Description
This Creamy Pan Seared Salmon with Lemon recipe offers a perfect combination of crispy, tender salmon fillets paired with a silky, tangy lemon cream sauce. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s ideal for busy weeknights or special dinners, delivering restaurant-quality flavors with simple ingredients and effortless preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 4 fresh salmon fillets (skin-on, about 6 oz each)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Searing & Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest (from 1 lemon)
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or crème fraîche
Garnish
- Fresh herbs (such as dill, parsley, or chives), chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the Salmon: Pat the salmon fillets dry using paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and black pepper to ensure a flavorful, crispy crust when searing.
- Sear the Salmon: Heat the olive oil and butter together in a skillet over medium-high heat. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down without overcrowding the pan. Cook for 4-5 minutes undisturbed until the skin is golden and crisp. Flip the fillets and cook for another 3-4 minutes until the salmon is just cooked through.
- Make the Creamy Lemon Sauce: Remove the salmon from the pan and set aside. Reduce heat to medium and add the minced garlic to the same pan, sautéing for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Stir in the lemon zest and lemon juice, then pour in the heavy cream while scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Let the sauce simmer gently until it thickens slightly, being careful not to boil.
- Finish and Serve: Return the salmon to the pan to warm through and nestle it into the creamy lemon sauce. Sprinkle fresh herbs over the top and spoon extra sauce over the fillets before serving.
Notes
- Pat salmon dry before cooking to achieve a crispier skin.
- Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure even searing and avoid steaming.
- Use fresh lemon juice and zest rather than bottled for the best flavor.
- Simmer the sauce gently to prevent curdling or separation of the cream.
- Let the salmon rest briefly after cooking to retain moisture and tenderness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Pan Searing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet (approximately 6 oz)
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg