Description
This creamy garlic butter salmon recipe features pan-seared salmon fillets in a rich and velvety garlic butter cream sauce with Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. It's a quick and flavorful dish perfect for an elegant dinner or easy weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 4 salmon fillets (5-8 oz. each)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
Sauce
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season salmon: Season both sides of the salmon fillets generously with salt and pepper to enhance their natural flavor.
- Pan-fry salmon: Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Pan-fry the salmon fillets until golden brown, about 4 minutes per side depending on thickness. Drain excess oil, leaving just enough to sauté the garlic.
- Butter baste: Add butter to the pan and melt it. Tilt the pan and spoon the melted butter generously over the salmon to add richness and flavor.
- Remove salmon: Transfer the salmon fillets from the pan to a serving dish and set aside.
- Sauté garlic: In the same pan, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds, careful not to burn it.
- Deglaze with wine: Optional: Add white wine to the pan and simmer for 2 minutes until the wine evaporates, enhancing the sauce with depth.
- Add liquids and cheese: Reduce heat to medium-low and pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese and cook while stirring until the cheese melts into a creamy sauce.
- Season sauce: Add chopped parsley, salt, and pepper to taste. Simmer for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Reheat salmon: Return the salmon fillets to the pan and simmer for a few more minutes to warm them through in the creamy sauce.
- Serve: Spoon the creamy garlic butter sauce generously over the salmon, garnish with extra parsley, and serve hot for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Substitute fresh parsley with thyme or dill for a different herbaceous flavor.
- Add diced shallots or onions with the garlic for extra aromatic depth.
- Season the salmon with garlic and onion powder before searing for enhanced taste.
- Incorporate capers or lemon slices into the cream sauce for a zesty twist.
- Marinate salmon in lemon juice for 15-30 minutes or drizzle lemon juice over before serving for brightness.
- Add red pepper flakes to the sauce for a spicy kick.
- Mix baby spinach into the cream sauce for extra texture and nutrition.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 120 mg
