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Pan-seared salmon with pink salt citrus butter on a white plate.

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Pan-Seared Salmon With Pink Salt Citrus Butter

Recipe by Molina

This recipe delivers restaurant-quality salmon with crispy skin and a luscious, bright butter sauce. A smart cold-pan start ensures perfect crispiness, while a compound butter infused with lemon and pink Himalayan salt creates a balanced, flavorful glaze. It's a quick, healthful meal that feels indulgent.


  • Total Time20min
  • Yield2 servings 1x
  • DietGluten Free

Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 (6 oz) skin-on, center-cut salmon fillets
  • 1 tbsp neutral high-heat oil (avocado or grapeseed)
  • 1/4 tsp kosher salt
  • 3 tbsp unsalted European-style butter
  • 1 small garlic clove, minced
  • Zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 tbsp fresh dill or parsley, finely chopped
  • 1/4 tsp finely ground Himalayan pink salt


Instructions

  1. Pat salmon fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels. For extra crisp skin, place on a wire rack in the fridge, uncovered, for 10 minutes.
  2. Season the flesh side of the salmon with kosher salt.
  3. Place a cold skillet over medium heat and add the oil. Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the cold pan.
  4. Cook for 4-5 minutes, without moving, until the skin renders fat, firms, and releases from the pan.
  5. Increase heat to medium-high and cook for 60-90 seconds more to deeply crisp the skin.
  6. Carefully flip the salmon and cook flesh-side down for 1-2 minutes, until sides are opaque but center is still slightly translucent. Transfer to a plate, skin-side up, to rest.
  7. Reduce heat to low. Add butter to the skillet. Cook, swirling, until butter melts, foams, and turns a light nutty brown (beurre noisette).
  8. Add minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant. Immediately remove pan from heat.
  9. Swirl in lemon zest and lemon juice vigorously to emulsify the sauce.
  10. Stir in chopped herbs and pink Himalayan salt until combined.
  11. Serve salmon skin-side up with the pink salt citrus butter spooned around the fillet.

Notes

For guaranteed crispy skin, ensure the salmon skin is completely dry before cooking. If the butter sauce breaks, remove from heat and whisk in a teaspoon of cold water or lemon juice until creamy again. Leftover compound butter can be rolled into a log, chilled, and sliced for future use.

  • Prep Time: 10min
  • Cook Time: 10min
  • Category: Dinner
  • Method: Pan-searing
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2
  • Calories: 480
  • Sugar: 0
  • Sodium: 520
  • Fat: 37
  • Saturated Fat: 13
  • Unsaturated Fat: 20
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 2
  • Fiber: 0
  • Protein: 34
  • Cholesterol: 125