Description
Salmon with Garlic Cream Sauce brings restaurant-quality dinner right to your kitchen table with minimal effort. Creamy, herby, and packed with flavor, this elegant dish comes together in less than 30 minutes for a quick weeknight meal that feels special.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 2 salmon fillets (6 ounces / 170 grams)
Sauce Components:
- 1 cup heavy cream (240 milliliters)
- ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth (120 milliliters)
- ¼ cup dry white wine
- 4 cloves fresh garlic
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Seasonings and Herbs:
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- Pat each 6-ounce salmon fillet completely dry with paper towels. Generously season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat a skillet to medium-high and melt 1 tablespoon (15 grams) unsalted butter. Carefully place salmon fillets skin-side down, cooking for 4-5 minutes until a golden-brown crust forms.
- Flip salmon and continue cooking for 3-4 minutes until the internal temperature reaches 145°F (63°C). Transfer fillets to a separate plate.
- Reduce skillet heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon (15 grams) butter and 4 minced garlic cloves, sautéing for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream and ½ cup (120 ml) chicken broth into the skillet. Optional: add ¼ cup (60 ml) white wine.
- Simmer the sauce for 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally until it thickens and reduces slightly.
- Stir 2 tablespoons (30 ml) fresh lemon juice and 2 tablespoons chopped parsley into the cream sauce.
- Return salmon to the skillet, gently spooning sauce over the fillets to coat completely before serving.
Notes
- Always pat the salmon completely dry before seasoning to ensure a perfectly crisp, golden-brown sear that locks in flavor.
- Sear the salmon skin-side down first to create a crispy texture and prevent the delicate fish from breaking apart during cooking.
- Use fresh garlic and mince it finely to release maximum flavor without burning in the hot skillet.
- If watching calories, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream or use a lighter milk alternative to create a slightly lighter sauce while maintaining rich taste.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Category: Salmon
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 720 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 270 mg
- Fat: 60 g
- Saturated Fat: 36 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 4 g
- Fiber: 0.3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 195 mg