Garlic Butter Cod Florentine with White Wine Cream Sauce. That is one among my favourite fancy-but-easy dinners. Every little thing comes collectively in a single skillet with cod fillets (although any white fish and even salmon works superbly), butter, garlic, a splash of white wine, and a contact of cream to create a lightweight, creamy Parmesan sauce with child spinach and contemporary basil. End all of it with crispy bacon for the right salty crunch. It’s easy sufficient for a weeknight dinner, but elegant sufficient for entertaining.

I’ll be the primary to confess, fish isn’t at all times my household’s favourite dinner, so I don’t prepare dinner all of it that usually. However I do know so lots of you like lighter fish dinners, particularly through the summer time months.

Just lately, I used to be chatting with a reader who inspired me to share a cod recipe for summertime. Everytime you all ship recipe requests, I at all times attempt to create one thing even higher than what you imagined.

My concepts began to wander a bit, however I stored coming again to the fish dinners my Nonnie used to make for my grandpa. She liked a creamy sauce and sometimes made a Florentine-style dish with shrimp. I can nonetheless keep in mind her conserving white wine within the fridge and spinach tucked away within the freezer so she might throw collectively a simple dinner at any time. My grandpa completely liked it.

I recreated her recipe right here utilizing cod instead of the shrimp and added crispy bacon for further taste and texture. The salty crunch from the bacon pairs so completely with the flaky fish and creamy sauce. Should you don’t eat pork, prosciutto can also be scrumptious right here.

These are the small print

Components

• cod – each contemporary and frozen cod fillets work nicely right here. I take advantage of frozen most frequently.
• bacon – provides a salty, crispy end that takes this dish excessive.
• olive oil
• salted butter
• contemporary thyme
• garlic
• chili flakes
• white wine – provides brightness and depth. Should you don’t prepare dinner with wine, use white grape juice, apple juice, or just water
• complete milk or cream – creates a lightweight, creamy sauce. For a dairy-free possibility, use full-fat coconut milk
• parmesan cheese – freshly grated Parmesan melts finest and offers the sauce the richest taste
• frozen spinach – ensure to thaw and squeeze out any extra water
• contemporary basil

Kitchen Instruments

You actually solely want one giant skillet for this recipe. I really like utilizing a forged iron skillet as a result of it offers the cod probably the most lovely golden sear and provides a lot taste to the sauce. A fish spatula is useful for flipping the fillets with out breaking them aside, and freshly grated Parmesan really makes a distinction, so in case you have a microplane, positively use it. Apart from that, simply maintain just a few paper towels close by to pat the fish dry earlier than cooking. That’s the key to getting a superbly crisp, golden crust each time.

The Steps

Step 1: Get the Bacon Crispy

Begin by cooking the bacon till crisp. Switch it to a plate and reserve it for serving, however depart all these flavorful drippings within the skillet. That’s the place a lot of the flavour comes from, and it makes the sauce further scrumptious in a while.

Tip: I at all times sneak just a little piece of bacon whereas I prepare dinner. It solely feels honest in any case that ready.

Step 2: Prep and Sear the Cod

Whereas the bacon cooks, pat the cod dry and season it nicely with salt and pepper. I most frequently use frozen cod for this recipe, so don’t really feel such as you want something fancy. Simply ensure it’s absolutely thawed and patted dry earlier than cooking.

Add the olive oil and butter to the skillet. As soon as the butter is melted and starting to bubble, add the cod. Let it prepare dinner till deeply golden, then rigorously flip and prepare dinner till flaky. Fish cooks shortly, so regulate it. As soon as performed, switch the cod to a plate.

Tip: The key to getting that stunning golden crust is ensuring the fish is totally dry earlier than it hits the skillet.

Step 3: Create the Florentine Sauce

To the identical skillet, add the garlic, thyme, and chili flakes. As quickly because the garlic turns into aromatic, pour within the wine and let it simmer for a couple of minutes. Should you don’t prepare dinner with wine, white grape juice, apple juice, or just water all work nicely too.

Stir within the milk or cream and the Parmesan. Add the spinach and prepare dinner till wilted and warmed by.

Tip: Freshly grated Parmesan makes all of the distinction right here. It melts into the sauce superbly and offers it the very best taste.

Tip: I really like utilizing frozen spinach as a result of it’s simple to maintain readily available and helps this recipe come collectively even sooner.

Step 4: Add the Cod Again

Slide the cod again into the sauce and spoon a few of that creamy goodness over high. Let every little thing simmer collectively for a minute or two so the fish can absorb all that taste.

Tip: That is when the entire kitchen begins smelling actually good.

Step 5: End It Off

End with the crispy bacon, contemporary basil, and a sprinkle of flaky sea salt. The basil provides the prettiest contemporary end and makes the entire dish really feel further summery.

Serve instantly with crusty bread, roasted potatoes, or no matter you’ve gotten readily available for absorbing each final spoonful of sauce.

Tip: Don’t skip the flaky sea salt. It’s a small contact, nevertheless it actually brings every little thing collectively.

This put up was initially printed on June 8, 2026