Air Fryer Cod with Butter and Lemon
A quick and healthy recipe for tender cod cooked in the air fryer with butter and lemon.
Steps
- 1
Preheat the air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for 5 minutes.
- 2
Lightly grease the basket with cooking spray (if using). Place fish fillets in a single layer.
- 3
Season each fillet with salt and pepper. Top with a pat of butter and a lemon slice.
- 4
Cook for 10-13 minutes, depending on thickness. Fish is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
- 5
Serve with tartar sauce and/or a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
Shopping list
700g cod fillets, 3 tbsp butter, 1 lemon, salt, pepper
Recipe story
In the royal kitchens of 19th-century Vienna, delicate fish was cooked with butter and lemon to highlight its purity. This tradition has been reinterpreted in the air fryer, a modern appliance that preserves the essence of speed and health. Legend has it that North Sea fishermen added lemon to keep the fish fresh. The recipe has evolved over time, becoming a classic dish in many cultures.
Ingredient Secrets
Black pepper
Known as 'black gold' in antiquity, pepper was so valuable that it served as currency and tribute. In the Middle Ages, Venetian merchants controlled the pepper trade, and individual peppercorns were often counted. Legend has it that when Alaric, king of the Visigoths, demanded tribute from Rome, he included 3,000 pounds of pepper.
Sea salt
Sea salt, extracted from ocean waters by evaporation, was one of the most precious goods of antiquity, used both as food and as currency. In ancient Rome, soldiers were paid with salt, which is the origin of the word 'salary'. Salt roads connected entire civilizations, and in the Middle Ages, salt was so valuable it was called 'white gold'.
Lemon
The lemon is an ancient hybrid between citron and bitter orange, likely originating in northern India or China. In the Middle Ages, lemons were so valuable that they were given as gifts to kings. Fun fact: during the Gold Rush, British sailors were given lemons to prevent scurvy, leading to the nickname 'limey'.
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