This Mediterranean baked cod is a fresh, flavorful meal that’s quick and easy to put together. Flaky white fish is baked with olives, tomatoes and onion.
Mediterranean Baked Cod is a Weeknight Staple
This Mediterranean baked cod has become a regular in our dinner rotation. It has the big, bold flavors that I love in Mediterranean recipes, it’s simple to put together, and it looks beautiful in the baking dish. This recipe is also delicious with salmon or your favorite fish.
A flavorful mixture of olives, garlic, onion and seasonings enhances the flavor of white fish that would otherwise taste plain on its own. Coarsely chopping the olives, onions and tomatoes ensures that you get a little bit of everything in every bite. This baked cod is ready in just 30 minutes, perfect for a weeknight!
How to Make Mediterranean Baked Cod
Season the cod. Pat the cod fillets dry and place them in a baking dish. Squeeze the juice of ½ of a lemon over the fish, then season it with sweet paprika, salt and pepper.
Make the olive mixture. Stir together the cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, green olives, red onion, olive oil, garlic and dried oregano. Spoon this mixture on and around the cod in the baking dish.
Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes, until the fish is cooked through. It’s done when it flakes easily with a fork and the center is 145°F.
Recipe Tips and Variations
- You can use any type of white fish (halibut, tilapia, sea bass, etc.) or even salmon in this recipe. Adjust the baking time as needed to cook the fish until it flakes easily with a fork and reaches 145°F in the center.
- If using frozen fish, thaw it in a dish of cool water right before cooking. It may take a little longer to cook through because it will likely still be very cold in the center.
- Try adding canned, drained artichoke hearts to the olive mixture. They go great with the Mediterranean flavors in this recipe!
What to Serve with Baked Cod
I usually keep this dinner simple, serving the Mediterranean baked cod with some sliced crusty bread or Roasted Potatoes on the side. Focaccia Bread is also delicious with this baked cod, or try Rice and Sautéed Zucchini.
More Easy Seafood Recipes
Love seafood? Me too! Try one of these favorite seafood recipes next:
- Shrimp Pasta. Easy and delicious, with lemon, garlic and Parmesan.
- Baked Salmon. This recipe has converted salmon skeptics to salmon lovers!
- Fish Tacos. With easy cabbage slaw and the best fish taco sauce!
- Salmon Bowls. With rice, mango and avocado these are a go-to dinner in my house.
- Mediterranean Tuna Salad. One of my favorites for lunch.
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Mediterranean Baked Cod
Ingredients
- 4 cod fillets, about 5 ounces each
- ½ lemon
- ½ teaspoon sweet paprika
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives, coarsely chopped
- ⅓ cup pitted green olives, such as Castelvetrano olives, coarsely chopped
- ⅓ cup diced red onion
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- chopped fresh parsley, for serving
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F.
- Pat cod fillets dry and place them in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Squeeze some lemon juice (about ½ of a lemon) over the fish, then evenly sprinkle on the sweet paprika and season generously with salt and pepper.4 cod fillets, ½ lemon, ½ teaspoon sweet paprika, salt and pepper
- In a medium mixing bowl, combine the cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, green olives, red onion, olive oil, garlic and dried oregano. Stir gently to combine. Spoon this mixture on and around the cod in the baking dish.1 cup cherry tomatoes, ⅓ cup pitted kalamata olives, ⅓ cup pitted green olives, ⅓ cup diced red onion, 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, 3 cloves garlic, 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until cod is cooked through (it should register 145°F in the center and flake easily with a fork, see note). Serve, sprinkled with chopped fresh parsley if desired.
Notes
- Frozen fish: Thaw it in a bowl of cold water right before cooking. It may take a little longer to cook through since the center will likely still be very cold, even if thawed.
- You can use any type of white fish (halibut, tilapia, sea bass, etc.) or even salmon in this recipe. Adjust the baking time as needed to cook the fish until it flakes easily with a fork and reaches 145°F in the center.
