Soy-Honey Alaska Cod Recipe with Sunkist® Lemon (2024)

by Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

October 2, 2015•8 comments

Soy-Honey Alaska Cod Recipe with Sunkist® Lemon (2)

Alaska cod is an incredibly family friendly fish–mild and flaky, it easily takes on any flavor you throw at it. Itis also a sustainable fish, making it an easychoice to increase your family’s fish consumption!

Why I Created This Cod Recipe

I created this cod recipe for Sunkist® and Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. The deep, savory flavors of the soy sauce and sesame oil are highlighted by the fresh Sunkist® lemon, plus a touch of honey for sweetness. With only ten minutes of prep time and ten minutes to cook, dinner is done in a flash!

Disclosure: Sunkist and Alaska Seafood compensated me to create this cod fillet recipe for an event. I just wanted to make sure you got to try it, so I posted it here for you.

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Print Recipe

Soy-Honey Alaska Cod Recipe with Sunkist® Lemon

4 Alaska cod fillets (about 1 pound), thawed
1 Sunkist® lemon
1 1/2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce, like San-J, my fave brand
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons dark sesame oil
1/4 teaspoon dried ginger OR 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Zest the lemon and then cut the lemon into wedges.

Combine the lemon zest, soy sauce, honey, oil, ginger and red pepper flakes in a broiler-safe baking dish or pan (about 8 by 8 inches).

Add Alaska cod to the dish, turning fish over to coat all sides.

Let stand 10-15 minutes to marinate. For a richer taste, marinate the cod for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, set the cod on the counter for 15 minutes to take off the chill.

Set broiler temperature to high; move oven rack to 7 inches below the broiler element.

Turn cod in marinade again just before broiling, and tuck in any thin cod end pieces to prevent overcooking.

Cook just until cod is opaque throughout, about 5-8 minutes.

Spoon cooked marinade over the cod and serve with lemon wedges.

This fish spatula is a must for handling cooked, delicate fish:

Soy-Honey Alaska Cod with Sunkist® Lemon

By Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian NutritionistPublished: October 2, 2015

Yield: 4 filets (4 servings Servings)
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 10 mins
Ready In: 20 mins

I created this cod recipe for Sunkist® and Alaska Seafood Marketing Institute. The deep savory flavors of the soy sauce and sesame oil are highlighted by the fresh Sunkist® lemon. The cod's natural sweetness is complimented with a touch of honey.

Ingredients

1 pound Alaska cod
1 Sunkist® lemon
1 1/2 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons dark sesame seed oil
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger or
1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes

Instructions

Zest the lemon and then cut the lemon into wedges.
Combine the lemon zest, soy sauce, honey, oil, ginger and red pepper flakes in a broiler-safe baking dish or pan (about 8 by 8 inches).
Add Alaska cod to the dish, turning fish over to coat all sides.
Let stand 10-15 minutes to marinate. For a richer taste, marinate the cod for up to 4 hours in the refrigerator. When ready to bake, set the cod on the counter for 15 minutes to take off the chill.
Set broiler temperature to high; move oven rack to 7 inches below the broiler element.
Turn cod in marinade again just before broiling, and tuck in any thin cod end pieces to prevent overcooking.
Cook just until cod is opaque throughout, about 5-8 minutes.
Spoon cooked marinade over the cod and serve with lemon wedges.

Cuisine: healthy Japanese recipes
Course: Entrée
Skill Level: Easy

Recipes

8 Comments

Arlene says:
November 15, 2017 at 6:12 pm
Hi Michelle, Thank you for all your delicious recipes! Is it possible to “bake” the cod instead of using a broiler?
Reply
1. Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist says:
  November 18, 2017 at 11:44 am
  See Also
  This is the recipe for How to Make Sugar Free Egg Nog
  Hi Arlene,
  You are so very welcome! Yes, you can definitely bake it. I think I’ve done 375 degrees for about 10 minutes, or until cooked through. It depends on the thickness of the fish. Good luck!
  Michelle
  Reply
Diane says:
March 12, 2020 at 4:28 pm
Just made your marinade to put on veggies to roast in the oven. Loved it on fish so thought it may also be delicious on veggies.
Reply
1. Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist says:
  April 10, 2020 at 9:34 am
  Hi Diane,
  That is so cool! Thanks for letting me know. I’ll have to try that! Sounds delish.
  Thanks for sharing.
  Michelle
  Reply
Terry says:
April 9, 2020 at 6:55 pm
What carb and or veggies would go with this?
Reply
1. Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist says:
  April 10, 2020 at 9:33 am
  Hi Terry,
  Stir-fried or roasted broccoli, sautéed spinach, steamed asparagus, to name a few. Any Asian veggie stir-fry. And some sort of rice, for sure!
  Thanks.
  Michelle
  Reply
Lisa Horsman says:
January 24, 2023 at 5:47 pm
i served it with cauliflower rice and it was delicious 😋
Reply
1. Michelle Dudash, Chef and Registered Dietitian Nutritionist says:
  February 19, 2024 at 2:28 pm
  Thrilled to hear that, Lisa! Thank you for letting me know.
  Reply

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Soy-Honey Alaska Cod Recipe with Sunkist® Lemon (2024)

FAQs

Why is my Alaskan cod tough? ›

When you overcook fish, it can become dry, tough, and lack flavor. Overcooked fish loses its natural moisture, which can result in a dry and chewy texture.

Is Alaskan cod Pacific cod? ›

Alaskan Cod, also called Pacific Cod, is a beautiful white-fleshed fish that is commonly found in the waters of the North Pacific. It offers a mild, versatile flavor as well as a firm, flaky texture. It's famously used for Fish & Chips and is also tasty as a savory bake or roast.

Discover More Details ›

How do you cook cod so it's tender? ›

Use a good quality extra-virgin olive oil or grass-fed butter to enhance the flavors in your dish and help the fillet retain a moist, tender texture. Try a gentle cooking method: Instead of adding fat, you can also try a gentle cooking method like steaming or cooking en papillote.

Discover More Details ›

How do you make cod less tough? ›

The secret to cooking perfectly moist and flaky fish is to avoid overcooking it. The use of fat and lemon juice in this Whole30 cod recipe locks in the natural moisture of the fish and helps it cook in a quick manner. As a result, you should never have dry, rubbery fish again.

Is cod as healthy as salmon? ›

So, we can conclude that cod may be better for your health than salmon, considering certain factors such as calories and saturated-fat content. However, if you are more focused on increasing folate and good fats, then perhaps salmon is a better choice. It depends on your health condition and priorities.

What is the texture of Alaskan cod? ›

Wild Alaska cod has moist, firm fillets, a distinctive large flake and a slightly sweet flavor.

Explore More ›