Looking for a unique and delicious combo for dinner? You have to try this Cod with Coffee Butter! It's so easy to throw together and can be on your table in 20 minutes! Low carb and gluten free.
Any fellow coffee lovers out there? You're going to love this cod with coffee butter.
But, I'm willing to bet even non-coffee drinkers (how do you function?!) will enjoy this meal.
And, if you don't announce there's coffee butter involved, probably no one will guess the secret ingredient. Spoiler: it's coffee extract (affiliate link).
Yes!
It's a thing. A beautiful thing.
It gives your lemon butter a savory somethin' somethin' without using ground or brewed coffee. Combined with garlic and pepper accents, you'll have a delectable, velvety, coffee butter sauce that makes you go mmmm.
You might be wondering how in the world I decided to pair cod with coffee butter. Well, years ago, I clipped a catfish recipe from the newspaper, because..."DID SOMEBODY SAY 'COFFEE BUTTER??!'"
That old recipe called for instant ground coffee. My hubby and I enjoyed it, but my kids were put off by the taste and texture of the grounds.
So, I tucked away that note-covered newspaper clipping in my file of meal ideas (that thing is bursting at the seams now), and vowed to revisit coffee butter when my children were older.
These days, I don't stock instant coffee (yuck!) but do keep coffee extract in my pantry. It's great for coffee whipped cream, mocha anything, and I'll be baking cookies with it next.
So, I ended up reinventing the coffee butter sauce, building it around the coffee extract for a smooth texture and outstanding flavor. My daughter hasn't tasted this coffee cod yet, but my son gave it a thumbs up.
It's definitely earned its spot in my blog's arsenal of fish recipes.
And, while this cod dish is gluten free and low carb — but you'll want some type of bread to soak up that to-die-for sauce in the pan. Because...coffee butter.
Coffeeee buttahhh.
This is such a quick and easy recipe. It can be on your table in 20 minutes, from start to finish!
Serve it with rice and Rapini with Garlic. Or Baked Vegetable Risotto with Asparagus and Spinach. Yum!
Have you tried cooking cod? It's meaty, mild and tender.
If you'd like to check out some other cod recipes, don't miss Oven-Fried Cod, Fried Baccalà, and my Nonna's Sautéed Cod with tomatoes. Lenten Friday meals don't have to be boring!
(Recipe Source: Cooking with Mamma C, inspired by a recipe I clipped from the Plain Dealer years ago)
Baked Cod with Coffee Butter
Ingredients
- 1 ½ pounds fresh cod
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice (from one lemon)
- ¼ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon plus ⅛ teaspoon coffee extract (see notes)
- salt
- bread for dipping in the sauce (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Spray a rimmed baking sheet with oil.
- Rinse your cod and feel for any bones to remove. Pat the cod dry with paper towels and place the cod on your baking pan. Wash your hands well.
- Melt your butter in a small bowl in the microwave. (Cover your bowl with wax paper to prevent a mess.) Heat the butter for 20 seconds at a time until melted.
- Add the lemon juice, garlic powder, pepper and coffee extract to your melted butter and stir it with a spoon or whisk until combined.
- Pour the coffee butter over your cod. Bake the cod for 15 minutes, or just until the fish can be easily flaked with a fork.
- Add salt to taste and serve immediately. I don't recommend adding extra lemon juice, because it overpowers the coffee flavor. If desired, serve with bread for dipping in the coffee butter from the pan.
- The taste and texture are best if the cod is eaten right away, but store any leftovers in the refrigerator for up to three days. Leftovers are best eaten cold.
sandi dreiling
wonderful
Mamma C
Hi Sandi - I'm so glad!
Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser
Oh Yum!
Mamma C
This is so good, Cheryl!
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I'm trying to be better about incorporating more fish into my life and this has my attention! I too am a coffee lover so I'm imagining I will love this!
Mamma C
I try to have fish/shellfish twice a week. It cooks so quickly, and this coffee butter cod is really simple and delicious. I think you'd enjoy it, Annie!
sandi dreiling
I browned the butter first then I doubled the spices and I used 3/4 teaspoon + 1/4 teaspoon instant expresso powder. It was wonderful.
Mamma C
Hi Sandi - Browned butter sounds fabulous here! Thanks for reporting back.
Renee Gardner
I love coffee, but too much of it gives me the shakes. I love that this uses coffee extract (not that I've heard of it before) and would love to try it!
Mamma C
I know what you mean, Renee, but I didn't have any issues with this. The recipe uses just a small amount of extract. I hope you give it a try!
Anjali
I'm so intrigued by the coffee butter! Never cooked with those flavors before!
Mamma C
It's a wonderful combination, Anjali!
Lisa | Garlic & Zest
Shoot. We just had cod for dinner last night. I guess I'll have to buy some more -- because this sounds too amazing to let slip by! We are big coffee drinkers in this house!
Mamma C
You must try this, Lisa!
Raia Todd
This sounds super easy! And I love the thought of adding coffee...
Mamma C
It's very easy, and the coffee extract works really well!
Allison - Celebrating Sweets
I love how quick this is! We're trying to eat more fish and this would be a great weeknight meal for my family.
Mamma C
For sure! I'll be making this regularly. Thanks, Allison!