Description
Homemade salmon with lemon butter cream sauce delivers restaurant-quality elegance on dinner plates. Rich Mediterranean flavors combine delicate fish with silky sauce that melts perfectly across your palate.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets
- ¼ cup (60 ml or 2 fl oz) unsalted butter
- ½ cup (120 ml or 4 fl oz) heavy cream or half and half
- 1 ½ tbsps garlic cloves (minced)
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1–2 tbsps freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tbsp parsley (finely chopped)
- lemon slices (for serving)
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C), positioning the rack in the center for uniform heat distribution.
- Marinade Creation: Whisk lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, and Dijon mustard in a mixing bowl until thoroughly blended.
- Salmon Preparation: Coat salmon fillets with the marinade in a skillet or baking dish, massaging the mixture to maximize flavor penetration. Sprinkle with black pepper and kosher salt.
- Baking Process: Slide the skillet into the preheated oven and bake for 10-15 minutes until the fish flakes easily and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
- Sauce Development: While salmon cooks, melt butter in a saucepan over low-medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté briefly, then pour in heavy cream. Bring to a gentle boil, allowing the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Sauce Refinement: Remove sauce from heat, adjust seasoning with additional lemon juice, black pepper, and salt to taste.
- Plating: Allow salmon to rest for 3-5 minutes after removing from the oven. Drizzle with warm lemon butter cream sauce and garnish with chopped parsley.
- Serving Suggestion: Plate alongside complementary sides like mashed potatoes, steamed broccoli, roasted asparagus, or atop homemade pasta.
Notes
- Marinate for Maximum Flavor: Allow salmon to sit in marinade for 15-30 minutes before baking to deeply infuse lemon and garlic notes.
- Temperature is Crucial: Use a meat thermometer to check salmon’s internal temperature, ensuring it reaches exactly 145°F for perfect doneness without overcooking.
- Sauce Consistency Matters: Stir sauce continuously while simmering to prevent burning and achieve a smooth, velvety texture without lumps.
- Resting Technique Enhances Juiciness: Let salmon rest after baking to help redistribute natural juices, resulting in a more tender and succulent final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American-French
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 60mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 18g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 2g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 27g
- Cholesterol: 90mg