Description
This Herb-Lemon Pan Gloss salmon recipe is a quick, flavorful, and high-protein meal, perfect for busy weeknights and health-conscious eaters. It features pan-seared salmon fillets with a zesty, aromatic gloss made from fresh herbs, lemon, butter, and garlic.
Ingredients
- 2 (6 oz) salmon fillets, boneless, skin-on or skin-off
- 1 medium fresh lemon
- 2 Tbsp (30g) fresh herbs, finely chopped (a mix of dill, parsley, and thyme), or 1 tsp dried Italian seasoning
- 2 Tbsp (28g) unsalted butter (or 1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil for dairy-free option)
- 1 Tbsp (15ml) extra virgin olive oil
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prep Salmon: Gently pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels (this crucial step helps achieve delicious crispy skin).
- Season Fillets: Sprinkle salt and black pepper generously and evenly over both sides of the salmon.
- Heat Pan: Place a large 10-inch non-stick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 Tbsp olive oil and let it heat until it shimmers (about 2-3 minutes).
- Sear Salmon: Carefully place the salmon, skin-side down (if applicable), into the hot pan. Cook for 3-5 minutes until the skin is beautifully crispy and golden.
- Flip and Add Aromatics: Flip the salmon gently. Immediately add 2 Tbsp butter (or more olive oil for dairy-free) and 2 minced garlic cloves to the pan. Sprinkle in the 2 Tbsp fresh herbs.
- Create Pan Gloss: As the butter melts, add the juice of half a lemon. Swirl the pan to combine the butter, garlic, herbs, and lemon into a rich, fragrant gloss.
- Baste and Finish Cooking: Spoon the herb-lemon pan gloss over the salmon. Continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes, or until the salmon reaches desired doneness (internal temperature 145F (63C)) and flakes easily with a fork.
Notes
For extra busy weeknights, use pre-minced garlic or chop your herbs while the pan heats up. Buying pre-portioned salmon fillets also saves time. If salmon sticks to the pan, it indicates the pan wasn’t hot enough or lacked enough oil; let it sear longer before attempting to flip.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan-searing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 (6 oz) fillet
- Calories: 500 calories
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 40 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 2 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg