Skip to main content
Stories from Norway

Pimp up your cod

Learn some culinary secrets that will make everyday cod dishes even more delicious. With these tips from a professional on how to cook Norwegian cod, you'll soon be a master chef yourself!

Pimp up your cod

Delicate and delicious cod

Norwegian cod is well known for its lean and flaky texture, and its mild, yet somewhat buttery flavour. Its white and delicate meat makes it perfect for many different seafood dishes. This sustainable white fish can handle anything, including being seared, baked, poached, broiled, grilled or battered. The list goes on. Luckily, you don’t need to be an expert to get it right. With these clever tricks and heavenly cod recipes, we will show you just how quickly and easily you can pimp up your cod.

"Cod is a sublime fish that you can do almost anything with."
Ine Gaarder
Food stylist

Pan-fried cod with a twist

Ine Gaarder is a 31-year-old Norwegian food stylist who has been styling and preparing seafood for almost 10 years. Part of her job is to find new and trendy recipes that have a really appetising look.

“Unfortunately, cod has acquired an unfair reputation for being boring. In my opinion, it is a sublime fish that you can do almost anything with. It is just about finding the right inspiration,” she says.

Its lean yet firm texture makes Norwegian cod highly suitable for pan-fry recipes. Add a little bit of butter and lemon juice to enhance the clean flavour of the cod.

Pimp up your pan-fried cod with a spicy fish taco.

How to prepare cod

Norwegian cod is a great choice for anyone who loves a pure flavour and easy preparation. Follow these simple guidelines to enhance Norwegian cod’s juicy and flaky texture.

Firstly, do not overcook the cod. It is the most common mistake and it will leave you with a less than desirable and dry result. To keep the flesh juicy and tasty, the trick is to keep a close eye on it when it is cooking. Pan-frying cod should take about 2 to 3 minutes. It usually takes about 20 minutes to oven-bake cod. And never leave cod in boiling water. Bring the water to boiling point, then turn down the heat as you put the fresh or defrosted cod in the pan.

When pan-frying cod, a good tip is to keep the skin on in the frying pan. This will allow the cod to remain nice and intact, whilst achieving a crispy and flavoursome skin. Sprinkling a little salt over the fresh cod beforehand will help to ensure that it remains in one piece in the pan.

Oven-baked cod

Oven-baked cod with vegetables is another classic way to prepare an everyday seafood meal. Not only does it taste delicious, it basically cooks itself. To add a little extra umph, it is often enough to simply add a few extra ingredients. Ine Gaarder recommends getting inspiration from different food traditions around the world such as Greece. For a Greek-inspired cod meal, add olives, feta cheese, cherry tomatoes and tzatziki.

Quick and easy ways to cook frozen cod

Oven-baked recipes are a phenomenal way to use frozen cod. Place the half-frozen cod in an ovenproof dish and nestle among your vegetables with just one teaspoon of olive oil. Both the fish and the vegetables will be ready at the same time.

As an experienced food stylist, Ine Gaarder explains that the best and easiest way to defrost cod is to put it in a clean and sealed plastic bag and leave it in a bowl of cold water for 20 minutes. This allows the cod to retain its pure taste and flaky texture.

A sustainable dinner choice

Norwegian cod lives wild and free in the ice-cold waters of the Barents Sea. The fish thrives in this environment where it develops strong muscles and incredibly firm flesh.

Even though cod lives freely in the wild, this is not a sufficient reason to claim that it is sustainable. In order for cod to be a sustainable choice for consumers, it has to be sustainably managed. Norway’s long coastline and centuries-long fishing history have made Norwegians experts in cod fishing. We are also world leaders in marine research.

Smart stock calculations, stringent quota systems and our world class research enable us to successfully regulate fish stocks. This ensures the stocks and important marine ecosystems are well protected, so we can continue to sustainably harvest and enjoy Norwegian cod for generations to come.

Enjoying the pure taste of Norwegian cod is the easy part.