
Garlic Butter Salmon
Pan-seared salmon fillets basted in a rich garlic herb butter sauce until perfectly flaky and golden. This quick and luxurious weeknight dinner is ready in under 25 minutes.
Crispy pan-seared salmon fillets finished in a fragrant garlic herb butter sauce.
Nutrition per serving
Ingredients
main
sauce
cooking
garnish
seasoning
Instructions
Prepare the Salmon
Pat the salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and pepper. Dry skin is the key to achieving a perfectly crispy crust so do not skip this step.
Sear Skin-Side Down
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Place the salmon skin-side down and press gently with a spatula for the first 30 seconds. Cook undisturbed for 5 to 6 minutes until the skin is deeply golden and crispy.
Flip and Add Butter
Flip the salmon fillets carefully. Immediately add butter, minced garlic, thyme, and red pepper flakes to the pan. The butter will foam and sizzle around the fish.
Baste Continuously
Tilt the pan slightly and use a spoon to continuously baste the salmon with the melted garlic butter for 2 to 3 minutes. This infuses the fish with flavor and finishes the cooking gently.
Finish and Serve
Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the salmon and remove from heat. Plate the fillets and spoon extra garlic butter sauce from the pan over each one. Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Substitutions
Common mistakes
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