Description
Lemon Butter Fish Fillet brings sunshine right to your dinner plate with a simple, elegant seafood solution that feels totally gourmet. Fresh fish gets dressed up with a bright citrus sauce that makes weeknight cooking feel like a restaurant-worthy experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 white fish fillets (like cod, tilapia, or halibut)
- 3 tablespoons (45 milliliters) butter
- 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) olive oil
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 teaspoon (5 milliliters) lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon (2.5 milliliters) paprika
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Acidic Component:
- Juice of 1 lemon
Instructions
- Pat 4 white fish fillets completely dry using paper towels. Season each fillet with ½ teaspoon salt, ¼ teaspoon black pepper, and ¼ teaspoon paprika.
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet at medium temperature (350°F). Watch for slight oil shimmer before adding fish.
- Carefully place seasoned fillets into hot skillet. Cook 3-4 minutes at 350°F until bottom develops golden-brown edges.
- Flip fillets gently and cook additional 3-4 minutes at 350°F. Your fish should look opaque and separate easily when prodded with a fork.
- Remove cooked fish from skillet and transfer to warm serving plate. Cover loosely with aluminum foil to retain heat.
- Reduce skillet temperature to low (250°F). Melt 3 tablespoons butter slowly, stirring constantly.
- Add 2 minced garlic cloves to melted butter. Sauté 30 seconds until aromatic but not browned.
- Pour juice from 1 whole lemon and sprinkle 1 teaspoon lemon zest into butter mixture. Stir continuously for 45 seconds.
- Scatter 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley into sauce. Swirl pan to combine ingredients.
- Drizzle entire lemon butter sauce directly over plated fish fillets. Serve immediately with extra lemon wedges.
Notes
- Choose a firm white fish like cod, halibut, or sea bass that holds together well during cooking.
- Pat the fish fillets completely dry with paper towels to ensure a crispy, golden exterior when seared.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest for the brightest, most vibrant citrus flavor in the sauce.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular flour with almond flour or cornstarch when coating the fish.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 275 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 150 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 1 g
- Fiber: 0.2 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg