How to Pan Sear Salmon (It's So Easy!)
Does cooking salmon intimidate you? I used to be very intimidated by the thought of cooking salmon. For the longest time, I would only prepare it in ways that could be baked in the oven. Growing up, I don’t remember us eating much salmon and I rarely recall us cooking fish on the stove so it was a big deal when I became more comfortable trying stovetop recipes. But it shouldn’t be intimidating because it’s simple! Here’s my easy recipe for fool-proof seared salmon!
This “recipe” if you can even call it that, is super quick - we’re talking 15 minutes - and it requires basic ingredients but can be dressed up any number of ways. It’s easy to make this work for more servings, as well.
Ingredients
Fresh salmon fillets (as many as you’d like)
1 Tablespoon Avocado Oil* (or you can use extra virgin olive oil)
Salt
Pepper
Lemon Juice
*If you’re cooking more than say 3-4 servings, you’ll likely need to increase the amount of oil, my instructions are for 2 large servings of salmon.
Directions
Start by cutting your salmon into long and narrow fillets (roughly 4-5oz each). Remove the skin if any is intact. When shopping for salmon, I try to buy a small fillet (under 12 ounces) when cooking for the two of us.
Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil (or your choice of oil) in an appropriate size nonstick skillet over medium high heat.
Place the salmon in the hot oil and allow to cook for 4 minutes without moving the fillets. Generously sprinkle the tops of the fillets with salt and pepper. You may wish to do use other seasoning at this point. You can never go wrong with salt and pepper though!
Flip the fillets and sprinkle with additional salt and pepper. Cook for 3 minutes and then squeeze a little lemon juice onto the tops of the fillets.
Cook for 1 additional minute or until the salmon reaches your desired “doneness.”
What Side to Pair it With
Tonight, we enjoyed this pan-seared salmon with Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Garlic Bacon Aioli which I’ve written about on the blog before! We didn’t have any bacon so we left that out tonight but it was still incredible. Pro tip: this garlic aioli make a GREAT dipping sauce for your salmon too!
How do you prepare salmon? Hopefully this post makes it less intimidating if you’ve wanted to give it a try!
Disclaimer: I am not a dietitian or medical professional and while I share what ingredients work for me or what I choose to eat (at my own risk) while dining out, I advise you do your homework when choosing ingredients and places to eat. I highly encourage everyone to do their own research when it comes to the products they cook with or restaurant’s procedures. I do not have celiac disease but rather a gluten-intolerance and I’m not an expert on gluten or other food intolerances, autoimmune diseases, or food allergies. I simply share the ingredients I have found work for me, the places where I’ve dined and my personal experiences.