Description
A quick and easy 15-minute weeknight dinner featuring salmon fillets with perfectly golden, crispy skin and moist, flaky flesh. This restaurant-quality dish requires minimal ingredients and simple techniques for reliable results.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (about 6oz each / 170g each), skin-on
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil (avocado or grapeseed)
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 lemon, cut into wedges
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill or parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Take salmon fillets out of the fridge 10-15 minutes before cooking to bring to room temperature.
- Pat the salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels, ensuring the skin is very dry.
- Season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper.
- Place a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat and let it get hot for 2-3 minutes until the oil shimmers.
- Add neutral oil to the pan and wait 30 seconds for it to heat up.
- Place salmon fillets in the pan skin-side down, laying them away from you to avoid splashing.
- Do not touch the fish for 6-7 minutes. Press down gently with a spatula every minute to ensure even contact.
- Check that the skin is deeply golden and releases easily from the pan.
- Flip the fillets and add butter to the pan.
- Tilt the pan and spoon melted butter over the fish to baste.
- Cook the flesh side for 2-3 minutes until opaque and flaky (internal temp 125°F for medium-rare).
- Remove from pan and let rest for 1 minute.
- Serve immediately with lemon wedges and fresh herbs.
Notes
[‘Dryness is crucial: wet skin will steam instead of crisp. Pat the fish dry thoroughly.’, ‘Ensure the pan is very hot before adding oil to prevent sticking.’, ‘Do not move the fish while searing the skin side; let it release naturally.’, ‘Room temperature fish cooks more evenly than cold fish.’, ‘Do not crowd the pan; cook in batches if necessary to maintain high heat.’]
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet (6oz)
- Calories: 320
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 20
- Saturated Fat: 5
- Carbohydrates: 2
- Protein: 34
Keywords: salmon, crispy skin, pan-seared, quick dinner, healthy, omega-3, weeknight meal, gluten-free, keto-friendly