What Are Cod fillets and How Can I Use Them?

Here's everything worth knowing about cod fillets and how to pick them, what they are, how to store them, and what to use instead, plus 77 recipes to cook tonight.

What are cod fillets?

Cod has a flaky, white delicate flesh that can be prepared in a number of ways. Cod fillets can be roasted in the oven which helps to concentrate the flavor, poached in a flavorful court boullion, or braised in white wine. They can be served hot or cold typically with a sauce.

New England Creamed Cod

Cod benefits from careful cooking becaues of its delicate flesh and the whiteish liquid that can seep from the flesh when cooked. Overcooking hurts both the presentation and flavor. Baked cod recipes offer an excellent method for preparing this econmical fish delivering good value.

Favorite Baked Code

Pieces of cod are especially suited for poaching or cooking in the oven, many times with white wine which enchances and compliments it's delicate flavor. Cod should never be grilled or barbecued due to its delicate and flaky texture of its flesh.

It is also well suited for use in making croquettes, fish cakes, coquille dishes and gratins.

Cod fillets can be found frozen whole, or in the form of fingers coated with breadcrumbs and ready for frying.

Cod is not a fatty fish, rich in mineral salts and can be found in markets year-round.

Types of cod fillets

Specific kinds of cod fillets and the recipes that use them.

Cod fish

Cod has a flaky, white delicate flesh that can be prepared in a number of ways. Cod pieces can be roasted in the oven which helps to concentrate the flavor, poached in a flavorful court boullion, or braised in white wine. They can be served hot or cold typically with a sauce.

New England Creamed Cod

Cod benefits from careful cooking becaues of its delicate flesh and the whiteish liquid that can seep from the flesh when cooked. Overcooking hurts both the presentation and flavor. Baked cod recipes offer an excellent method for preparing this econmical fish delivering good value.

Favorite Baked Code

Pieces of cod are especially suited for poaching or cooking in the oven, many times with white wine which enchances and compliments it's delicate flavor. Cod should never be grilled or barbecued due to its delicate and flaky texture of its flesh.

It is also well suited for use in making croquettes, fish cakes, coquille dishes and gratins.

Cod fish can be found frozen whole, in fillets, or in the form of fingers coated with breadcrumbs and ready for frying.

Cod is not a fatty fish, rich in mineral salts and can be found in markets year-round.

Salt cod (bacalhau)

Salted cod is cod fish that has been preserved in salt. Salt cod, (bacalhau in Portuguese) needs to be soaked in water for at least 24 hours to re-hydrate and reduce the amount of salt.

Cod fish steaks

View cod fish steak recipes →

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find cod fillets: Cod fillets are usually found in the asian section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Cod fillets are a member of the Finfish and Shellfish Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

鳕鱼片

British (UK) term

Cod fillets

en français

Filets de morue

en español

filetes de bacalao

How much do cod fillets weigh?

Related

Finfish and Shellfish Products

Recipes using cod fillets

There are 124 recipes using and its varieties.

Seafood Burgers with Basil Tartar Sauce

Seafood burgers made from fresh cod, grilled and stacked on English muffins with grilled tomato and a zippy basil-caper tartar sauce. A light, fast fish burger that beats anything from the freezer aisle.

Herbed Fish Fillets

Oven-baked herbed fish fillets coated in seasoned cornmeal with dill, paprika, and black pepper. Crisp golden crust, tender flaky fish, ready in about 25 minutes.

Asian Sweet & Sour Cod

Asian cod recipe. Asian marinated meaty cod with a crispy coating, colorful tender-crisp veggies, all glazed with a sweet-sour sauce.

Leek-Smothered Cod

Cod or any similar white fish simply prepared smothered in tender flavorful leeks.

Easy Bake Cod

Incredibly easy to make. Great Tasting Cod with a hint of spice. Only 3 ingredients!

Bacalao

Definitely felt skeptical before making this dish, not quite sure about both the flavor and the texture. But the result was actually quite outstanding, not fishy at all, very tasty and the texture was pretty good too. Served it with a hard boiled egg, olives aside, and wine vinegar, extra-virgin olive oil drizzled on top with some fresh parsley. Great!

Favorite Baked Cod

Pretty basic, but delicious. I serve with rice pilaf and homemade cole slaw.

Bacalhau 'a Bras

A traditional Portuguese recipe. Salt cod (bacalhau) and potatoes fried to perfection. FANTASTIC!

Beer Battered Deep Fried Fish With Tarter Sauce

"This delicious fish is great to serve for lunch or for dinner. The beer batter is just the best!"

Almond Baked Norwegian Cod

An easy butter baked cod topped with crunchy almonds. No fuss, easy clean-up and tastes great. A nearly perfect fish main dish. Norwegian or Atlantic cod works well as does any other firm fleshed white fish.

Rubio's Fish Tacos

Say goodbye to bland tacos with this Rubio’s-inspired fish taco recipe. Crispy beer-battered cod, fresh corn tortillas, and zesty salsa create succulent bites that’ll leave you craving more! Great recreation of the incredible Rubio's Fish Taco. Most people get this wrong, but not this one. The CORN tortilla is vital to the flavor. Get them as fresh and thick as possible.

Broiled Cod with Paprika

Broiled cod with paprika butter sauce flavored with sautéed onion, cayenne, and lemon. Crisp browned tops, flaky tender fish, and ready in 25 minutes from a hot broiler.

Old Fashioned Cod Fish Cakes

Classic simple, quick and easy fish cakes. One cake per serving for appetizer or two cakes per person for a main dish.

Baked Crusted Cod with Italian Breadcrumbs

Meaty cod with a tasty, crusty Italian inspired fresh breadcrumb top crust. The crust bakes golden brown and delivers texture and rich flavour to the fish.

Baked Cod Provençal

Meaty cod baked in a flavorful combination of tomatoes, olives, garlic, herbs reminiscent of French Provence. This dish reflects the Provençal style through its use of tomatoes, olives, garlic, and herbs—hallmarks of the region’s rustic, flavorful fare.

New England Creamed Cod

A simple New England classic that highlights the flaky tenderness and light taste of the cod or any white fish.

Hongshao Wanyu

Hongshao wanyu: crispy whole fish (or cod fillet) pan-fried then braised in a fragrant sauce of dried tangerine peel, black bean, ginger, garlic, and dark soy. Classic Chinese technique.

Fresh & Salt Cod Cakes

Salt cod meets fresh fillets in crispy, golden cakes loaded with herbs, cayenne kick, and Old Bay vibes. Pan-fried to crunchy perfection for seafood lovers craving coastal comfort.

Firehouse Fish Feed

Firehouse-style cod baked in a roasting bag with a pound of garlic lemon butter. A big-batch fish recipe that feeds 12 and works straight from frozen.

Steamed Cod with Rice

Cod fillets brushed with oyster sauce, wrapped in napa cabbage leaves with soy-seasoned rice and ginger, then steamed into neat bundles. A light, elegant fish dinner served with mustard vinaigrette.

Codfish Omelet

A fluffy salt cod omelet made with mashed potatoes, cream, and beaten egg whites folded in for lift. This traditional bacalhau omelet is Portuguese comfort food at its simplest.

Cod in Spicy Sauce

Cod in spicy sauce is a Sichuan-leaning wok dish: egg-white-and-cornstarch coated cod fried crisp, then simmered with ground beef, silken tofu, rice wine, soy, and chili in a glossy stock.

Crowd-Pleasin' Cod Sandwiches

Open-faced cod sandwiches on English muffins with broiled tomato, topped with a sharp cheddar cheese sauce spiked with mustard, cayenne, and Worcestershire. A hot seafood lunch.

Seafood Lasagne

British-style seafood lasagne with haddock, cod, and prawns in a cheddar bechamel sauce with sweetcorn, hard-boiled eggs, and parsley. Baked golden for one hour.

Fish & Stoffle

Cod fillets baked over a savory bread stuffing seasoned with mustard, poultry seasoning, and onion. Topped with bacon for a one-pan New England fish and stuffing supper.

Moqueca De Peixe (Bahian Style Fish Stew)

Moqueca de Peixe is a Bahian fish stew with cod, fresh coconut milk, dendê palm oil, cilantro, and tomato. Authentic Brazilian flavor in 1 hour, served with rice and Farofa.

Fish Soup

Hearty fish soup loaded with haddock, cod, scallops, shrimp, and clams in a tomato broth with garlic, oregano, and bay leaves. A cioppino-style seafood stew.

Cod Fish a la Mode

Layered salt cod baked with sliced potatoes, sweet peppers, onions, and ripe tomatoes in olive oil. A rustic Portuguese-style casserole topped with hard-boiled egg and fresh parsley.

Pastel De Pescado

Pastel de pescado: a showstopping fish pie of cod and spiced Swiss chard wrapped in buttery pastry, twisted into a rustic topknot and baked golden. A centerpiece dish worth the time.

Steamed Pungent Cod with Cabbage

Cod fillet sliced and layered with napa cabbage, topped with ginger and sesame oil, steamed and served with a tangy sweet-and-sour dill pickle sauce. A unique Chinese-inspired fish dish with a surprising twist.

Stewed Codfish (Plukfisk)

Plukfisk is a traditional Danish dish of flaked boiled codfish folded into a creamy white sauce with potatoes and mustard. Cozy Scandinavian comfort food in 30 minutes.

Salted-Cod Pudding

Salted cod pudding with rice, eggs, and milk, baked until set. A traditional Scandinavian or Portuguese bacalhau-style fish pudding that's simple, high-protein, and ready in 1 hour.

Mini fish pie

This min fish pie is designed for kids, very funny looking and tastes very well!

A Jellie Of Fyshe

A Jellie of Fyshe: a medieval-style aspic of cod, scallops, and shrimp suspended in a clear gelatin set with white wine, ginger, and vinegar. The historic seafood starter for special occasions.

Fava Bean & Salt Cod Salad

Here, fava beans are paired with salt cod in a rich and filling salad. To compliment the rustic flavors of this dish, serve with toasted garlic-rubbed baguette slices and a soft goat cheese.

Bailey's Bouillabaisse (Fish Stew) with Potatoes & Vegetables

Bailey's Bouillabaisse (Fish Stew) with Potatoes and Vegetables recipe

Fish & Brewis

Traditional Newfoundland fish and brewis with salt cod, hardtack bread, and fried salt pork scrunchions. A three-ingredient Maritime classic soaked overnight.

Greek Pate

Greek taramasalata-style pate of smoked cod roe whipped with olive oil, lemon, garlic, and a fold of cream into a silky pale-pink dip, served cool with warm pita.

Family Fish Chowder

New England fish chowder with haddock, cod, bacon, and potatoes in a creamy milk and evaporated milk broth. A classic, no-frills chowder that tastes even better the next day.

Sole Steam in Corn Husks

Sole or cod steamed in corn husks with poblanos, roasted red peppers, tomatoes, and garlic. A Mexican-inspired fish preparation that cooks like a tamale with bright chile flavors and zero cleanup.

Black Miso Cod

This is a classic Japanese dish, first made famous by the chef Nobu Matsuhisa and served in all his Nobu restaurants. Serve with steamed spinach and brown /black rice or quinoa for a simple, but delicious dinner.

Hot & Sour Fish Soup

Hot and sour fish soup poaches cod in lemongrass broth with lime juice, serrano chile, fish sauce, ginger, and cilantro. Vietnamese-style canh chua, served over jasmine rice.

Cod-Potato Casserole

Salt cod and potato casserole (bacalhau) baked in tomato-parsley broth. A traditional Portuguese-style dish with flaked cod, sliced potatoes, and olive oil.

Fried Salt Cod

Greek-style fried salt cod (bakaliaros) in a light flour batter, served with skordalia. Soaked overnight, boiled, battered, and pan-fried until golden.

Herb Crusted Cod with Corn-Ginger Broth

Herb crusted cod plates a parsley-cilantro breadcrumb crusted cod fillet on wilted baby bok choy with a silky corn-ginger broth. Fusion fish dinner ready in 45 minutes.

Mariscada - Brazilian Fish Stew

Mariscada is a Brazilian fish stew built on cod, shrimp, clams, and mussels simmered with tomato, onion, coriander, and a pinch of saffron. Coastal cooking in one pot.

Olive Garden Seafood Torcello

Olive Garden copycat seafood Torcello with cod, clams, shrimp, and crab in a garlic-sherry bechamel sauce tossed with radiatore pasta. A rich, restaurant-style seafood pasta you can make at home.

Tagliatelle with Red Seafood Sauce

Shrimp, cod, and calamari sautéed with garlic and tossed with tagliatelle in a simmered tomato-wine sauce with mussels on top. A showstopping Italian seafood pasta for a crowd.

Poached Cod in Saffron Broth

Poached cod in a fragrant saffron broth with leeks, bell pepper, and tomato. A light, low-sodium fish dinner built on a slow-simmered vegetable stock with rich golden color and delicate flavor.

Golden Cod

Golden cod baked over crispy fried potato strips with shredded salt cod simmered in half-and-half and onions, topped with beaten egg and baked until golden. A Portuguese-inspired bacalhau casserole.

All 124 recipes