Name: Pan-Seared Cod in Butter Leek Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: serves 2 people
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 2 tbsp butter; 2 large leeks; 1 tbsp whole grain dijon mustard; 60 g dry white wine (1/2 cup) (for example Pinot Grigio); 120 g water (1 cup); 100 g thinly sliced pancetta (3.5 oz); 1 tbsp olive oil; 350 g cod fillet (12.4 oz) (4 small fillets); 1 tbsp butter (to finish the sauce); 2 tbsp roasted hazelnuts, chopped (optional)

Pan-Seared Cod in Butter Leek Sauce

If you love seafood, then I am sure you're going to love this simple cod dish. Jernej first made a similar dish a couple of weeks back, at the seaside, on vacation. Even though we were in Croatia, sadly, there weren't many local fishes available and also we didn't want to buy fishes that were from thousands of miles away. So one of the local wild fishes available was hake. Jernej bought a large hake, then used half for fish soup and the other half to make this incredibly tasty treat. Pancetta-wrapped hake fillets. It was so good and so simple, that we knew immediately that we need to share the recipe with all of you guys. Instead of hake, we are using cod in this recipe (feel free to use hake as well). The cod is flaky, light and melt-in-your-mouth delicious and we love the meaty aroma from the pancetta as well. The sauce is incredibly flavorful, mustardy and buttery. IT IS SO GOOD!

Pan-Seared Cod in Butter Leek Sauce

You guys are so going to love this one! It looks so fancy with that wrapped pancetta, but it's really easy to make and so so so flavorful. It's the perfect Mediterranean lunch or dinner, made in just 30 minutes. We love:

tender and flaky cod fillets
the slightly meaty flavor from that crispy pancetta
buttery, mustardy and light leek sauce
low-carb and keto-friendly
fast weeknight dinner
a healthy, flavorful dish
gluten-free recipe

You can also use frozen cod in this recipe, but make sure to pat dry it well before pan-searing. Fresh or frozen hake will work too.

How to pan sear cod?

Pan searing is easy. Get a non-stick pan. Using non-stick pans is better because the cod is flaky and delicate and might stick when you try to flip it around, especially when wrapped with pancetta.

Pan-sear for 2 minutes on each side or until the pancetta is crispy, then we will finish it off in the oven. In the oven, bake for 6 - 8 minutes if you're using a cod fillet that's about 2 cm or 1-inch thick, otherwise adjust the cooking time, depending on the thickness of your fillet. The cod fillet is cooked, when it flakes easily with a fork. Make sure not to overcook it, it cooks fast.

What to serve with Pan-Seared Cod?

We usually serve this quick pan-seared cod with a light salad, but since the sauce is so good, creamy and delicious, we suggest serving it with:

Try these tasty fish recipes as well

METHOD

leek sauce

Place a skillet over medium-low heat. Add butter to the skillet and let it melt. Clean and cut your leeks into 5 cm or 2-inch chunks. Add them to the skillet. Increase the heat to medium-high. Season with salt and pepper. Add whole grain dijon mustard, stir to combine. Pour in the dry white wine (for example Pinot Grigio) and water. Leave to simmer over low heat for 15 - 20 minutes.

Tip

You can substitute white wine with 1 tbsp of lemon juice.
sear the cod

Pat dry your cod fillets. Season with salt and pepper on both sides. Wrap each fillet tightly in a couple of slices of pancetta. Get a non-stick pan. Place it over medium-high heat. Add 1 tbsp of olive oil. Place each pancetta-wrapped cod fillet into a hot (but not smoking) pan seam side down. Sear each fillet for 2 minutes on each side.
Bake the cod and serve

Transfer the seared cod to a baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or use an oven-safe pan). Place in the preheated oven. Bake for 6 - 8 minutes at 200 °C / 400 °F. Remove from the oven. Remove the leek sauce from the heat, stir 1 tbsp of cold butter into the hot leek sauce, let the butter melt, then serve the cod with the silky, mustardy butter leek sauce immediately. Optionally sprinkle with chopped roasted hazelnuts. Enjoy.

Tip

In the oven, bake for 6 - 8 minutes if you're using a cod fillet that's about 2 cm or 1-inch thick, otherwise adjust the cooking time, depending on the thickness of your fillet. The cod fillet is cooked, when it flakes easily with a fork. Make sure not to overcook it, it cooks fast.