Description
Light and zesty Creamy Lemon-Dill Salmon emerges as a delightful seafood dish perfect for elegant dinners. Herbal notes complement succulent salmon, promising a restaurant-quality meal you can savor with minimal preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (6 oz / 170 g each), skinless or skin-on
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt
- 2 cloves garlic
- 1 small shallot
- ¼ small bunch fresh dill
- 1 large lemon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1 cup half-and-half
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
Instructions
- Prep Work: Mince shallots, crush garlic, zest lemon, and chop fresh dill into fine, uniform pieces.
- Salmon Seasoning: Generously coat salmon fillets with kosher salt and black pepper on both surfaces, ensuring complete coverage.
- Searing Technique: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until it shimmers. Place salmon skin-side down and sear for 3-4 minutes until achieving a golden-brown crust.
- Cooking Completion: Flip salmon and cook an additional 2-3 minutes until internal temperature reaches 145°F, ensuring perfect doneness.
- Sauce Foundation: Remove salmon and retain pan drippings. Reduce heat, melt butter, and sauté shallots and garlic until translucent and aromatic.
- Roux Creation: Dust flour over aromatics, stirring continuously to develop a smooth, golden base without scorching.
- Liquid Integration: Gradually whisk half-and-half and chicken broth into the pan, creating a velvety, lump-free sauce.
- Flavor Enhancement: Fold in lemon zest, lemon juice, and dill, distributing herbs evenly throughout the creamy mixture.
- Final Assembly: Return salmon to skillet, bathe in sauce for 1-2 minutes to reheat and infuse flavors. Plate with abundant sauce and garnish with delicate lemon slices.
Notes
- Nail Perfect Salmon Searing: Ensure skillet is properly heated to create a golden-brown crust without overcooking, which prevents dry and tough fish texture.
- Master Sauce Consistency: Whisk constantly while adding liquids to prevent lumps and achieve a smooth, velvety sauce that coats the salmon beautifully.
- Temperature Control Is Key: Use a meat thermometer to check salmon’s internal temperature, stopping cooking at 145°F to maintain juicy, tender flesh.
- Fresh Herb Flavor Boost: Add chopped dill and lemon zest at the end of cooking to preserve bright, aromatic qualities and prevent herb wilting.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 640 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg