Pan Seared Salmon Garlic Butter (Printable Format)
Crispy salmon fillets with rich garlic butter sauce ready in 20 minutes
# What You Need:
→ Fish
01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz each, skin-on or skinless)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Garlic Butter Sauce
04 - 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
05 - 4 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
07 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
08 - 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
→ Garnish (optional)
09 - Lemon wedges
10 - Extra chopped parsley
# How-To Steps:
01 - Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and pepper.
02 - Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.
03 - Place the salmon fillets skin-side down (if skin-on) in the hot skillet. Sear without moving for 4-5 minutes, until the skin is crisp and the fish releases easily.
04 - Flip the fillets and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until just cooked through and opaque in the center. Transfer salmon to a plate and tent loosely with foil.
05 - Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to the skillet. Once melted, add the minced garlic and sauté for 1 minute, until fragrant but not browned.
06 - Stir in the lemon juice and zest, then return the salmon to the pan. Spoon the garlic butter over the fillets for 1 minute to glaze.
07 - Sprinkle with chopped parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- Ready in under 20 minutes but tastes like you spent all evening cooking
- The garlic butter sauce transforms simple salmon into something extraordinary
- Crispy skin with tender, flaky flesh is easier to achieve than you think
02 -
- Cold salmon fillets stick to the pan, so let them sit at room temperature for 15 minutes before cooking
- Don't move the fish while the skin sears, or you'll tear it and lose that crispy texture
- Salmon continues cooking after you remove it from the heat, so pull it slightly early
03 -
- Buy the best salmon you can find, the quality really shines in this simple preparation
- Room temperature ingredients create better emulsification in your butter sauce