Pan-Seared And Crusted Ling Cod

Directions

1. 1
   Dissolve 3 tablespoons salt in 8 cups of water in a bowl and brine lingcod at room temperature for 30 minutes. Drain brine and rinse and dry cod; season 1 side with salt and pepper.
2. 2
   Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
3. 3
   Cut lemon in half; zest 1 half and cut the other half into wedges.
4. 4
   Melt 1/4 cup of butter in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add cod; cook until fillets are golden brown on both sides, about 5 minutes per side.
5. 5
   Transfer fillets into a baking pan; squeeze zested half of lemon over cod.
6. 6
   Combine bread crumbs, Parmesan cheese, lemon pepper, and lemon zest in a bowl. Top fillets with bread crumb mixture. Cut remaining butter into pieces and dot top of fillets.
7. 7
   Bake fillets in the preheated oven until bread crumb mixture is golden brown and cod flakes easily with a fork, 15 to 20 minutes.