17 Best Sablefish Recipes for Buttery Black Cod (2024)

Sablefish is the perfect balance between taste and texture. Sablefish recipes are ideal for anyone new to the seafood game, thanks to its mild flavor.

The high oil content and buttery texture also makes it ideal for Asian cooking!

While this type of fish can be a little expensive, tasting this fresh fish is worth the price of admission. The key is treating it well, with plenty of rich flavors to balance the oily flesh.

What Does Sablefish Taste Like?

Think of sablefish as the bridge between halibut and salmon. It has a luxurious mouthfeel, mild flavor, and a higher fat content compared to the leaner species like Pacific cod.

It’s often called ‘black cod,’ even though it isn’t technically a part of the cod family!

Thanks to the high oil content in this piece of fish, these fish can be worth a pretty penny, so treating fresh sablefish well is important.

Luckily, I have seventeen recipes with black cod fillets lined up that all promise to bring out the best of your sablefish.

Explore these delicious ways to prepare sablefish fillets with bold flavors and discover a new favorite!

Best Sablefish Recipes

1. Honey Lime Sablefish with Jalapeno Corn Salsa

Source:runningtothekitchen.com

Here’s the thing: many kids out there hate fish. To them, it’s slimy, smells weird, and doesn’t promise the comfort and taste of a regular weeknight meal.

But with this recipe, you don’t have to worry about that. The fragrant honey-lime dressing with soy sauce and sesame seeds tasty salsa takes this fish to a new level in the best way!

Your whole family will love the flavors and velvety texture of this high fat content in season fish.

2. Grilled Sablefish

Source:outgrilling.com

Sablefish is the kind of fish that melts in your mouth, no matter what method the fish cooks. That’s why it’s so great for simple meals.

Just whack your sablefish fillet on the grill for a few minutes to enjoy a deliciously tender meal with a buttery flavor.

A liberal sprinkling of fresh herbs and some salty flavor both go a long way toward perfection.

This is a great dinner idea to make for dinner tonight

3. Sablefish with Chanterelles

Source:artofnaturalliving.com

Embrace the feeling of fall with a simple yet earthy dish with this flaky white fish. The great thing is chanterelle mushrooms are light and delicate in texture but punchy in flavor, just like this fatty fish!

That’s what makes these ingredients great companions.

Cook your black cod filet skin side down in a large nonstick skillet with a bit of olive oil over medium-high heat and pair them with brown rice or barley for the perfect fish dish fall dinner.

4. Pan-Seared Sablefish with Brown Butter

Source:champagne-tastes.com

There’s something about a cooking sablefish in a brown butter sauce that makes sablefish taste twice as luxurious, it’s the perfect match.

Cayenne, lemon juice, and honey wake your tastebuds while the brown butter is calm and rich.

Paired with a perfectly-seared fillet of sablefish, these sauces create the luxury dinner with rich flavor your guests will rave about. Add a simple green salad for a complete meal!

5. Pan-Seared Sablefish with White Wine

Source:blackberrybabe.com

This light and bright seared sablefish recipe are on the other end of the flavor spectrum. The white wine and cherry tomatoes bring a touch of acid to the meal, making it perfect for summer.

Refreshing and juicy, this simple dish comes together in no time.

6. Ginger Lime Black Cod

Source:healthyseasonalrecipes.com

Sablefish does beautifully with Asian flavors, thanks to its high oil content. That’s why this ginger lime black cod recipe works so well! The fragrant ginger and lime shine alongside the rich fish.

Serve this on a bed of quinoa with your favorite fried greens for a quick and easy weeknight meal. It’s super healthy, too!

7. Smoked Cod

Source:bonappeteach.com

This recipe is for you if you’re lucky enough to own a pellet grill or charcoal smoker. Learn how to make perfect smoked black cod from scratch on your next free weekend!

The result is delicious in many recipes, including smoked fish dip, sandwiches, and even soups.

8. Teriyaki Sablefish

Source:champagne-tastes.com

Bring some Japanese flavors along for the ride with this classic teriyaki sauce. This is the perfect sauce for our delicious sablefish, holding up against the oily flesh without overpowering it.

I recommend marinating the fillets in the sauce instead of brushing them on top. That’s what gives it the depth of flavor you’re looking for!

This yummy recipe is a great Friday night dinner idea!

9. Sake-Red Miso Glazed Sablefish with Wasabi Emulsion

Source:savorthebest.com

Speaking of Japanese flavors, here’s a high-end take on a Japanese sablefish dish that will have your guests salivating. This is perfect for a special occasion like a date night or a dinner party.

The wasabi emulsion plays against the sake-red miso glaze, creating the perfect balance of saltiness, fattiness, acidity, and heat.

If you are looking for the best fancy dinner idea for a special occasion, this is it!

10. Broiled Sablefish with Sweet Chili Sauce

Source:champagne-tastes.com

Broiled cod takes on a whole new level of flavor! This is a super simple way to put a spin on your usual glazed sablefish recipe. Broiling the fish bakes that delicious sweet chili into the flesh.

However, it ensures your fish won’t overcook in the process! Try this with any sweet glaze for a delightful weeknight treat.

11. Miso Teriyaki Black Cod

Source:savorthebest.com

White miso is a milder, more fragrant version of red miso. This makes it the ideal companion for sweet and sticky teriyaki sauce!

If you want a simple weeknight dinner that’s healthy, delicious, and won’t break the bank, this recipe is for you. The sauce is dead simple, and the result is to die for.

12. Honey Garlic Black Cod

Source:marisamoore.com

Honey and garlic are a combination as old as time. Humanity got this one right, pairing the sweet, floral notes of honey with garlic’s earthy undertones.

The best part of this Alaskan black cod recipe is how quickly it comes together. In mere minutes, you can have your main protein and a side of glazed broccoli ready to go!

The honey garlic sauce needs just a few ingredients like honey, fresh garlic cloves, and sesame oil!

13. Mediterranean Baked Sablefish

Source:walderwellness.com

Baking fish is one of the easiest ways to prepare it but also one of the easiest ways to overcook the flesh. But not with this recipe!

This quick and easy method for cooking fish yields tender, flaky results every single time! The vegetables cook with it, so you have your protein and side dish ready.

This flavorful recipe with elevate your Sunday family dinner!

14. Pan-Seared Sablefish with Lemon Pepper Aioli

Source:sitkasalmonshares.com

If you need something quick and dirty, this pan-seared sablefish will satisfy you. The lemon-pepper aioli has light and citrusy flavors, but the creamy aioli is perfect for adding comfort.

Serve on a simple bed of dressed greens for a healthy addition to your weeknight meal roster.

15. Sauteed Sablefish with Ginger Soy Glaze

Source:pacificseafood.com

Pack your sablefish with oodles of flavor thanks to this super simple ginger soy glaze. This is absolutely delicious on a bed of rice or noodles!

The punchy combination of ginger and soy proves this fish’ with Asian flavors. I highly recommend pairing this with some fried greens to add a touch of freshness to the dish.

16. Cumin-Crusted Sablefish

Source:myrecipes.com

We’re taking a hard pivot away from Japanese flavors here, instead reaching into our spice drawer! Who knew cumin and sablefish would be such wonderful friends?

The buttery fish is an ideal pair for this bold spice, carrying the flavor beautifully without becoming overwhelmed. Served with a simple wedge of lemon, this is a versatile way to serve this fish.

17. Pan Simmered Pacific Black Cod

Source: simplyrecipes.com

Finally, we combine two cooking methods to create one perfect fish fillet. We create a seal to keep the flavor by pan-searing the sablefish first.

Then, simmering it in the broth keeps the flesh tender and juicy! Plus, it imparts a ton of flavor to the fish thanks to the balanced broth.

This dish proves you don’t have to know fancy cooking techniques to make something restaurant-worthy.

Ready for more delicious fish dishes? Enjoy these flavorful swordfish recipes!

There you have it! Seventeen ways to prepare sablefish that are worthy of your time and energy. Did I miss any gems? Drop them in the comments below!