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Simple Pan-Seared Salmon Recipe with Easy Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

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A quick and easy pan-seared salmon recipe featuring a crispy skin and a rich, bright lemon garlic butter sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights and uses simple pantry staples.

Ingredients

Scale
  • Salmon fillets (about 6 ounces/170g each, skin-on)
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to season
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest (optional)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
  • Optional: pinch of red pepper flakes or fresh dill instead of parsley

Instructions

  1. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  2. In a small bowl, combine softened butter, minced garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Mix well and set aside.
  3. Heat a non-stick or cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Heat until shimmering but not smoking, about 2 minutes.
  4. Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the hot pan. Press down lightly with a spatula to prevent curling. Cook for 4-5 minutes without moving until skin is crisp and golden brown.
  5. Flip the fillets carefully using tongs or a fish spatula. Immediately add the lemon garlic butter mixture to the pan. Tilt the pan and spoon the melted butter over the salmon repeatedly for 1-2 minutes to baste.
  6. Cook until salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork, total cooking time about 8-10 minutes depending on thickness.
  7. Remove salmon from pan and spoon remaining lemon garlic butter over the top. Garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

Pat salmon dry before cooking for crispy skin. Use medium-high heat to avoid burning garlic and butter. Baste salmon with lemon garlic butter after flipping for moist, flavorful fish. Let salmon rest briefly after cooking. If kitchen gets smoky, ventilate well. Cook in batches if needed to avoid overcrowding pan.

Nutrition

Keywords: pan-seared salmon, lemon garlic butter sauce, quick salmon recipe, easy dinner, healthy salmon, crispy salmon skin

Find it online: https://oracooks.com/simple-pan-seared-salmon-recipe-with-easy-lemon-garlic-butter-sauce/