Description
A quick and elegant weeknight dinner featuring seared salmon and crisp-tender asparagus in a rich, garlicky cream sauce, all cooked in a single skillet for easy cleanup.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 lbs salmon fillets
- 1 bunch asparagus (about 1 lb)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4–5 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ¼ cup chicken broth (or vegetable broth)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley (or fresh chopped)
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Prep the asparagus by snapping off the woody ends and setting aside.
- Pat salmon fillets dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear salmon skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until golden.
- Flip salmon and cook for another 2-3 minutes until opaque. Remove from pan and tent with foil.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add asparagus to the same pan and sauté for 3-4 minutes until tender-crisp.
- Push asparagus to the sides, add butter, and melt. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 1 minute.
- Stir in heavy cream, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Simmer gently for 1-2 minutes until sauce thickens.
- Return salmon to the pan, nestling it into the sauce. Add asparagus back in if removed.
- Sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately with lemon wedges.
Notes
Pat the fish dry before searing for a better crust. Do not overcook the salmon as it will continue to cook in the sauce. If the sauce is too thin, let it simmer longer; if too thick, add a splash of broth. This recipe is naturally gluten-free. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive oil and heavy cream with coconut cream.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet with aspara
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 36
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 8
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 35
Keywords: salmon, asparagus, one-pan meal, creamy garlic butter, easy dinner, weeknight dinner, seafood, healthy dinner