When it comes down to grilled fish, there are three main types of fish that people typically grill: whitefish like flounder or cod, salmon, and tuna. All of these fishes contain enough internal fat to cook properly and taste good. However, not all sources of oil/fat in the food you eat are healthy!
Many foods containing oils (and thus, fats) may increase your cholesterol level and contribute to heart disease. Eating too many carbohydrates can also cause your blood glucose levels to rise, which can lead to excess calories.
This is why we suggest grilling cod instead of other grilled feshi. The buttery flavor and small amount of olive oil used during cooking time makes for delicious meat that almost anyone will love. If you’re looking to learn more about nutritional value of seafood, check out our article: How to Make the Healthiest Grilled Fish Sticks.
Brush with oil
When cooking fish like cod, brushing it with olive or vegetable oil is your best bet to ensure it does not taste raw or greasy. This also helps promote browning of the meat, which some people prefer over more white-colored pieces.
When cooking fish like cod, brushing it with olive or vegetable oil is your best bet to ensure it does not taste raw or greasy. This also aids in promoting browning of the meat, which some people prefer over darker colored pieces.
Many recipes call for melted butter as an ingredient, but plain old butter will work just as well when grilling the cod! If you do decide to use melted butter, make sure to let it warm up first before applying it to the cod so that it doesn’t burn during baking.
Never cook the fish completely dry – there should be at least one very thick layer of fat on the surface. We recommend leaving the skin on the cod since this may help give it more flavor.
Season with salt and pepper
When cooking cod, your grill or cooktop matter more than how hot it is! The temperature of your grill really makes a difference in whether or not the fish tastes good and if it can be enjoyed repeatably.
Too high of heat will dry out the meat which is bad unless you like that flavor. Grilling medium-high temperatures is best when baking or grilling seafood as they need enough time to taste and soak up all of the buttery juices that are left over.
Grilling low temperatures can sometimes hurt the texture and flavor of the fish due to overcooked flesh. This article has tips for grilling cod so that guaranteed steak style flake-able meat.
Put on a grill pan
When cooking cod, there are two main ways to cook it- either in the oven or directly onto a hot surface, such as a grill pan or stove top. The best way to grill cod is by baking it first and then finishing it off under the broiler.
When baking fish, make sure to cover it with a lid or use greaseless baking sheets so that it does not dry out. This will also help ensure that all of the flavor and moisture remain in the meat.
Cook for 4-6 minutes per side
When cooking cod, how long it takes to cook depends mostly on two things: How thick the fillets are and what temperature you want your fish. The thickness of the fish makes a difference in how much time it needs to fully cook through.
Thicker cod will take longer to bake due to its weight. Thin flounder or branzino can easily taste too dry and hard cooked if done wrong.
To avoid this, we recommend baking the fish at 350° F (177ºC) until it is completely cooked through. This timing can vary slightly depending on the person eating the food and their preferences.
We also suggest using a good quality grill or pan that has very even heat so the fish does not burn on one side before being finished. That would make some parts crunchy and burnt which may be difficult to enjoy.
Serve with lemon and butter
When it comes time to eat this delicious grilled fish, make sure you don’t forget the classic flavors! Most people add salt and pepper to taste, but there is one more flavor that can be added to the cod.
That is the internal temperature of the fish. There are different ways to determine if the fish is cooked through and tastes good. The easiest way to do so is by sticking your nose in the mouth of the fish and whether it smells like seafood or not. If it does, then it is probably cooked enough.
Another way to check is to pick up a few pieces of meat and see how soft they are. A higher degree of firmness indicates longer cooking time needed. Both of these work well because you will know when the meat is fully cooked.
After the fish is done, let it rest for at least five minutes before serving so it can relax and set properly. Then, spread some fresh lemon juice over the fish and top it with melted butter to taste.
Serve with tartar sauce
When it comes time to eat this grilled fish, let me tell you – there are so many things you can do! Grilling the cod slightly until flaky is our favorite way to prepare it.
Tossing the cooked fish with your preferred toppings like rice or bread crumbs and vegetables like tomatoes, mushrooms, or bell peppers is perfect way to serve it. If you would rather just have the toppings alone, that’s totally okay too!
If you love recipes made with roasted garlic, then make sure to give these Roasted Garlic French Bread Sticks a try.
Serve with roasted vegetables
One of our favorite ways to cook cod is simply boiling it first and then baking or broiling it and serving it with mixed seasonings and grilled veggies. Grilling the fish helps add some flavor to it, and eating it with something else makes it more interesting for you to taste!
To make this recipe, you will need one 4-ounce fillet cod, salt and pepper to taste, and 2 tablespoons olive oil. First, let’s talk about why cooking the fish as close to 250 degrees as possible is important.
When food is hot, your body has a harder time taking in certain nutrients due to heat loss. If the food gets cold too soon, however, there are no longer any chemical reactions happening within the protein structure, and therefore, the meat can lose its texture and flavor.
By keeping the cooked fish warm, digestion is eased and overall nutrition is improved. This is particularly helpful for individuals who feel tired after eating, or who suffer from digestive issues like IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
Serve with potato chips
When it comes time to eat this delicious fish, what kind of potatoes or bread you use is up to you. However, one option that many people enjoy are plain old salt and pepper French fries!
This can be done in two ways. One way is using the raw cut side fryer strips as toppings for the cod. Or, if you have cooked fresh french fries, these can be mixed into the leftover grill bits and pieces and served as a crunchy topping.
Another good idea is serving your own homemade vegetable or salad rice rolls.