Description
Salmon prepared with Tuscan butter sauce offers a luxurious Mediterranean-inspired dish rich with herbal notes and creamy textures. Delicate fish fillets mingle with garlic, herbs, and parmesan for a simple yet elegant meal you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (6 oz/170 g), patted dry with paper towels
- 3 tbsps butter
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2 tbsps extra-virgin olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups baby spinach
- ¼ cup herbs (basil and parsley), chopped, plus more for garnish
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper, freshly ground
- Lemon wedges, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preparation: Heat a large skillet over medium-high flame, generously coating the surface with olive oil. Season salmon fillets with salt and pepper across all surfaces.
- Searing: Position salmon skin-side up in the heated skillet, creating a golden-brown crust. Cook for 6 minutes, then flip and sear for an additional 2 minutes. Transfer fillets to a holding plate.
- Aromatic Base: Reduce skillet temperature to medium and melt butter until foamy. Add minced garlic, stirring until fragrant and releasing its intense aroma.
- Vegetable Infusion: Introduce cherry tomatoes to the skillet, seasoning with salt and pepper. Gently cook until tomatoes soften and release their natural juices. Fold in baby spinach, stirring until leaves wilt and become tender.
- Sauce Development: Stream heavy cream into the skillet, incorporating freshly grated Parmesan and chopped herbs. Simmer and reduce the mixture, creating a rich, velvety sauce that coats the back of a spoon.
- Final Assembly: Carefully return salmon fillets to the skillet, gently nestling them into the herb-laden sauce. Continue simmering until fish reaches perfect doneness and sauce thickens slightly.
- Finishing Touch: Garnish with additional fresh herbs and brighten the dish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice just before serving, enhancing the salmon’s delicate flavor profile.
Notes
- Sear with Confidence: Achieve a perfect golden crust by ensuring the skillet is hot and salmon is patted dry before cooking.
- Monitor Salmon Doneness: Cook salmon until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F, checking with a meat thermometer to prevent overcooking.
- Herb Selection Matters: Use fresh herbs like basil or parsley for maximum flavor impact, chopping just before adding to preserve essential oils.
- Sauce Consistency Control: Simmer cream sauce gently to prevent separation, stirring occasionally to maintain a smooth, velvety texture.
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 15 min
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 516
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 41 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 112 mg