Grilled Cod Recipe, Gyro-Style (2024)

If you're looking for an easy fish dinner, you'll love this healthy Mediterranean pan grilled cod recipe! A simple Mediterranean spice rub and an amazing lemon basil sauce take this perfectly crispy, flaky fish to a new level of delicious!

You can serve it with your favorite sides like Greek lemon rice and salad. But, I highly recommend you try it gyro-style, wrapped in warm pita and loaded with bright Mediterranean favorites. I show you exactly how we do this below, be sure to get all my tips!

More seafood recipes: Greek Baked Cod; Sicilian Fish Stew; Easy Mediterranean Shrimp

Grilled Cod Recipe, Gyro-Style (1)

I'd put "how to grill fish in a pan" up there among what I consider essential cooking skills like how to make a pot of rice, or how to turn a can of beans into a satisfying dinner (vegan chili anyone?)

If you can learn how to make something like this pan grilled cod--and trust me, anyone can--you'll have a tasty and healthy dinner in minutes any night of the week!

Grilled Cod Recipe, Gyro-Style (2)

How to Make this Pan Grilled Cod

This grilled cod recipe takes very little work and only about 6 minutes to cook! You don't even need to fire up the grill, a cast iron pan or non-stick skillet will work. Personally, I prefer cast iron because the fish gets more golden and crispy.

To make it, we start by giving the fish fillets a quick spice rub. Cod has a delicate texture with a very slightly sweet flavor; you can't go wrong with a quick spice rub to give it a bit of flavor. I chose oregano, coriander, cumin, and a hint of sumac (gives it some tang.) Feel free to play with other spice combinations to your liking.

Grilled Cod Recipe, Gyro-Style (3)

Then, we grill the fish on medium-high heat in a lightly-oiled pan or skillet. It takes about 3 minutes or so on each side.

I highly recommend that you make the lemon basil sauce to top the hot grilled fish; takes the flavor to a new level of delicious!

How do you Know the Grilled Fish is Ready?

With this grilled cod, grill time will vary depending on thickness of your fish fillets. Mine was about 1.5 inches thick. You are basically looking for the fish to have a nice golden crust on the outside. The flesh should also turn fully opaque and should flake easily with a fork.

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How to Serve Grilled Cod, Gyro Style?

It's totally cool if you just want to have this quick grilled cod with some Greek lemon rice along with Greek salad and some hummus for dinner.

But, if you're anything like me, you might like to serve it gyro-style. If you're familiar with what "gyro style" means, think fish tacos but with warm pita and lots of Mediterranean fixings.

You'll need:

  • A few loaves of pita bread (or for low-carb, do large lettuce leaves to act as wraps)
  • Tzatziki sauce
  • 3-Ingredient Mediterranean Salad
  • Pitted olives

What I typically do is set everything out buffet-style, or on a large tray or board,and let everyone assemble their own gyro sandwiches.

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Prep and Make-Ahead Tips:

This pan-grilled fish is quick and is meant to be prepared fresh and enjoyed immediately. You can certainly prepare the gyro items the night before. Tzatziki sauce can be made and stored in tight-lid container in the fridge.

You can also chop the Mediterranean salad ingredients and refrigerate in another container; for best results, do not mix the salad and hold off on dressing until closer to serving time.

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Grilled Cod Recipe, Gyro-Style (7)

Grilled Cod Recipe, Gyro-Style

  • Author: Suzy Karadsheh
  • Total Time: 11 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4 or more 1x
Print Recipe

Description

Mediterranean pan-grilled cod recipe with lemon basil sauce. Serve it with your favorite sides, or try it gyro-style wrapped in warm pita with Mediterranean favorites like tzatziki, olives and more!

Ingredients

Scale

Spice Rub

  • 1 ½ tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp ground coriander
  • 1 tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp garlic powder (optional)
  • ½ tsp sumac

For Fish

  • Greek extra virgin olive oil (I used Private Reserve)
  • 1.5 lb/ 680.4 g cod fillet (or another white fish fillet of your choice
  • Kosher salt
  • Black pepper

Lemon Basil Sauce

  • ⅓ cup Greek extra virgin olive oil (use Private Reserve or Early Harvest)
  • 1 large lemon, juice of
  • 1 to 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 8 to 10 basil leaves, thinly chopped
  • Salt and pepper

Fixings To Serve Gryro-Style

  • Lemon Wedges
  • Greek pita bread (or lettuce wraps for low-carb option)
  • Tzatziki Sauce Recipe
  • 3-Ingredient Mediterranean Salad Recipe
  • pitted marinated olives

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, combine the spices to make the spice rub
  2. Pat fish fillets dry and season well on both sides with kosher salt and black pepper, then rub all over with the spice rub. Set aside for now.
  3. Prepare the lemon basil sauce. Simply combine all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl or mason jar. Whisk well together. Set aside.
  4. If serving this grilled fish gyro-style, prepare the pita etc. Prepare Tzatziki sauce according to this recipe, and prepare the Mediterranean salad according to this recipe.Set aside for now.
  5. Coat the bottom of a large cast iron skillet (or a non-stick skillet) with extra virgin olive oil. Warm skillet over medium-high heat until the oil is just shimmering but not smoking.
  6. Add fish fillets and grill on one side for about 3 minutes or so without moving it (the underside should look golden and crispy). Then, using a fish spatula, turn it over to the other side (it should release easily from the pan). Grill for another 3 minutes or until this side turns nice and crispy as well. (You'll know your fish is ready when it turns opaque all the way through and flake apart easily.)
  7. Serve fish hot. Add a splash of fresh lemon juice on top and a generous drizzle of the lemon basil sauce.
  8. To assemble grilled fish gyros, use 1 pita wrap (or large lettuce leaf) per person. Swipe a bit of tzatziki sauce over the pita, add the grilled fish and lemon basil sauce, then add a bit of the Mediterranean salad and olives to your liking. Wrap or fold pita and enjoy!

Notes

  • Cook's Note: Grill time will vary depending on thickness of your fish fillets. Mine was about 1.5 inches thick. You are basically looking for the fish to have a nice crust on the outside. The flesh should also turn fully opaque and should flake easily.
  • Cook's Note: You can use other lean white fish fillets here. Sea bass, grouper, haddock, catfish, and snapper would work.
  • Prep and Make-Ahead Tips: this pan-grilled fish is quick and is meant to be prepared fresh and enjoyed immediately. But, if you plan to serve it gyro-style, budget some time for prep. You can certainly prepare the gyro items the night before. Tzatziki sauce can be made and stored in tight-lid container in the fridge. You can also chop the Mediterranean salad ingredients and refrigerate in another container; for best results, do not mix the salad and hold off on dressing until closer to serving time.
  • Other Serving Suggestions: this grilled fish can also be great served in bowls with Greek lemon rice, Greek salad, and some classic hummus.
  • Visit The Mediterranan Dish store for our Greek extra virgin olive oils and all-natural and organic spice collection.
  • Nutrition information is for grilled fish only. Visit the other recipes listed for their respective nutrition information.
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 6 mins
  • Category: Fish and Seafood
  • Method: Pan Grilled
  • Cuisine: Mediterranean

Keywords: Grilled Cod, Grilled Fish, Mediterranean Fish

I'm Suzy; born and bred right on the shores of the Mediterranean. I'm all about easy, healthy recipes with big Mediterranean flavors. Three values guide my cooking: eat with the seasons; use whole foods; and above all, share! So happy you're here...
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Grilled Cod Recipe, Gyro-Style (2024)

FAQs

What is the best cooking technique for cod? ›

Try a gentle cooking method: Instead of adding fat, you can also try a gentle cooking method like steaming or cooking en papillote. Both of these methods help to preserve Pacific cod's high moisture content and produce incredibly tender results.

How do you cook cod without it being rubbery? ›

The secret to cooking perfectly moist and flaky fish is to avoid overcooking it. The use of fat and lemon juice in this Whole30 cod recipe locks in the natural moisture of the fish and helps it cook in a quick manner. As a result, you should never have dry, rubbery fish again.

Does cod take longer to cook? ›

Whereas fresh cod might take 15 minutes, frozen will take around 20 to 25 minutes. Preheat the oven to 425˚F. Season your cod to your liking, or whip up a quick sauce.

Should cod be soaked before cooking? ›

Soaking is the most important step in preparing salt cod. Most recipes say to soak for 24 hours. However, this is risky and may leave the fish too salty. About 48 hours is a better bet.

Is cod better in the oven or pan? ›

Pan-frying is a great option for cod fillet or loin as there is time to produce a lovely crispy skin without overcooking the delicate, flaky flesh. This is the way cod and similar white fish are often cooked in restaurant kitchens and is very simple to do at home.

Why is my cod tough and chewy? ›

When you overcook fish, it can become dry, tough, and lack flavor. Overcooked fish loses its natural moisture, which can result in a dry and chewy texture.

How do you cook cod without overcooking? ›

The Directions
  1. Dry and season the fillets. (Drying is key to searing!)
  2. Lay the fish in a preheated, oiled skillet.
  3. Cook (undisturbed) for 2 to 3 minutes.
  4. Flip the fillets over, then add the butter. Baste the fish with the butter.
  5. Cook until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
  6. Top with herbs and lemon. DIG IN!
Feb 19, 2024

Why is my cod falling apart? ›

As fish cooks, proteins in the muscle fibers coagulate and the flesh changes from translucent to opaque in appearance. When the collagen softens in heat, it loses its structure and turns to gelatin; the muscle fibers have little to hold them together and the fish separates easily into flakes.

Why does cod go bad so fast? ›

Cold waters also give fish their highly unsaturated fats. Such fats have an irregular structure that leaves them fluid and biologically useful at low temperatures, but also more susceptible to attack by oxygen, which speeds spoilage. So fish spoil faster than meats, and fatty fish from cold waters spoil the fastest.

Can cod be slightly undercooked? ›

Undercooked cod occurs when the fish hasn't reached a safe internal temperature, allowing harmful bacteria and parasites to survive. While cod is generally considered safe to eat when cooked properly, inadequate cooking can pose health risks.

Why does my cod taste fishy? ›

Fish tastes "fishy" when it hasn't been handled properly. To avoid "fishy" fish, smell and feel it. It should have a fresh and mild odor. It should be firm to touch and spring back into place.

What is the cod fish technique? ›

The procedure can be used to identify individual chromosomes, rearrangements between chromosomes, and the location within a chromosome of specific DNA sequences such as centromeres, telomeres, and even individual genes.

Why do you salt cod before cooking? ›

Salting fish, like sea bass fillets, before cooking helps to firm up the flesh and improves the texture. If you've travelled much in Spain or Portugal you will no doubt of seen salt cod, or bacalao on the menu – this is where the fish is covered in salt for days to remove all the moisture.

What is the best cooking method for fish and why? ›

Make sure to cook your fish in a way that doesn't overwhelm the flavor. The level of fat in the meat. Leaner types of seafood dry out more easily, which makes them better suited for wet cooking methods like steaming and poaching. Fatty fish like tuna and salmon, on the other hand, are ideal for grilling and roasting.

Why do you cook cod in milk? ›

When poaching fish in whole milk, the fat keeps the fish incredibly moist while infusing it with a delicate sweetness. Choose a pan that allows the fish to fit snugly in a single layer. Creamy baby potatoes and tender leeks and fennel add flavor and texture to this luscious, simple meal.

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