Seasoned Cod Fish with Lentils and Avocado
This cumin seasoned cod with lentils and avocado feels fancy without being complicated. The fish is flaky and flavorful, the cumin-spiced lentils and veggies are hearty and healthy, and the avocado and lime keep everything tasting super fresh. It’s the kind of meal you make on a random weeknight that you can’t wait to make again.
What we love about this seasoned cod dish is the balance. The fish is super light but the lentils make it filling, and the avocado and lime add brightness and fresh flavor. It’s satisfying without being rich and hearty without being overwhelming. This healthy feel-good dinner is easy to make and even easier to enjoy.
Pull Up A Chair
Rachel: I actually never really liked fish much (except salmon), but this recipe has made me love cod! It reminds me of an amazing dish I had at a tapas restaurant years ago.
Emily: It’s honestly so good. If you serve this to people, no one would believe how easy it is to make and how quickly you can put it together.
Why This Fish Dish Just Works
- Super healthy and light. Even with a little butter, this dish is packed with protein, fiber, and other heart healthy ingredients.
- Golden fish with bold spices. Pan searing the cod for a few minutes on each side caramelizes the spices without overcooking the fish.
- Fresh and bright from lime and avocado. We’re all about fresh citrus and avocados here in California, and this recipe showcases their best qualities.
- Naturally gluten-free and protein-packed. No flour or other thickeners in this dish, just tons of protein from the fish and lentils and lots of fresh flavors. Just make sure to use gluten-free vegetable broth to avoid any unwanted gluten.
- Feels “restaurant-y” but made at home. It literally tastes like something you’d order at a restaurant that makes you wait 45 minutes for a table outside. But this time, you can make it at home, in your kitchen, whenever you want. No waiting required.
Ingredients in This Fish and Lentils Dinner
- Seasoned cod filets – cod is light, cooks quickly, and it has a very mild flavor. For the cod fish seasoning, use a blend of cumin, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and salt and pepper.
- Veggies and lentils – sweet or yellow onions and Swiss chard give this dish nutrients and bulk. Using cooked lentils (steamed or canned) make this recipe come together super quickly and easily. Season the veggies and lentils with cumin, salt, and pepper.
- Avocado – the avocados get buttery and soft when mixed with the lentils and veggies at the end, and they add a nice creaminess to the dish.
- Vegetable broth and lime – the lentils and veggies need some liquid to make them come together.
How To Make Seasoned Cod with Lentils
Prepare the fish. Mix the seasoning ingredients together for the fish. Pat the fish dry and distribute the seasoning onto both sides of each filet. Set aside.
Cook the Veggies and Lentils. Add butter to a large pan over medium heat, then add the onions and cook for 3-5 minutes. Add the chard to the same pan and cook for another 3-5 minutes or until it’s slightly wilted. Mix in the lentils and season with salt, then add the broth and cumin and reduce the heat to low. Let the veggies simmer for about 10 minutes while you cook the fish.
Cook the Fish. Heat oil in a pan. When the oil is hot, add the fish, cooking for about 4-6 minutes on the first side. The exact timing will vary depending on the thickness of the fish filets (if your fish is very thick, you may need more time; if it’s very thin, you’ll need less time). Flip your fish over to cook the other side, then add a little butter to the pan. Use a spoon to baste the fish with the butter. Cook for about 3-5 minutes on this side, or until the fish registers 130°F to 135°F with an instant read thermometer. Remove the fish from the pan and let it rest. The fish will continue to cook from residual heat as it rests.
Finish the Veggies and Lentils and Plate the Seasoned Cod. To finish the lentils, mix in butter and the lime juice. Taste for salt and cumin and add more, if desired. Remove the lentils from the heat and gently mix in the avocados. Spoon some lentils and avocado onto a plate and top with a piece of the pan fried cod. Garnish with chives and flaky salt, if desired.
Our Tips for Seasoned Cod and Lentils
What To Serve With Seasoned Cod
We like to serve this seasoned cod and lentils with dinner rolls or parmesan bread on the side. It’s great for dinner or even a fancy lunch, and leftovers keep well too. Just store them in an airtight container in the fridge for a few days.
How To Store and Reheat This Recipe
Store any leftovers of the fish and lentils in separate airtight containers in the fridge for a couple of days.
We recommend reheating the seasoned cod and lentils in a pan. No one likes microwaved fish, so if reheating it in a pan isn’t an option, you can also enjoy the leftover fish cold.
Seasoned Cod Fish with Lentils and Avocado
Ingredients
Seasoned Cod
- 4 filets cod about 2 pounds
- 1 tsp cumin
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp onion powder
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tbsp butter
- Diced chives (optional)
- Flaky sea salt (optional)
Lentils and Avocado
- ½ onion (yellow or sweet) diced
- 6 cups Swiss chard, chopped about 1 bunch (bigger stems removed)
- 2 cups cooked lentils steamed or canned
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1 tsp cumin
- 2 avocados cubed
- 1 tbsp lime juice (about 1/2 a lime)
- 2 tbsp butter, divided
- ¼ tsp Salt plus more to taste
Instructions
Prepare the Fish
- Mix the seasoning ingredients together for the fish.1 tsp cumin, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp garlic powder, ¼ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp black pepper
- Pat the fish dry and distribute the seasoning onto both sides of each filet. Set aside.
Cook the Veggies and Lentils
- Add 1 tbsp butter to a large pan over medium heat, then add the onions and cook for 3-5 minutes.2 tbsp butter, divided, ½ onion (yellow or sweet)
- Add the chard to the same pan and cook for another 3-5 minutes or until it's slightly wilted.6 cups Swiss chard, chopped
- Mix in the lentils and season with salt. Add the broth and cumin and reduce the heat to low. Let the veggies simmer for about 10 minutes while you cook the fish.2 cups cooked lentils, 1 cup vegetable broth, 1 tsp cumin, ¼ tsp Salt
Cook the Fish
- Heat 2 tbsp of oil in a pan. When the oil is hot, add the fish, cooking for about 4-6 minutes on the first side. Note: the exact timing will vary on the thickness of the fish filets (if your fish is very thick, you may need more time; if it's very thin, you'll need less time).2 tbsp olive oil, 4 filets cod
- Flip your fish over to cook the other side, then add 2 tbsp of butter to the pan. Use a spoon to baste the fish with the butter. Cook for about 3-5 minutes on this side, or until the fish registers 130°F to 135°F with an instant read thermometer. Remove the fish from pan and let rest. The fish will continue to cook from residual heat as it rests.2 tbsp butter
Finish the Veggies and Lentils and Plate the Fish
- To finish the lentils, mix in 1 tbsp of butter and the lime juice. Taste for salt and cumin (add more, if desired).2 tbsp butter, divided, 1 tbsp lime juice (about 1/2 a lime)
- Remove the lentils from the heat and gently mix in the avocados.2 avocados
- Spoon some lentils and avocado onto a plate and top with a piece of the pan fried cod. Garnish with chives and flaky salt, if desired.Diced chives (optional), Flaky sea salt (optional)
Did you make this?
We’d love to hear from you! Leave a comment or rating below
Final Thoughts
This fish and lentil recipe is so good, it’ll turn any lukewarm fish fan into a fish enthusiast (we can attest to that!). So if you’re hoping to add more fish to your diet, or if you just love fish already and want to eat more of it, then you need to make this recipe! If you do, let us know how it turns out by leaving us a comment below or tagging us on Instagram!
If You Love Seafood, Here Are Some Others You’d Like
- Sweet and Smoky Salmon (our go-to weeknight fish dish)
- Shrimp Salad with Tartar Dressing (tastes like popcorn shrimp, but in a lighter salad form!)
- Thai-Inspired Coconut Lemongrass Fish(so creamy, so coconutty, and super flavorful)
This was so delicious! I felt like I was on a beach somewhere 😍
So glad you liked it!
I love the idea of mixing the veggies, lentils and avocado together. I’m a big fan of all of those three ingredients. Thank you so much for this recipe!
You’re so welcome! We love this combination too. It feels and tastes so special.
We made the seasoned cod fish with lentils and avocado last night and enjoyed it very much. I didn’t pay enough attention when I purchased the cod, and bought thicker filets then I should have and so I needed to cook them a little longer and they did not come out as flaky as they could have been. Still a very flavorful and enjoyable meal. Thank you .
So glad you liked it! And that completely makes sense. The cook times will vary depending on the thickness and overall size of the cod filets. So if you’re using larger filets, you may need a little extra cook time.