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Pan-Seared Salmon with Spicy Lemon Butter Sauce

This pan-seared salmon is so good. It never fails to impress. Serve it with a simple salad or steamed veggies or fried rice.

The butter and lemon combo is always a winner; garlic and red pepper chili add some heat and makes the sauce more delicious.

The best part is how unbelievably simple to make this; it will not make you feeling frazzled at the end. You’ll still have time and energy to prepare dessert too 🙂

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My photos don’t do justice to this beautiful, delicious salmon dish. I made it for our New Year’s Media Noche feast along with other dishes. I was only able to take a few photos. I served it family style.

I’m going to make it again for Valentine’s Day:)

I make it using only one pan, so I pan-fry the salmon first then use the same pan for the sauce. You may use a separate saucepan for the lemon butter sauce, if you like.

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Fry the salmon fillet, skin side first until brown and crispy. Flip to cook the salmon through. Transfer to a platter and set aside.

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Make the sauce by sautéing garlic in the same pan, add more extra-virgin olive oil if there’s too little left in the pan

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add red pepper chili flakes, chicken broth or water and lemon juice

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Simmer until sauce is reduced to half then stir-in butter and pour the spicy lemon garlic butter sauce all over the pan-seared salmon fillet

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YUM!! I love crispy salmon skin

Pan seared salmon with lemon butter sauce

Pan-seared Salmon Fillet with Spicy Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce

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Quick and easy salmon dish with crispy skin and delicious spicy hot lemon butter sauce

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Course Fish, Main Course

Cuisine American

  • Pat salmon fillet dry with paper towels.

  • Season salmon fillet with salt and ground black pepper

  • Heat a large saute or frying pan over medium heat.

  • Add extra-virgin olive oil.

  • When oil is hot, add salmon fillet, skin side first.

  • Cook until brown and crispy, about 4-5 minutes.

  • Flip salmon fillet to cook the other side, cook for about 2-3 minutes or until salmon is cook through.

  • Transfer pan-seared salmon fillet on a serving platter, do not include the oil, set aside.

  • Using the same pan, make the sauce.

  • Add more olive oil if there’s too little left on the pan.

  • Add garlic and saute until lightly browned and fragrant.

  • Add red chili pepper flakes, saute for a few seconds to release the heat then add broth or water, rum(if using) and lemon juice.

  • Let simmer until sauce is reduced to half.

  • Stir in butter and lemon zest and some parsley flakes, if using fresh parsley, add it at the end as garnish.

  • Drizzle the spicy lemon butter sauce all over the pan-seared salmon fillet.

  • Garnish as you like with more fresh parsley and lemon slices.

  • Serve immediately.

  • Enjoy it with steamed veggies or simple salad.

Keyword crispy skin salmon, hot and spicy lemon butter sauce, how to cook a salmon, lemon butter sauce, pan-seared salmon, salmon fillet

You might also want to try my original favorite pan-seared salmon recipe. 🙂