Description
Succulent lemon butter garlic salmon delivers restaurant-quality elegance with simple home cooking techniques. Crisp herbs and zesty citrus create perfect pan-seared seafood you can master in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 5 salmon fillets (skinless), 150 g/5 oz each
- ¼ cup unsalted butter
- ½ cup heavy cream or half and half
- 2 tbsps freshly squeezed lemon juice (for salmon)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove (minced, for salmon)
- 2 tbsps old style Dijon mustard
- ½ tsp ground black pepper (for salmon)
- Salt, to taste
- 1 ½ tbsps garlic cloves (minced)
- 1–2 tbsps freshly squeezed lemon juice (for sauce, optional)
- 1 tbsp parsley (finely chopped)
- ½ tsp ground black pepper (for sauce)
- Lemon slices, for serving
Instructions
- Preparation: Position oven rack centrally and heat to 425°F (220°C), creating optimal cooking environment for salmon.
- Marinade Creation: Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and Dijon mustard into a harmonious blending that will infuse the fish with robust flavors.
- Salmon Seasoning: Nestle salmon fillets in skillet, thoroughly coating with marinade and massaging mixture into flesh to maximize flavor absorption, then dust evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Initial Cooking: Slide skillet into preheated oven, allowing salmon to bake 12-14 minutes until achieving a translucent, flaky consistency that signals perfect doneness.
- Sauce Preparation: Simultaneously craft luxurious sauce by gently melting butter, introducing minced garlic for 20-30 seconds, then incorporating heavy cream and allowing gentle simmer to develop rich, velvety texture.
- Finishing Touches: Remove salmon from oven, permitting brief resting period to seal in moisture, then cascade creamy garlic sauce over fillets and embellish with fresh parsley and additional pepper cracklings for elegant presentation.
Notes
- Ensure Even Cooking: Position the oven rack in the center to guarantee uniform heat distribution and prevent uneven salmon preparation.
- Maximize Flavor Absorption: Massage the marinade into the salmon fillets to enhance taste penetration and create a more delicious result.
- Prevent Garlic Burning: Sauté garlic briefly (20-30 seconds) in butter to release its aromatic qualities without scorching, which can create a bitter taste.
- Rest and Retain Moisture: Allow salmon to rest 5-7 minutes after cooking to help the fish retain its juices and maintain a tender, succulent texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 431
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 21 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 29 g
- Cholesterol: 96 mg