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Cooking Culmination

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Sample recipes are home-cooking guides and have not been professionally tested. Nutrition values are rough estimates. Always check ingredient labels for allergens.

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British Pan-Seared Cod With Creamy Watercress Sauce · Cooking Culmination

Discover / British

Editorial sample recipeBritishbeginnerGluten-Free

British Pan-Seared Cod With Creamy Watercress Sauce

Name: British Pan-Seared Cod With Creamy Watercress Sauce
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: British
Ingredients: 4 piece cod fillets, skinned and patted dry; 2 tbsp unsalted butter; 3 cup fresh watercress, tough stems removed; 0.5 cup heavy cream; 2 clove garlic, minced; 1 tbsp lemon juice, freshly squeezed; 1 tbsp olive oil; 0.5 tsp salt; 0.25 tsp ground black pepper

A refined coastal British dish featuring golden pan-seared cod fillets over a velvety, peppery watercress cream sauce.

Prep: 15 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 30 min

🥘

Ingredients

Servings

4 piece cod filletsskinned and patted dry
2 tbsp unsalted butter
720 ml fresh watercresstough stems removed
120 ml heavy cream
2 clove garlicminced
1 tbsp lemon juicefreshly squeezed
1 tbsp olive oil
½ tsp salt
¼ tsp ground black pepper

Allergen information

This recipe contains or may contain:

fish
milk

Based on ingredient names only. Brands differ and cross-contact can happen — always check labels.

Technique to learn

Pan-Searing

Cooking high-protein ingredients in a hot pan with fat to develop a savory brown crust while retaining moisture.

Instructions

Step 1: Season the cod fillets evenly on both sides with salt and black pepper.
Step 2: Heat the olive oil and half of the butter in a heavy skillet over medium-high heat.

Step 3: Add the cod fillets and sear undisturbed for 4 minutes until a deep golden crust forms.

Step 4: Flip gently and sear for an additional 3 minutes until flaky, then transfer cod to a warm plate.

Step 5: Reduce heat to medium, melt the remaining butter, and sauté minced garlic for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 6: Stir in the fresh watercress and cook for 1 minute until completely wilted.

Step 7: Pour in the heavy cream and lemon juice, simmer for 2 minutes, then blend into a smooth sauce using an immersion blender and serve beneath the cod.

Cooking tips

Do not crowd the skillet when searing the fish to ensure a crisp crust.
Blend the watercress quickly to preserve its vibrant green color.
Original home-cooking adaptation inspired by British; regional versions vary.
Use halal-certified meat, poultry, stock, sauces, cheese and other processed ingredients. Check labels and avoid cross-contamination. Recipe screening is not halal certification.