
Yields:
4 serving(s)
Prep Time:
5 mins
Total Time:
15 mins
Cal/Serv:
495
There are a few things that have my heart (other than my family and stuff), and those things are nutty browned butter, crispy salmon skin, and a well-executed 15-minute dinner. Luckily for me, this recipe has all three. Hearty salmon fillets are generously seasoned with salt and pan-seared in browned butter with lemon zest and lemon juice, then topped with a flurry of freshly chopped herbs. This is the kind of quick meal you can pull off on a busy weeknight without missing a beat. Pair it with an easy-to-assemble salad or our foolproof mashed potatoes for a full meal that will rival your favorite restaurant.
The salmon:
I can’t preach the gospel of crispy salmon skin enough, but if you hate fish skin and you don’t agree with me, I totally understand—just skip it! Grab some skinless salmon and cook this recipe as is; just knock 1 minute off the cooking time. If you’re on the fence because you’ve never had crispy salmon skin or haven’t executed it successfully at home, give it a try! If you’re stumped, drop me a comment down below and we’ll get through this together.
The garlic:
When it comes to garlic, I’m usually a 2 clove-minimum kinda girl, but this time—literally just this one time—I suggest sticking to 1 clove. The superstar flavor moments for this dish come from the toasty browned butter and the zippy lemon zest, letting the mellow, pan-fried garlic have a supporting role.
Storage:
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
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Ingredients
- 1 Tbsp.
neutral oil
- 4
(6-oz.) skin-on salmon fillets
Kosher salt
- 1
lemon
- 4 Tbsp.
unsalted butter, cubed
- 1
large clove garlic, finely chopped
- 1 Tbsp.
chopped fresh parsley or dill
Directions
- Step 1In a large stainless steel skillet over medium heat, heat oil until shimmering. Pat salmon dry; season both sides with a heavy pinch of salt.
- Step 2Place salmon in skillet skin side down and cook, undisturbed, 4 minutes. Flip salmon, then finely grate lemon zest around salmon. Dot butter pieces around salmon, swirling pan to help melt butter and distribute zest. Cook 2 minutes.
- Step 3Cut zested lemon in half. Add garlic and juice from 1/2 lemon around salmon and cook, undisturbed, until salmon easily flakes with a fork and garlic is fragrant and slightly softened, about 1 minute more.
- Step 4Transfer salmon to a platter. Top with parsley.
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