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Quick Garlic Butter Salmon Recipe with Easy Lemon Caper Sauce

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A quick and elegant salmon dish featuring a glossy garlic butter sauce with bright lemon and briny capers, perfect for weeknight dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces or 170 grams each), skin-on or skinless
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from 1 medium lemon)
  • 2 tablespoons capers, drained
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Let them sit at room temperature for about 10 minutes.
  2. Place a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Heat until the oil shimmers but is not smoking, about 1-2 minutes.
  3. Carefully place the salmon fillets skin-side down (if using skin-on) in the pan. Press down gently with a spatula for 10 seconds to prevent curling. Cook for 4-5 minutes without moving, until edges look opaque and skin is crispy.
  4. Flip the salmon gently using tongs or a fish spatula. Cook on the other side for 2-3 minutes until salmon flakes easily but remains moist inside. Remove salmon from pan and set aside on a warm plate.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter to the same pan. When melted, add minced garlic and cook gently for about 1 minute until fragrant but not browned.
  6. Pour in fresh lemon juice and stir in capers. Let sauce simmer for another minute, scraping up any browned bits from the pan.
  7. Return salmon to the pan briefly to coat with sauce or spoon sauce generously over each fillet on serving plate.
  8. Sprinkle chopped parsley on top for garnish and serve immediately while warm.

Notes

Pat salmon dry to ensure a good sear. Cook garlic gently to avoid bitterness. Capers add saltiness, so taste sauce before adding extra salt. For more cooked salmon, cover pan briefly after flipping to trap steam. Leftovers keep well for 2 days in fridge; reheat gently to avoid drying out.

Nutrition

Keywords: salmon, garlic butter salmon, lemon caper sauce, quick salmon recipe, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, healthy salmon

Find it online: https://eliplate.com/quick-garlic-butter-salmon-recipe-with-easy-lemon-caper-sauce/