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Ginger Lime Black Cod

Name: Ginger Lime Black Cod
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 12 min
Total time: 50 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 clove garlic, finely grated with a rasp style grater; ½ teaspoon lime zest; 2 tablespoons lime juice; 2 tablespoons agave syrup; 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil; 1 1/2 teaspoon grated ginger root; 1 teaspoon kosher salt; 4 4-5 ounce portions black cod or sablefish fillet, about 1 pound; 2 tablespoons chopped cilantro

Jump To Recipe by Katie on June 7, 2021 // 54 Comments »

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If you ever have the opportunity to cook Black Cod or see it in the seafood market, then do yourself a favor, buy a nice big piece of it and make this Ginger Lime Black Cod recipe. I promise you will fall in love with its buttery taste and silky texture.

I originally shared this recipe on January 30, 2015. I have updated the images and text today to share it again with you. Enjoy!

Why We Love This Recipe

The flavor of the easy 30 minute marinade, made with garlic, lime zest and juice and fresh ginger is delicious with the rich tasting fish.

Black cod, also known as Butterfish or Sablefish, is actually high in Omega Three Fatty Acids; the same levels as salmon, actually! And it is low in mercury too!

Black Cod is also on the “Best Choice” list from Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch list, which means it is a sustainable choice and isn’t overfished. So you can feel at ease when you see it in the market!

It can be served with quinoa with this radish and carrot salad or roasted asparagus. Or serve it with sesame noodles and Asian Coleslaw or Simple cucumber salad.

Ingredient Notes For This Recipe

Black Cod

Black cod is commonly sold as sablefish, and sometimes also called butterfish and Alaska Cod. It is the genus Anoplopoma fimbria.

If you love Chilean Sea Bass, you will LOVE the texture of black cod, because they are very similar. It is buttery and fatty, but still velvety in texture. It is not dry like cod can be because it is not as lean.

It is usually sold with the skin on. For this recipe you will need four portions, each weighing 4 to 5 ounces. You can also purchase one larger piece of fish (1 to 1.25 pounds) and cut it into portions.

Lime and Lime Zest

We all know that lemon and fish are a match made in heaven, but lime happens to be too! For maximum lime flavor, use a rasp style grater to remove the zest from the outside of the lime, then squeeze it.

Note: I recommend buying Certified Organic citrus for zesting because the skin of conventionally grown citrus fruit can harbor pesticide residues.

Ginger

The other main flavor component is the fresh ginger root. Use a spoon to scrape the papery skin from the root, then grate it with the microplane grater. You will need 1 1/2 teaspoons for the marinade.

Garlic

To round out all the flavors, add in a clove of garlic. You can chop this by hand with a knife, or while your rasp grater is out, you can grate it! Either works!

How To Make Ginger Lime Black Cod

whisking the marinade and the fish in a bag with the marinade

Step 1: Make the marinade by whisking together the lime juice, lime zest, agave, olive oil, garlic, ginger and salt.
Step 2: Place the cod in a re-sealable plastic bag and pour in the marinade. Press the air out of the bag and seal it shut. Agitate the bag to make sure the fish is coated in the marinade. Refrigerate it for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

the fish before and after it is cooked on a baking sheet

Step 3: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Drain the fish and discard the marinade. Lay the fish skin side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment.
Step 4: Bake the fish until it just flakes apart when tested with the top of a knife. Serve immediately with cilantro.

FAQs For This Recipe

Where To Buy Black Cod

Most Black Cod is fished in the Pacific, so unless you are in a larger metropolitan area or on the West Coast of the US you will likely have to buy it frozen. It is often available in mail order direct to customer fish companies.

What kind of fish is a good substitute for Black Cod or Sablefish?

If you cannot find black cod (sablefish), sub another mild buttery fish such as Monkfish (Anglerfish) or Chilean Sea Bass (Patagonian Toothfish), make sure to check the Seafood Watch App from Monterey Bay Aquarium to source Best Choice or Certified sustainable fish.

What is the difference between Cod and Black Cod?

Black Cod (Anoplopoma fimbria) is a different fish entirely. Atlantic Cod (Gadus Morhua) is from the Atlantic Ocean and much less fatty. It is flaky and a little dry by comparison. It doesn’t make a great substitute.

More Healthy Seafood Rrecipes

Our Cod Fish Tacos with easy Avocado Crema are ready in only 20 minutes.
This family friendly Baked Fish Sticks recipe works with any variety of flaky white fish.
This Fish Casserole is a take on my grandmothers recipe. It is topped with Swiss cheese, caramelized onions and fresh bread crumbs and it is marvelously good!
This Shrimp and Garlic Sauce is one of the fan favorites here on the blog from years and years ago. Try it over pasta!
Our Baked Salmon in Foil is a foolproof way to bake salmon in the oven.

Thanks so much for reading. If you are new here you may want to sign up for my free weekly email newsletter or follow me on instagram. If you make this recipe, please come back and leave a star rating and review! It is very appreciated. Happy Cooking! ~Katie