Gluten Free Mediterranean Baked Cod

If your weeknights feel like a race you didn’t sign up for, Gluten Free Mediterranean Baked Cod is about to become your delicious little lifeline. It’s bright, cozy, and somehow tastes like you put on real pants and went to a seaside restaurant… even if you’re cooking in yoga leggings while answering emails and refereeing a snack dispute.

This Gluten-Free Mediterranean Baked Cod with Lemon and Garlic checks all the “busy-but-still-wants-a-great-dinner” boxes: quick prep, simple steps, and a lemony garlic sauce that makes the kitchen smell like you’ve got your life together. (We don’t need to discuss whether that’s true. The cod doesn’t judge.)

Let’s make magic.

Why You’ll Love This Gluten Free Mediterranean Baked Cod

• Fast but fancy: It’s weeknight-easy, but the sear + lemon-garlic butter moment screams “special occasion.”
• Light, not boring: Bright citrus, warm spices, and garlic bring big flavor without heaviness.
• Picky-eater friendly: The seasoning is flavorful, not fiery (and you can dial the heat up or down).
• Minimal drama: One skillet, quick bake, and a sauce you’ll want to spoon over everything.

Ingredients You’ll Need

For the cod

• 1.5 lb cod (sustainably sourced if possible)

For the coating

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp ground coriander (freshly ground if you can—wow)
• 3/4 tsp paprika
• 3/4 tsp ground cumin
• 3/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

Quick gluten-free note: Your recipe name is gluten-free (love that!), but regular all-purpose flour isn’t. Easy fix: swap in a 1:1 gluten-free all-purpose flour blend or even rice flour. You’ll still get that lovely light crust.

For the lemon sauce

• 6 tbsp lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
• 5 tbsp olive oil (good quality extra virgin)
• 2 tbsp butter (Kerrygold unsalted is dreamy)
• 6 garlic cloves (finely minced)

For serving

• 1/4 cup fresh parsley (finely chopped)

How to Make Gluten Free Mediterranean Baked Cod with Lemon and Garlic

Step 1: Prep the fish and spice coating

1. Pat the cod dry with paper towels. This is not optional if you want a good crust. Moist fish = sad sear.
2. In a small bowl, mix:
   • flour (use gluten-free 1:1 if needed)
   • coriander, paprika, cumin
   • salt, pepper, red pepper flakes
     Stir until everything looks evenly blended.

Aneta’s little kitchen confession: When I freshly grind coriander seeds right before cooking, I feel like a fancy chef for five seconds. And honestly? The aroma really is better. Tiny effort, big payoff.

Step 2: Make the lemon-garlic sauce

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together:
   • lemon juice
   • olive oil
   • butter (melt it slightly first so it blends smoothly)
3. Stir in the minced garlic.

This becomes your “basting magic”—it keeps the cod tender and gives it that glossy, restaurant-style finish.

Step 3: Coat and sear (the flavor-maker step)

1. Dip the dried cod into the lemon-garlic mixture, coating both sides.
2. Immediately dredge it in the flour-spice mixture, shaking off excess.
3. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers.
4. Sear the cod 2 minutes per side until golden.

This is the moment where your kitchen starts smelling like you should charge admission.

Step 4: Bake and finish

1. Pour the remaining lemon-garlic sauce over the seared fish.
2. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake 8–10 minutes, until the fish is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
3. Sprinkle with fresh parsley right before serving.

Serve straight from the skillet (fewer dishes = joy), and spoon those pan juices over each portion like you mean it.

Cooking Tips That Make This Even Easier

• Cod thickness matters: Thicker fillets may need the full 10 minutes (or a touch more). Thin pieces cook fast—keep an eye on them.
• Don’t overbake: Cod goes from perfect to dry quicker than a kid changes their mind about dinner.
• No oven-safe skillet? Sear in a pan, then transfer everything to a baking dish and pour the sauce on top.
• Garlic burns easily: Mince it fine, but don’t let it sit in screaming-hot oil alone. The sauce protects it while baking.
• Want extra saucy vibes? Add 1–2 more tablespoons of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon at the end. No one will complain.

And if your sauce looks a little separated at first—don’t panic. Give the skillet a gentle swirl. It comes together like it was always the plan.

A Little Story From My Kitchen

This dish became one of my go-to “I need dinner to feel like a win” meals. The first time I made it, I was tired, hungry, and not in the mood to babysit a complicated recipe. I pulled it out of the oven, spooned that lemon-garlic sauce over the top, and suddenly the whole evening felt lighter—like the food did some emotional support work.

Now it’s my favorite when I want something comforting but not heavy. Also, it’s one of those meals that makes people say, “Wait… you MADE this?” which is always a fun moment.

FAQs About Gluten Free Mediterranean Baked Cod

Bring Some Mediterranean Sunshine to Dinner

If you’ve been craving something fresh, cozy, and just a little impressive without extra effort, this Gluten Free Mediterranean Baked Cod is it. That lemon, garlic, and buttery olive oil sauce is the kind of simple magic that makes a regular Tuesday feel like a small celebration.

Make it once, and I bet it’ll slide right into your “repeat forever” list—especially when you want a Gluten Free Mediterranean Baked Cod with Lemon and Garlic that tastes fancy but fits real life. Now go grab that skillet… and let your kitchen do the flirting.

Keep the Mediterranean Magic Going

If you loved the bright, cozy flavors in this Gluten Free Mediterranean Baked Cod, here are a few tasty next stops on Chicken Magic Recipes—perfect for rounding out the meal or planning your next easy dinner (because decision fatigue is real):

• Pair it with a warm, zippy bowl of Lemon Chickpea Orzo Soup when you want something cozy that still tastes fresh and sunny.
• Craving more of that “Mediterranean dinner at home” feeling? Try Mediterranean Chicken with Roasted Red Pepper Sauce for another saucy, flavor-packed main.
• If lemon + garlic is your love language, you’ll probably swoon over Creamy Lemon Salmon Piccata—it’s weeknight-friendly but feels a little fancy.
• Need a simple, fresh side to balance everything out? Scoop up Homemade Greek Potato Salad for a tangy, herby plate-filler that plays so nicely with fish.

And if you make this recipe, I’d love to hear how it went—please leave a quick review with ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (or whatever feels honest!). Your star rating helps other readers feel confident cooking it too.

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