Hey! I'm Des!
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Crispy Cod with Sage Butter
Ok. Ok. Ok. I know I posted a butter recipe just the other day and today I am already sharing another one. But I really just couldn’t help myself. You see, earlier this week I was reminded that just about a year ago Ryan and I were eating our way across Italy for the 2nd time in as many years. This time we had unbelievably fresh seafood Milan, perfectly medium rare steaks in Siena and fried zucchini flowers in Rome. And while personally, I think the food was the best in Siena, there was one meal, in Bellagio, that I still think about to this day. And today, I share it with you.
When we sat down and scanned the menu at Trattoria San Giacomo on that breezy evening, it didn’t take long for my eyes (and stomach) to lock into the idea of the pan fried perch with sage butter sauce. And when it arrived, believe me when I tell you that first bite was pure heaven. It was crunchy, tender, buttery and the sage gave it a nice earthy flavor. I don’t know what the etiquette is in Italy so I had to resist the urge to lick my plate clean, but I may have ran my finger along the edge just to get the last bit of butter sauce.
Note: I couldn’t find perch here so I went with cod. You could use any other firm white fish you like. Halibut would be good and I also happen to like tilapia like this.
Crispy Cod with Sage Butter Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 pound cod fillets
- salt and pepper
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup panko bread crumbs
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 8 sage leaves
Instructions
Rinse and pat dry the cod fillets. Slice them into 3 inch pieces. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper.
Set up an assembly line. Place the flour in one bowl. Beat the eggs in another bowl and place the bread crumbs in the third bowl.
Dredge a piece of fish into the flour then the egg and then press into the bread crumbs. Repeat until all fish are coated.
Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Drop a piece of panko bread crumbs into the oil and if it sizzles the oil is hot enough. Cook fish 5 - 7 minutes or until golden brown on each side.
While fish is cooking, melt butter over low heat. Once butter is melted add sage leaves. Continue to cook until sage leaves brown slightly. Low heat is the key here, you want to be careful not to burn the butter.
Once fish is cooked through, transfer to a plate and spoon sage butter over the top. Serve.
Notes
Enjoy!
Hey! I'm Des!
Welcome to Life’s Ambrosia where Dinner is served and memories are made. Here you will find over 1000 tried and true recipes for every possible occasion. In the last 10 years, this blog has helped millions of families put dinner on the table and create food memories. Let me help you too.
Have new recipes emailed to you.
Norm Stangl
February 19, 2021 at 7:02 pmWe made this tonight with Cod. No disappointment at all.
Thankfully we had fresh sage in the fridge and panko in the cupboard. We always keep a store of flash frozen fish varieties on hand.
The only change up that I made to the recipe was to substitute the flour with corn starch.
The crispy sage leaves were a nice treat with the complimenting sage butter pairing wonderfully with the crunchy cod nuggets.
We live on the shores of Lake Erie so I can’t wait to pick up some fresh perch filets to make this again the Trattoria way. It’s so simple and quick to make too, with a giant payoff.
This recipe definitely goes into the favourites file.
Deseree
February 19, 2021 at 11:40 pmThank you, Norm! I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed it!
Alison Young
July 10, 2020 at 5:59 amI am trying this one tonight. It sounds divine. Just wondering what to serve it with. Any ideas?
Deseree
July 10, 2020 at 9:16 amOh! I hope you enjoy it! I think it would be great with garlic mashed potatoes and a salad. Or if you’re looking for something a little lighter try my garlic rice :) https://www.lifesambrosia.com/garlic-rice-recipe/
Tom Fenimore
April 12, 2020 at 10:33 amAwesome dish! Made it last night for my wife and I. We love cod and had some in the freezer. I was watering our garden yesterday and saw the sage growing so nicely. Thought I wonder if someone has a sage recipe for fish. Did a search and found this wonderful, easy recipe!
Thanks so much. This one is a keeper.
Deseree
April 12, 2020 at 9:12 pmYou are so welcome Tom! So happy you and your wife enjoyed it!
Nick
April 22, 2013 at 2:53 pmI had Cod in the fridge, amazingly I also had fresh sage. Thought would give it a go, winner! Will be revisiting
Deseree
October 2, 2010 at 6:47 amYou’re welcome Cindy! I’m happy to hear your family enjoyed it :)
Cindy
September 30, 2010 at 10:49 amI made this for dinner on Tuesday of this week. My family enjoyed it. Very YUMMY!! Thanks for the post.
Jenn's Food Journey
September 25, 2010 at 6:47 amHow could this not be good? Crispy, buttery…..sounds perfect!
Susan Marie
September 24, 2010 at 4:02 pmItaly is all about the love of food, after all! One of the greatest memories of our trip 2 years ago was the farmhouse we rented in Tuscany, away from the major tourist attractions. Every day we would go into the village to shop, and I would cook our main meal. The villa had herbs and some vegetables growing in the garden, so I took advantage of it all! Anyway, I have since planted sage at home, and it has taken off like a weed – I wasn’t expecting that to happen here in Texas! I haven’t had it with fried fish, but I will be trying this recipe soon. Thanks!
Michelle
September 24, 2010 at 11:12 amThis looks delicious! My fiance and I are planning on eating our way through Italy for our honeymoon so I may look to you for some advice!
StephenC
September 24, 2010 at 9:42 amI love crispy fish. I love sage. Thank you for bringing Italy to us via your recipe.
Kath
September 24, 2010 at 8:57 amThis looks fabulous! Fresh cod is featured at my favorite supermarket this week; I’m bookmarking this! Thanks for sharing it.