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–+ servings
Three perfectly cooked fillets of salmon covered in garlic lemon butter sauce and fresh parsley.

Salmon with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce

This recipe provides instructions for cooking salmon fillets and topping them with a simple garlic lemon butter sauce.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 4 fillets
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 4 skinless salmon fillets about 6 oz each, 1-inch thick
  • 1 Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • 2 tsp olive oil
For the Sauce
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1/4 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 3 Tbsp + 1 tsp unsalted butter diced into 1 Tbsp pieces
  • 1/2 tsp honey
  • 2 Tbsp fresh parsley minced
  • 1 Lemon slices for garnish (optional)

Equipment

  • Small saucepan
  • 12-inch non-stick skillet

Method
 

  1. Remove salmon fillets from the refrigerator and let them rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
  2. While the salmon rests, prepare the garlic lemon butter sauce. In a small saucepan, melt 1 teaspoon of butter over medium heat.
  3. Add the garlic and sauté until lightly golden brown, about 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the chicken broth and lemon juice.
  4. Let the sauce simmer until it reduces by half (to about 3 tablespoons), about 3 minutes. Stir in the remaining butter and the honey, and whisk until combined. Set the sauce aside.
  5. Dab both sides of the salmon dry with paper towels, then season both sides with salt and pepper.
  6. Heat the olive oil in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.
  7. Once the oil is shimmering, add the salmon and cook about 4 minutes on the first side until the bottom is golden brown. Flip the salmon and cook on the opposite side until cooked through, about 2 to 3 minutes longer.
  8. Plate the salmon, leaving the oil in the pan. Drizzle each serving generously with the butter sauce, sprinkle with parsley, and garnish with lemon slices if you wish. Serve immediately.

Notes

If you want a richer sauce, you can add an extra tablespoon or two of butter. This recipe keeps the butter amount minimal for a lighter result.

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