Cajun Blackened Cod is a super easy less than 15 minute meal that even the picky fish eaters will love. Perfect with a drizzle of lemon or in a fish taco.
Can you get your kids or meat eaters in the family to eat fish? And just as a FYI fish fingers do not count...!
If fish is on the menu for dinner, my boys usually make the usual face expression like they just bit into a sour lemon, or immediately make plans to eat at their friend's house or if that fails they have been known to fake the flu...Usually fish for dinner does not go over well.
However, I found the perfect solution for picky fish eaters that even teenagers and grown meat-eater men will love and that is my Cajun Blackened Cod. Delightful spices that tingle the tongue and wake up the senses with earthy cumin, spicy chili, tasty taco seasoning and of course a little garlic for good measure is all you need to make your meat eaters like fish. With your first bite, the spices hit your tongue and the moist flaky texture is perfect all on its own but with a little drizzle of lemon on top is just pure heavenly.
If you are looking for more delicious Low Carb fish recipes, be sure to try our...
Healthy Mediterranean Baked Fish
Grilled Swordfish with Summer Vegetable Crab Salad
Lemon Herbed Baked Rainbow Trout
The trick is in the iron skillet
The iron skillet gets really hot and is a good conductor of heat and when you add the spices it seals the outer section of the fish with a crust of "blackened" spices and seals in the juicy flaky fish. If you do not have an iron skillet you can still make this in a regular pan but the fish may not get as golden/blackened crust but the taste is still great.
Spice it Up!
I think the secret for getting "anti-fish eaters" to like fish is to disguise the fish taste. I am not suggesting that you dress the fish up like Mr. Steak but adding some zesty spices transforms the usual scary baked smelly fish into something they do not even think is fish. I used a pre-made taco seasoning but you can make your own with a mixture of chili powder, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes.
You can use any white fish you like but I had cod on hand and it worked like a charm. Last week I made Cajun Blackened catfish and made delicious fish tacos with a chipotle rainbow slaw and the boys devoured it in nano seconds. It's all about disguising the fish!
Cajun Blackened cod is a quick meal for any busy weeknight as from start to finish it is less than 15 minutes and I even made a salad with a Lemon White Balsamic Vinaigrette . Even if your fish are still frozen when you come home from work, you can get them unfrozen by running cold water over it and within 15 minutes they are unfrozen and you are in business.
Whether you eat the blackened Cajun cod with just a drizzle of lemon with a healthy veggies on the side or wrapped up as fish tacos, I am sure this will be a big hit with even your picky fish eaters.
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Cajun Blackened Cod
Ingredients
- 2 pounds cod fillets 4 with bones removed (or any white fish you like such as tilapia, mahi maui, catfish etc)
- 2 teaspoon chili powder
- 2 teaspoon cumin powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoon taco seasoning ( or your own homemade version with chili powder, paprika, onion powder, sea salt, garlic powder, cumin, oregano, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and red pepper flakes)
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
( or other light flavored high heat tolerance oils as desired- do not use olive oil) - 2 tablespoon lemon juice drizzle of lemon juice - optional
Instructions
- Wash and dry your fish well with paper towels.
- Coat front and back of fish with chili powder, cumin powder, garlic powder, pepper, taco seasoning.
- Place canola oil in iron skillet and heat to high medium heat.
- Sauté fish for 2-3 minutes on each size, depending on the size of your fish or until flakes easily with your fork.
- Drizzle a little lemon juice on top and serve with a delightful veggie medley or inside your favourite fish tacos.
Notes
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika
½ teaspoon dried oregano
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper (if desired)
Heidi | The Frugal Girls says
I am loving your cajun seasoning blend. This is such a fun way to infuse some tantalizing flavors into dinner!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Heidi! In order for the boys to even go near fish we totally have to disguise it as something else. Fish tacos to the rescue!
Fenby, Gerald & Linda says
This is delicioius!! I have never received compliments about my cooking fish, but I just made this, and my family loved it. Putting fish, with this coating on it, into a hot iron skillet....it's a great reciple.
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much Lynn. The iron skillet is the secret to a delicious seared blackened fish. Delighted to hear that your family enjoyed our Cajun Blackened Cod.
Becky says
We love Blackened fish. I don't like the smell or the cleanup, but its a Friday favorite here.
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Becky, don't you wish sometimes that we could just snap our fingers and the kitchen would tidy itself up! The good news is that this recipe does not smell fishy but more like a bbq essence. Always best though to turn on the stove top vent or crack open up a window slightly when cooking blackened fish.
Aubry says
We love blackened fish -- except for the smoke in the kitchen
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Aubry, yes the best way to deal with that is to put the stovetop exhaust on and/or open up a window. However, it is really worth it as this fish is really fabulous in fish tacos.
Donna Smith says
You're so right about the trick being the iron skillet. I've tried to do blackened cod before, but it never works out! I never thought to use the iron skillet, but it worked like a charm! Great recipe!
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much. The iron skillet is the secret to success. Wishing you a super holiday season. Stay well and take care
Larry says
I am not a big fish guy -- but blackened is okay.
Have you ever used these in a sandwich?
In Clearwater there is a famous place for blackened grouper sandwiches.
HWC Magazine says
Hiya Larry! Our Cajun Blackened Cod is fantastic in sandwiches and in fish tacos. Even our boys that are not big fish eaters like this recipe.
Barb says
Are the little seeds sesame?
HWC Magazine says
Hiya Barb, actually that is part of the seared crust that happens when you blacken the fish with spices and sear it in an iron skillet.
Raul says
I love the coating on this fish. It must take way my fish smell or taste. Good for the kids
HWC Magazine says
Thanks so much. Even our picky kids love this recipe. We love it in fish tacos too. Stay well and take care
Cal says
My pal made this two weeks ago for a Friday fish party. Perfect. A big surprise it was so easy and different from the old standby. Mmm
HWC Magazine says
So happy to hear Cal. We are glad you enjoyed this easy less than 30 minute dinner. Take Care
Kenny says
Not a big fish fan -- but this looks like the fish taste would be hidden from the spices and the grilling
HWC Magazine says
Thank you Kenny. The Cajun seasonings and the blackening of the cod are a great way to disguise fish. Our kids, love Cajun Cod in fish tacos too. Wishing you a super week ahead.
Kev says
Gonna make this next
HWC Magazine says
Hi there Kev, happy to hear that you have been enjoying our recipe. Wishing you a super week ahead.
Angela says
Hello. Thank you for your recipe. Could you give the amounts for the ingredients in the taco seasoning? Thank you
HWC Magazine says
Absolutely Angela! This homemade taco seasoning mix makes 3 tablespoons but you will only need 2 teaspoons for our Cajun Blackened Cod recipe, so you will have a little extra for another recipe. Take Care
1 tablespoon chili powder*
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon paprika (I prefer smoked paprika)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (if desired)
Jane Saunders says
Think you may have made this recipe just for me. I have only just got my kids (14 & 11 nearly) to eat salmon. They have been stubborn fish haters. I'm now on a mission to push forward so I think serving in bites as an appetiser might be the way to tempt them here but I know all those flavours are right up their alley.
HWC Magazine says
Hiya Jane! We know exactly how you feel. Our boys were a hard sell on anything with fish. However, this flavor profile with Tex Mex flavors and a very mild fish will help them forget all about the fish. Throw this cajun cod in some tacos with lots of toppings and I bet they will change their minds. Take Care
Bernice says
This Blackened Cod looks incredible - Cod is one of my favorite fishes!
Barbara Bamber | justasmidgen says
I'm so glad you shared these little insights with me! My son will eat any fish dish ( catchy eh? ) that I make.. and then starts snacking on anything he can get his hands on because he's still ravenous. Seafood just isn't the sort of meal he would devour the way any dish made from meat does. I hadn't thought of "disguising" fish like that.. and I'm definitely going to try these because my other "picky" eater suggested we have a white fish for a change (tired of my salmon recipes, lol). So.. thank you!! xx