairs beautifully with a side of roasted vegetables or an easy, fresh Greek salad. It is perfect for meal plans and is considered healthy eating.

Cod is a flaky white fish and a lean source of protein(1)and is rich in vitamins B3, B6, and B12, as well as omega-3 fatty acids essential for heart health.

It's also an excellent alternative to meat. Cod fish can be cooked in many ways, baked, seared, fried, or grilled, and goes well with many flavors and cuisines. See photos at the bottom for some more of my favorite cod recipes.

Ingredients

Codfish: Skinless, boneless fish fillets are best for this recipe. Fresh or frozen both work well, check notes below for details. Make sure it is fresh, good quality fish. This recipe calls for 4 oz portions which are on the small side. You can increase the fish to 6 oz portions easily without having to multiply the marinade.
Fresh lemon: Lemon zest and juice give a tangy taste.
Garlic: Garlic essential for this recipe (and most Greek recipes!) Fresh garlic adds great flavor and fragrance. Substitute a ½ teaspoon of dry garlic powder if you can't get fresh.
Ground cumin, coriander, and paprika: Add a hint of warmth and complexity.
Black olives or Kalamata: adds a briny, salty flavor to the dish while maintaining the essence of Mediterranean cuisine.
Feta cheese: Feta makes a delicious finishing tough but it is optional as a garnish. To make this recipe dairy-free, omit the feta cheese and butter.
Butter: adds a crispy and golden color to the cod. Again, omit this if you're making the recipe dairy-free.
Fresh herbs: This recipe uses fresh parsley and dried dill and oregano, but if you have fresh, it is almost always preferred. If using fresh, double the amount.

Recipe Variations

Dairy-Free - Swap out the butter for an extra tablespoon of olive oil and omit the feta cheese garnish to make this recipe completely dairy free.
Cherry Tomatoes - Sun-dried tomatoes are a great substitute for cherry tomatoes, adding a slightly deeper, richer flavor that is still authentic.
Fresh Herbs - Fresh basil or dried goes well in this recipe. Either add in it addition to the other herbs or you can use it in place of the oregano or parsley.
Greek Cod Au Gratin - For extra crispiness, sprinkle a ½ cup of bread crumbs on top of the cod and herb mix and bake as directed.
Olives - While black olives are more traditional, green will work just as well to add that tangy flavor.

Step-by-Step Instructions For Baked Cod

This easy Greek cod recipe comes together fast. Start by preheating your oven to 400'F. Once the oven is turned on, whip up the simple marinade or seasoning mix, layer cod and veggies and bake for just 15 minutes!

Clear glass bowl with yellow olive oil, green herbs, red spices, salt and pepper.

Step 1. Prepare the lemon sauce. In a small bowl, melt the butter, then add the olive oil, fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, spices, and herbs.

Glass bowl with orange-brown marinade in it.

Step 2. Mix and set aside.

Glass baking dish with portions of white fish, halved red cherry tomatoes, sliced red onions and black olives. There is fresh parsley and sliced lemons on the counter beside the dish.

Step 3. Place the cod fillets in a large baking dish and arrange cherry tomatoes, red onion, and olives over top.

The glass dish of cod, tomatoes and olives has been lightly covered with the lemon, garlic and herb marinate but not yet baked.

Step 4. Season the cod fillets with the herb and lemon juice mixture.

Place the baking dish in the oven and bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes or until the cod is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.

Dark herb and spice baked Greek cod is on top of parsley flecked rice with a half lemon on a white plate. There is Greek salad in a bowl behind the plate.

Garnish with chopped fresh parsley and serve hot with rice, roasted vegetables, and Greek salad.

How to Know When Cod is Done?

Fish is ready when the slightly see-through raw appearance turns to opaque. If you're measuring with an instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature should reach 140-145°F.
Alternatively, if you don't have a thermometer, use a fork to cut the cod. When it flakes apart easily, it's ready.

Fresh Vs. Frozen

Whether fresh or frozen cod is better depends on the specific circumstances, including the quality of the available fresh fish, the freezing and thawing process, and personal preferences.
Fresh cod can offer a superior taste and texture when it's truly fresh, i.e., caught and served within a short period. However, the freshness can be compromised by factors such as how long the fish has been stored and transported.
Frozen cod can be a more reliable option for quality and availability. Contrary to popular belief, freezing does not inherently reduce the quality of fish. Many fishes are frozen immediately after being caught to preserve their freshness. This process can lock in the flavor and nutritional content, making frozen fish a viable, often excellent, choice.

FAQ's

How to thaw a frozen fish?

Remove the fish from the freezer and leave it in its packaging. Place it in the refrigerator overnight or thaw under cold water and change the water every 30 minutes.

How to Store, Freeze and Reheat Baked Cod?

Storing: Place the leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days in an airtight container.
Freezing: Make sure your cod is completely cool before freezing. Top it on parchment paper in an airtight container to prevent it from sticking to the sides. It usually stays suitable for consumption for 45 days.
Thawing: Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight when you are ready to use it.
Reheating: The key to successfully reheating your fish (to prevent it from drying out) is low and slow, either in the microwave or oven.

What to Serve with Baked Greek Cod

Serving this cod fish with a Greek salad is an excellent pairing. A side of roasted vegetables or seasoned baked green beans pairs well with these fish fillets too. Add some rice or potatoes to round it out and if your family likes to dip, try one of these dipping sauces for cod.

Baking dish of colorful baked fish and vegetables alongside bowls of rice and salad on a table top.

Sauce - Tzatziki, tahini or garlic sauce are great sauces for dipping if you like.
Rice - Plain white or yellow rice or a rice pilaf are good choices for a starch.

Potatoes - Lemony, roasted Greek potatoes are a classic side dish. Alternatively, crispy pan-fried potatoes are a good accompaniment too.

Pin It To Save For Later

Save this easy, baked Greek cod recipe to Pinterest or Facebook to make again!

Square glass baking dish with baked cod covered in sliced red onion, cherry tomatoes, olives and a deeply colored spice and lemon marinade. Tall graphic has the recipe title at the top and website written at the bottom. This is a Pinterest image.

More Cod + Seafood Recipes

See more Seafood →

If you have any questions or comments, you can find me on Instagram, Pinterest and Facebook. I try to answer any recipe related questions quickly as I know you might be in the middle of making it.

Also check out my FREE PRINTABLE meal planner to make menu planning and grocery shopping a breeze and my shopping guide. And if you like this recipe, I would love it if you give it a star rating in the recipe card.

Cheers and happy cooking, Friends! Sabrina