Firm buttery blackened cobia is an amazing healthy dish that even a beginner can cook. This cobia recipe will be ready in less then 10 minutes and can be served with rice, potatoes, vegetables or as is.

I always excited to try new kinds of fish and this cobia fillet didn't disappoint. The fish is so delicious i could not stop eating it. Filled with Omega 3, selenium and protein cobia is a great healthy dinner or lunch choice for everyone. My kids enjoyed it too.

Cobia fish taste

If you never tried cobia fish before it will be helpful to learn how it tastes first. Fish has a very buttery flavor but its not very fatty. It doesn't have a fishy taste and the flesh is very firm. You can pan sear it and slice without the risk of falling apart.

In fact cobia can be cooked so many different ways! It can be blackened like in this recipe, broiled, baked, pan seared, steamed, grilled or you can enjoy it raw as sashimi or in ceviche. The most popular way to cook cobia is probably sauteing with vegetables.

More about cobia you can read here.

Where to buy

If you live on the West Coast like i do, the only way to purchase cobia will be probably frozen. Cobia lives in a warm water and is typically found between the Gulf of Mexico and North Carolina. Around wintertime it migrates to Florida waters.

In the East Coast you can easily find cobia fresh, cut in fillets ( about 6 oz). Also i have experience purchasing cobia fresh from online store in New York.

What does it mean when the fish is blackened

This is just another method of pan searing the fish. Traditionally cast iron skillet is used for this task but any other skillet will work. Just make sure its very hot.

Fish will need to be cooked in butter and covered in spice blend. Spices i used in this blackened cobia recipe:

• paprika
• black pepper
• cumin (just a touch)
• thyme or oregano
• garlic powder
• salt

The pan will be smoking and its totally normal. Do not move the fish for 3 minutes to make sure then the proper crust is forming. Then flip and cook on the other side.

How to make blackened cobia recipe

Start with defrosting fish overnight in your fridge. If the fish is fresh skip this step. Rinse it under cold running water and pat dry with paper towels.

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Mix all the spices in a small bowl. Cover fillets in a spice blend on each side.

Heat butter in the skillet. Make sure the skillet is very hot before adding fish. This way it will not stick to it. Add cobia and cook 3 minutes on each side. Do not move the fish during cooking, only flip once.

Your kitchen will most likely fill up with smoke so open the windows and turn on the fan. This is normal since we will be cooking on high temperatures.

Once the fish is done, transfer it to the cutting board if you prefer to slice it or just simply to the plate. Squeeze lemon on top and cover with chopped cilantro or parsley.

Chopped green onions will be an amazing topping. They are crunchy and delicious.

White fish internal temperature

To make make sure that the fish is fully cooked use instant meat thermometer. Any white fish including cobia has the same 145 degrees Fahrenheit internal temperature when fully cooked.

Leftovers

Store any leftovers in the air tight container in he fridge for up to 4 days. Sometimes i just cover the plate with foil and store it this way in the fridge. Use microwave to reheat fish. Don't forget to take the foil off.

Also you can freeze cooked cobia. Use freezer safe ziplock bag and store in the freezer for 3-4 months. In fact you can store fish for much longer just make sure to use a very good freezer safe container to prevent fish from getting a freezer burn.

Side dishes

I served blackened cobia as an appetizer and the only addition to the fish was cilantro and lemon. For dinner or lunch meal you will need a side dish. My favorite is just a bowl of white rice. You can't go wrong with it.

Mashed potatoes are amazing with fish. So buttery and soft and creamy. Fresh vegetable salad will keep this dish low carb and healthy. Just mix tomatoes, onions, cucumbers in a bowl, add salt and pepper and a splash of olive oil. So good!

More fish recipes

I have a large collection of fish and seafood recipes on THETOPMEAL. Here are some of readers most favorite recipes:

• Baked yellow croaker recipe
• How to cook bluefish
• Pan seared monkfish with garlic sauce
• Salmon avocado ceviche
• Salmon collar recipe