Description
A rich and flavorful Creamy Garlic Butter Salmon recipe that features pan-seared salmon fillets smothered in a luscious garlic parmesan cream sauce enhanced with white wine, chicken broth, and fresh parsley. This dish is perfect for an elegant yet easy dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon and Seasoning
- 4 salmon fillets (5-8 oz. each)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Cooking Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce Ingredients
- 1/2 cup dry white wine (optional)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Season the Salmon: Season both sides of the salmon fillets evenly with salt and black pepper to enhance the natural flavors.
- Pan-Fry the Salmon: Heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Add salmon fillets and pan-fry each side until golden brown and cooked to desired doneness, about 4 minutes per side depending on thickness. Remove some excess oil from the pan, leaving a little for sautéing garlic.
- Baste with Butter: Add butter to the skillet, tilt the pan towards you, and spoon the melted butter generously over the salmon fillets to add richness.
- Remove Salmon: Take the salmon out of the pan and set aside temporarily to prepare the sauce.
- Sauté Garlic: In the same skillet, sauté the minced garlic until fragrant, about 30 seconds, being careful not to burn it.
- Deglaze with Wine: (Optional) Pour in dry white wine and simmer for 2 minutes until the wine has mostly evaporated to lift browned bits and add depth of flavor.
- Add Liquids and Cream: Reduce the heat to medium-low. Pour in the chicken broth and heavy cream, stirring to combine smoothly.
- Incorporate Cheese and Seasoning: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and fully blended into the sauce. Season with fresh parsley, salt, and pepper to taste.
- Simmer Sauce: Let the sauce simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Return Salmon: Add the salmon fillets back into the pan with the sauce, allowing them to warm through for a few minutes, coating the fish with the creamy garlic butter sauce.
- Serve: Spoon extra sauce over the salmon, garnish with more fresh parsley, and serve hot for a delicious meal.
Notes
- Swap fresh parsley with thyme or dill to vary the herb flavors.
- For more flavor, sauté diced shallots or onions with garlic or season salmon with garlic and onion powder before cooking.
- Add zest by incorporating capers or lemon slices into the cream sauce or marinate the salmon in lemon juice for 15-30 minutes beforehand.
- Introduce some heat by adding red pepper flakes to the sauce.
- Adding baby spinach to the cream sauce is a great way to add extra nutrition and substance.
- Use full-fat heavy cream for the creamiest texture; half-and-half can be a lighter substitute but may affect thickness.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet with sauce
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 480 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
