Favorite Lingcod Recipe (2024)

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Our favorite lingcod recipe proves how flavorful simple can be. Lightly seasoned filets are pan-seared to flaky perfection and then drizzled in a rich, brown butter garlic sauce. It makes a quick and easy dinner for weeknights and it's ready in just 20 minutes!

Turn this lingcod recipe into a complete meal by pairing it with our mini hasselback potatoes and a simple spring mix salad.

Favorite Lingcod Recipe (1)

Table of Contents hide

All about lingcod

What you'll need to make this lingcod recipe

How to make pan-seared lingcod

Recipe FAQs

How to serve our favorite lingcod recipe

More great lingcod recipes

Favorite Lingcod Recipe

This versatile fish recipe is a weeknight winner. We use lingcod because we love the mild taste and firm texture but you can use any firmer white fish that's available to you.

We keep things simple by lightly seasoning the filets and pan-searing them for a crispy exterior. The rich brown butter sauce brings out the natural flavors in the fish and helps the filets retain their moisture. Lemon juice and a few herbs add freshness and chili flakes give everything a subtle kick.

Serve this seared lingcod recipe with your favorite vegetable or rice for a delicious complete meal that everyone will enjoy.

All about lingcod

Lingcod is a type of lean saltwater fish native to the North American west coast. When cooked, it's a dense, mild-tasting fish that works great for pan-searing, grilling, or deep frying. While it's not always easy to find, it makes a great substitute in recipes that call for halibut or any white fish.

It might be confusing but lingcod is not closely related to cod. Lingcod is the largest of the greenling family of bottom-feeding fish. In cooking, however, they can be used in place of each other because they both have a mild, slightly buttery flavor.

If you can't find any for this lingcod recipe, you can use any other type of white fish like halibut, cod, rockfish, or haddock.

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What you'll need to make this lingcod recipe

This seared lingcod recipe doesn't require a lot of ingredients but it delivers big taste. You're likely to have most of the ingredients for the butter sauce on hand. Here's what you'll need:

  • Butter – the base of the rich flavorful sauce; we use salted butter but if you only have unsalted, add a pinch of salt.
  • Garlic – for its distinctive pungent taste.
  • Lemon juice – gives the fish a bright citrus flavor.
  • Parsley – brightens flavors and adds a fresh pop of green color.
  • Chili flakes – add a little heat.
  • Lingcod – fresh lingcod filets have a firm texture and mild taste.
  • Salt + pepper – for seasoning, and to enhance the other flavors.
  • Olive oil – for pan-searing the lingcod.

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How to make pan-seared lingcod

This quick and delicious pan-seared lingcod recipe is easy to make in a few simple steps:

  1. Start by making the sauce. In a large frying pan, melt the butter until it's golden brown, then add the garlic, and remove the pan from the heat.
  2. Pour the butter into a small bowl and add the lemon juice, parsley, and chili flakes.
  3. Prepare your fish by patting the filets dry with a paper towel. Cover each filet in cornstarch, then season both sides with salt and pepper.
  4. Grab your frying pan again, add the olive oil, and heat it to cook the fish. The filets cook quickly, just 2-3 minutes on each side. When they're cooked, turn off the heat and pour the butter lemon sauce over top. Serve hot, and enjoy!

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Recipe FAQs

I can't find lingcod. What other types of fish can I use?

Any type of firm white fish can be used in place of lingcod. Some of our favorites include rockfish, haddock, cod, tilapia, and halibut.

How long does cooked fish last in the fridge?

When stored in an air-tight container, cooked fish will stay fresh in the fridge for 3 days.

How should I reheat the leftovers?

You need to be careful when you reheat fish as it can overcook and become tough quickly. The best way to reheat fish is to warm it gently over low heat in a pan. If you're taking leftovers for lunch on the go, you can either eat it cold over a salad (it's delicious this way!) or heat it briefly in a microwave.

How to serve our favorite lingcod recipe

Serve this delicious pan-seared lingcod warm with a simple salad or any vegetable side like green beans with garlic scapes aioli, crispy parmesan brussels sprouts, or grilled maple dijon carrots.

If you're after something heartier, serve it on a bed of our roasted garlic mashed potatoes or our best cauliflower mashed potatoes (with boursin).

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More great lingcod recipes

  • Baked Butter Fish with Lemon Garlic Butter
  • Thai Fish Curry
  • Beer Battered Fish Tacos

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4.84 stars (96 ratings)

Favorite Lingcod Recipe (6)

Favorite Lingcod Recipe

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 10 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

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Our favorite lingcod recipe proves how flavorful simple can be. Lightly seasoned filets are pan-seared to flaky perfection and then drizzled in a rich, brown butter garlic sauce. It makes a quick and easy dinner for weeknights and it's ready in just 20 minutes!

4 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 tablespoons salted butter (see notes)
  • 1 clove garlic (finely minced)
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 tablespoon minced parsley
  • 1 pinch chili flakes
  • 4 filets lingcod
  • 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • ¼ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  • Melt the butter in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Continue to cook the butter, stirring frequently, until it is golden brown and nutty smelling. Stir the garlic into the butter then remove the pan from the heat.

    4 tablespoons salted butter, 1 clove garlic

    Favorite Lingcod Recipe (7)

  • Pour the butter into a heat-proof bowl and stir in the lemon juice, parsley, and chili flakes.

    2 tablespoons lemon juice, 1 tablespoon minced parsley, 1 pinch chili flakes

    Favorite Lingcod Recipe (8)

  • Dry the lingcod well with paper towels then sprinkle the cornstarch over both sides. Use your hands to rub the cornstarch all over the fish. Season both sides with salt and pepper.

    4 filets lingcod, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, ¼ teaspoon EACH: salt and pepper

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  • Heat the oil over medium-high heat in the same pan you used for the butter. Add the lingcod and cook for 4 minutes. Shake the pan to release the fish (if they are sticking) then carefully flip the fish over using a spatula. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until the lingcod is flaky.

    2 tablespoons olive oil

    Favorite Lingcod Recipe (10)

  • Pour the brown butter lemon sauce into the pan so that the lingcod is coated in the sauce.

    Favorite Lingcod Recipe (11)

Notes

If you only have unsalted butter, add a pinch of salt to the brown butter lemon sauce.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 piece of lingcod, Calories: 320kcal (16%), Carbohydrates: 4g (1%), Protein: 31g (62%), Fat: 20g (31%), Saturated Fat: 8g (50%), Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g, Monounsaturated Fat: 8g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 103mg (34%), Sodium: 329mg (14%), Potassium: 722mg (21%), Fiber: 1g (4%), Sugar: 1g (1%), Vitamin A: 510IU (10%), Vitamin C: 6mg (7%), Calcium: 34mg (3%), Iron: 1mg (6%)

© Author Kristen Stevens

We have thoroughly tested this recipe for accuracy. However, individual results may vary. See our full recipe disclosure here.

For more inspiration, check out all of our fish recipes!

Favorite Lingcod Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What's the best way to cook ling fish? ›

Blanch in a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes, then drain and soak in a bowl of iced water to stop them cooking. Heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat. Cook pink ling on both sides until cooked through.

What is the best cooking technique for cod? ›

Try a gentle cooking method: Instead of adding fat, you can also try a gentle cooking method like steaming or cooking en papillote. Both of these methods help to preserve Pacific cod's high moisture content and produce incredibly tender results.

Is lingcod healthy to eat? ›

Lingcod are sought for sport and food. The flesh is white with a mild flavor, and is high in protein, minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 fatty acids.

What does lingcod taste like compared to cod? ›

Lingcod is very good eating. It's very comparable to halibut and cod - almost subtly balanced between the two. It's mild flavor lends itself well to a variety of recipes. Lingcod is a lean, white fish, with a mild flavor profile similar to halibut or cod.

What is the tastiest way to cook fish? ›

Best Cooking Methods for Fish
  1. Broil. Broiling is a bit like grilling. ...
  2. Grill. Grilling fish is a summertime favorite. ...
  3. Pan Fry. Pan frying fish is a great way to get a crispy skin or crust on your fish without completely submerging your fish in oil. ...
  4. Deep Fry. Fish frys have been around forever. ...
  5. Sous Vide. ...
  6. Poach. ...
  7. Microwave.

What is the most popular method of cooking fish? ›

Frying. Frying is probably the most popular method of cooking fish. Shallow frying: The fish should be seasoned and lightly coated with flour or crumb before frying to protect it and seal in the flavour. Use a mixture of oil and butter when frying and turn the fish only once during cooking, to avoid breaking up.

Is cod better in the oven or pan? ›

Pan-frying is a great option for cod fillet or loin as there is time to produce a lovely crispy skin without overcooking the delicate, flaky flesh. This is the way cod and similar white fish are often cooked in restaurant kitchens and is very simple to do at home.

How to cook cod so it's not rubbery? ›

Temperature is the key to making sure your frozen cod doesn't turn out rubbery or chewy. No matter how you cook it, be sure that your cod reaches an internal temperature of 145˚F as measured by a food thermometer. At this temperature, its flesh will be opaque white and flake easily when pressed with a fork.

Should you rinse cod before cooking? ›

Washing raw fish carries the same risks as washing poultry — by attempting to clean your seafood in the sink, you're actually spreading harmful bacteria to surfaces that likely won't be sanitized by heat or disinfectants before they come into contact with other food, according to Reader's Digest.

Is lingcod high in mercury? ›

Toxicity report. Mercury levels in lingcod are considered to be elevated, so moderate consumption is recommended.

What is the absolute healthiest fish to eat? ›

1. Sardines. “Sardines are one of the healthiest fish to eat because they're very high in omega-3s,” says Gomer. “Sardines are eaten with the bone in, so they have calcium, and because they're so little, they haven't had a chance to acquire mercury,” she adds.

What is better, ling cod or halibut? ›

The truth is, it really depends on what you're looking for. If you want a versatile, mild fish that can be used in a variety of dishes, Pacific cod is a great choice. But if you want a more substantial fish with a slightly stronger flavor, halibut may be a better option.

What is the best cod fish in the world? ›

According to Berglund, the best cod in the world is the cod known as skrei – more on that below – which lives at the northern edge of the Barents Sea, almost closer to the North Pole than the northernmost tip of mainland Europe.

Why is lingcod meat blue? ›

This captivating hue is a natural phenomenon due to a pigment called biliverdin which can be found in the blood of some fish. While the raw Lingcod has this gorgeous blue hue, the moment it hits the pan or the grill, the blue hue vanishes, giving way to a pristine white delicacy.

Is cod tastier than tilapia? ›

Flavor & Texture

The taste of cod isn't very strong, but Atlantic cod tends to have a sweeter, more recognizable flavor. Tilapia is very mild (some call it flavorless) and has a sweetness similar to a red snapper or striped bass. It tastes less “fishy” than cod and other fish.

Is ling a good eating fish? ›

A versatile, pearly white firm flesh fish. Ling are a versatile, firm flesh fish and regarded as very good eating. Ling are widespread around New Zealand but mainly caught by trawl or longline around the bottom of the South Island, and over the Campbell Rise.

What is the best method of cooking shell fish? ›

Cooking Shellfish

The FDA suggests boiling shucked oysters for 3 minutes, frying them in oil at 375°F for 10 minutes, or baking them at 450°F for 10 minutes. Clams, mussels and oysters in the shell will open when cooked.

References

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