Cod fillets are quickly sautéed in a skillet on the stovetop until tender and flaky then covered in a creamy chili and lime corn relish.

Skillet Cod with Creamy Blackened Corn Relish
This is one of those almost effortless summer dishes that I could easily eat every week. The creamy corn relish comes together in about 20 minutes and can even be made in advance.
After that, simply coat cod fillets with a light dusting of flour, sauté them in olive oil for a few minutes, and you're done. Or, if you have an air fryer and prefer to prepare the fish without flour, this recipe for air fryer cod fish works perfectly in this dish.
The coating of flour is not absolutely necessary - it just gives the fish a nice crust and helps keep it from sticking to the pan. However, if someone in your family is gluten-free, sprinkle them with salt and pepper and sauté without the flour.
You're Going to Want to Put this Creamy Corn Relish on Everything
I'm just warning you. The creamy corn relish takes a simple cod fillet and transforms it into something completely crave-worthy.
But, honestly, you could spoon it on pretty much anything and it would be delicious. My husband and I scarfed down more of the stuff than I care to admit last night for dinner, eating it with nothing but tortilla chips. It's not the last time we'll have chips and corn relish for dinner, I guarantee you.
What to Serve with Skillet Cod and Creamy Corn Relish
There are any number of salads or vegetables that would be delicious served alongside this dish, but I particularly love how well the flavors of fresh tomatoes smothered in bacon vinaigrette complement it.
Not too surprising, is it? Flaky fish, creamy corn relish with chili and lime, bacon and tomatoes. These are flavors that were made to be together on one plate.
More popular seafood recipes:
- Miso Buttered Pasta with Salmon
- Spinach Pasta with Baked Cod and Agrodolce
- Thai Curry Shrimp and Rice
- Weeknight Sushi bowls
If you give this recipe a try, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or take a picture and tag it #alittleandalot on Instagram.
📖 Recipe
Skillet Cod with Creamy Corn Relish
Cod fillets are quickly sautéed in a skillet on the stovetop until tender and flaky then covered in a creamy chili and lime corn relish. This dish is delicious served with Fresh Tomato Salad with Bacon Vinaigrette.
Ingredients
For the Creamy Corn Relish:
- 2 ½ - 3 cups of corn, freshly sliced from the cob or frozen and thawed
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 shallots, peeled, ends trimmed, and minced
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 teaspoon Tajin Seasoning (*see note)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
- ½ cup fresh oregano, chopped
- The juice from 1 or 2 limes (to taste)
For the Cod:
- 2 pounds of cod fillets, cut into 4 pieces (use fresh or frozen and thawed cod)
- Salt and pepper
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 2 tbs extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
Make the Creamy Corn Relish:
- Heat a skillet over high heat until a drop of water sizzles and evaporates almost immediately. Add the corn to the skillet and sauté until the kernels are about 50% blackened. Dump the corn out onto a plate or a bowl and let cool to room temperature.
- Add the olive oil to the skillet and set over medium heat. Add the chopped shallot and sauté until soft and just beginning to brown. Scrape the shallot into a medium size bowl and allow to cool slightly.
- Add the rest of the corn relish ingredients to the bowl with the shallot, including the corn, and stir to mix. Taste and add more salt, pepper or lime if desired. Refrigerate in a covered container until ready to serve.
Cook the Cod:
- Lay the cod fillets out on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels. Pat dry with another towel or paper towel. Sprinkle both sides of the fish with salt and pepper.
- Dump the flour onto a plate. Press both sides of each fillet into the flour to coat. Gently shake excess flour from the fillets and place them on another plate.
- Add the olive oil to a skillet and place over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot and looks shimmery, add the cod. Let the cod cook, undisturbed, for 3-4 minutes. Use a spatula to gently lift one of the fillets. If the bottom of the fillet is golden brown, flip it over onto the other side. Cook for another 3-4 minutes, until golden brown. The fish should be completely opaque and flaky.
- Serve the cod fillets smothered with creamy corn relish.
Notes
Tajin Seasoning is a yummy seasoning made from dried chilies and lime. My local grocery store doesn't carry it, so I order it on Amazon. You can also substitute any Mexican seasoning blend that includes chili powder in the list of ingredients. If you use a seasoning blend that does not contain lime, you might want to increase the amount of lime juice in this recipe. Just mix up the corn relish and taste it to determine weather it warrants a few more drops of lime.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 0Total Fat: 0gSaturated Fat: 0gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 0gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 0mgCarbohydrates: 0gFiber: 0gSugar: 0gProtein: 0g
Miriam Oppenheim says
This is so delicious! I tried it on a winter’s evening and it transported me to summer. 😋
RebeccaBlackwell says
I'm so happy to hear that you liked this recipe Miriam! Thank you so much for taking the time to let me know! I truly appreciate it. xo