Salmon with Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Servings: 4

If you’re looking for a simple yet restaurant-quality dinner at home, this pan-seared salmon with lemon garlic butter sauce is perfect. Packed with rich, buttery flavors balanced by the brightness of fresh dill and lemon, this dish is sure to impress. And it's ready in under 30 minutes!

Ingredients

For the Sauce:

• 1 teaspoon avocado oil

• 2 tablespoons red onion or shallots, finely diced

• 1-2 garlic cloves, minced

• 2 tablespoons dry vermouth or white wine vinegar

• 2 tablespoons cold butter

• 1/3 cup heavy cream

• Juice of 1/2 lemon

• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill

• Salt and pepper to taste

For the Salmon:

• Four 6-8 ounce salmon fillets (bring to room temperature 20 minutes before cooking)

• Avocado oil (for searing)

• Kosher salt and fresh ground black pepper

• Fresh dill and lemon wedges for garnish

Instructions

Making the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce:

1. Heat a small pot over medium heat and add 1 teaspoon of avocado oil. Once warm, add the finely diced red onion (or shallots) and garlic. Sauté for about 2-3 minutes until the onion softens.

2. Add 2 tablespoons of dry vermouth (or white wine vinegar) and simmer until the liquid reduces by half, intensifying the flavors.

3. Gradually whisk in the cold butter until fully melted. Stir in the heavy cream and allow the sauce to slightly thicken, about 1-2 minutes.

4. Remove the pot from the heat and mix in the juice of half a lemon and 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped dill. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set the sauce aside.

Cooking the Salmon:

1. Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel, then lightly brush each fillet with avocado oil. Generously season both sides with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.

2. Heat a non-stick pan over medium-high heat until it's almost smoking. Carefully add the salmon, skin-side up, and sear. Watch the side of the salmon—once it's cooked about 1/4 of the way up, gently flip the fillets.

3. Continue cooking on the other side for an additional 3-4 minutes until the salmon is just done and the skin is crispy.

Serving: Serve each salmon fillet drizzled with the lemon garlic butter sauce. Garnish with fresh dill and a lemon wedge for extra brightness.

Why This Recipe Works:

• High-Quality Protein: Salmon is an excellent source of lean protein, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are beneficial for heart and brain health.

• Balance of Flavors: The richness of the butter and cream is perfectly balanced with the acidity of the lemon juice and wine vinegar, while fresh dill adds a herbaceous brightness.

• Quick and Easy: With only 15 minutes of cooking time, this recipe is perfect for weeknights when you want something delicious but don’t have hours to spend in the kitchen.

Dietitian’s Tip:

For an even healthier twist, pair this dish with a side of steamed vegetables or a mixed green salad. You can also swap the heavy cream for coconut milk for a dairy-free option!