Butter Poached Cod

Tender, flaky, and rich in flavor, Butter Poached Cod is one of the easiest and most delicious ways to prepare fresh fish at home. Poaching cod in clarified butter (or ghee) gives it a luxurious texture and a delicate taste that melts in your mouth. Honestly, you will think it’s lobster!

With just a few simple ingredients and minimal prep time, this easy cod recipe is perfect for weeknight dinners. Plus, it pairs beautifully with everything from steamed vegetables to rice, or a fresh salad.

Clarified butter is the key here, as it allows you to cook the cod gently, without browning the butter or risking a burnt flavor. I’ll also show you how to make your own clarified butter, but store-bought ghee works just as well if you’re short on time.

Why You Will Love This Butter Poached Cod Recipe

• Tender and Flaky Texture: Poaching cod in clarified butter ensures the fish stays moist, tender, and perfectly flaky—never dry or overcooked.
• Rich, Buttery Flavor: Clarified butter adds a deep, rich flavor that elevates simple cod to restaurant-quality fish.
• Simple, Quick, and Elegant: This easy butter poached cod recipe comes together in just over 30 minutes, less if you are using store-bought ghee.
• Versatile Pairings: Serve your butter poached cod with rice, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a simple green salad. There are so many pairing options!
• Great for Low-Carb and Keto Diets: Naturally low in carbohydrates and high in protein, butter poached cod is an excellent option for low-carb and keto-friendly meals.

What is Clarified Butter

Clarified butter is regular butter that has had its water content and milk solids removed, leaving behind pure butterfat. It is ideal for cooking at higher temperatures because it has a higher smoke point than regular butter and won’t burn as easily.

Here’s what happens when you make clarified butter:

• You gently melt the butter.
• The water in the butter evaporates.
• The milk solids separate and sink to the bottom, while foam rises to the top.
• You skim off the foam and carefully pour off the clear, golden butterfat, leaving the milk solids behind.

Why use clarified butter?

• It gives dishes a rich, pure butter flavor without the risk of burning.
• It is perfect for poaching fish, sautéing, and searing.
• It can be stored for weeks in the fridge.

Ghee is a type of clarified butter that is simmered a little longer, giving it a slightly nutty flavor and longer shelf life.

• Cod → Substitute with halibut, haddock, sea bass, grouper, snapper, or tilapia. Any firm white fish will work well.
• Clarified butter → Use ghee (store-bought or homemade). In a pinch, you can also use olive oil or a blend of butter and olive oil, but clarified butter gives the best flavor and texture.
• Seasonings → Feel free to season the cod with your favorite seasonings.
• Crushed red pepper → Omit for a milder flavor or replace with a pinch of Aleppo pepper, smoked paprika, or a few red pepper flakes for gentle heat and a little smoky depth.

How to Make Butter Poached Cod

1. Make the clarified butter.
2. Season the cod on both sides with salt and black pepper.
3. Add the clarified butter to a large, shallow pan or skillet, enough to fully cover the bottom of the pan and partially submerge the cod fillets.
4. Stir in the crushed red pepper.
5. Heat the butter over medium to medium-low heat—you want the butter to be warm, but not bubbling vigorously.
6. Place the cod fillets into the butter. Allow them to gently poach for 8–12 minutes, depending on thickness. Spoon the warm butter over the top of the cod as it cooks.
7. The cod is done when it is opaque, tender, and flakes easily with a fork.
8. Carefully remove the cod with a slotted spatula.

How to Serve and Store Leftovers

• Serving Ideas:
  • Serve over a bed of rice or mashed potatoes.
  • Pair with roasted potatoes, asparagus or green beans.
  • Top with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon, or try drizzling the fish with homemade basil oil.
• Storing Leftovers:
  • Store leftover butter poached cod in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days.
  • Reheat gently in a pan over low heat with a bit of reserved clarified butter. Avoid microwaving to prevent overcooking the fish.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Can I use ghee instead of clarified butter? Yes! Ghee is essentially clarified butter and works perfectly for this recipe.
• How do I know when the cod is done? The cod should be opaque all the way through and flake easily when you insert a fork. Avoid overcooking to keep it moist and tender.
• Can I use other types of fish? Absolutely. Halibut, haddock, sea bass, or even salmon are excellent choices for butter poaching.
• Can I add herbs or aromatics to the butter? Yes, you can infuse the clarified butter with fresh thyme, rosemary, garlic, or lemon slices for added flavor.
• Is this recipe low-carb or keto-friendly? Yes, butter poached cod is naturally low in carbs and suitable for keto and low-carb diets.
• What can I do with the leftover clarified butter? You can absolutely reuse the leftover clarified butter for poaching more seafood! It will be infused with flavor from the cod and crushed red pepper. Strain the butter to remove any solids, then store it in the refrigerator for up to one week. Use it to poach shrimp, scallops, lobster tails, or another batch of fish.
• Does all of the clarified butter end up in the finished dish? No. The clarified butter is used as a poaching medium—most of it stays in the pan. Only about 1 tablespoon of butter per fillet will cling to the fish or be spooned over it when serving. The rest can be strained and reused to poach more seafood, or discarded.

More Cod Recipes to Love

• Pan Fried Cod with Lemon Butter Sauce
• Baked Cod with Brown Butter
• Crunchy Baked Cod
• Mediterranean Baked Cod in Parchment
• Cod with Cherry Tomatoes
• Blackened Cod with Creamy Pan Sauce
• Oven Roasted Cod with Mediterranean-Style Sauce
• Pan Seared Cod Picatta
• Poached Cod with Tomatoes and Caperberries
• Crunchy Cod Fish Sticks
• Baked Cod with Creole Sauce

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GET TO KNOW ME!

WELCOME! My name is Melissa Latin aka. Charlotte Fashion Plate. Happy to meet you! I am more than just recipes. I love fashion and style too! Most importantly, I love my Family (my Hubby and my Fur Babies). My Husband (aka my “Kitchen Bitch”) means the world to me. He’s pretty damn cool too. Not only is he one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, he also has had a lengthy career in professional hockey. Not only winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early ’90’s, but most recently winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers, amongst many other accolades. If you live in Charlotte and play hockey, or have a family member who plays, be sure to contact him!

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