If you’re like me, you have found yourself intimidated by cooking fish and reluctant to make it a part of your weeknight recipe lineup ?. For the longest time I was not only afraid to cook fish but I was also afraid to eat it! It wasn’t until I moved closer to the sea that eating fish became more of a “norm” in my life. Matt and I love to go fishing and after our first time fishing in the Galveston Bay we cooked up our catches that same day. I fully expected to choke it down for the principal of eating my catch, but I fully enjoyed my meal and am now addicted to the freshness and nutritious value that a good seafood dish brings! While I love a redfish filet, flounder, or catfish catch, Salmon has to be one of my seafood favorites. Like many fish, Salmon is an excellent source of high-quality protein and omega-3 fatty acids which greatly benefit your brain function and hearth health. Along with this, salmon is PACKED with many other helpful vitamins and minerals! I have spent the last year experimenting with salmon – cooking it, making sauces to dip it in, and sides to perfectly compliment the vibrant flavor profile it brings. I have, in my opinion, ALMOST perfected the art of searing my salmon filets and now find myself incorporating them into my meal plans several times a month! I am thrilled to share my Skillet Seared & Spiced Salmon recipe (and method) with you today! ?
If you follow me on instagram you have seen the various salmon dish creations I have made over the past couple of months. I have made salmon with my favorite “greenoa” recipe, a range of fresh salad combinations, homemade tomatillo salsa, avocado cream sauce, and even veggie skillets. All of these side dish recipes (and more) can be seen on the story highlights of my instagram page – check it out for more details/ideas! The salmon is the MVP of every dish it’s a part of, so you can really take any fresh side dish to accompany the perfectly seared filet! (See the photos below for a few of my favorite salmon dish ideas.)
Skillet-Seared Salmon Recipe:
You need:
- 1 fresh Atlantic salmon filet (cult in half). I try to pick up one that is about 1 inch – 1.5 inches thick.
- Lemon
- Minced garlic (2 tsp)
- Garlic Powder
- Sea Salt /Cracked Black Pepper
- Seafood Seasoning of choice (I use “Texas Originals Seafood Spice Blend“)
- Olive oil
- Cilantro
Directions:
Step 1 – Prep Salmon. Pat salmon dry with paper towels and set on wax paper, skin side down. Generously coat filet with a mixture of garlic powder, sea salt, black pepper, and your favorite seafood seasoning blend.
Step 2 – Prep Skillet. Whip out your cast iron skillet and crank heat to medium. Heat a generous amount olive oil and minced garlic into the pan for about a minute before adding salmon.
Step 3 – Sear Salmon (skin up). This is when you need to be dilligent and careful! The success of your salmon dish hinges on your ability to sear the salmon PERFECTLY, and if executed precisely, it will be just that.. perfect! Place the salmon, skin side UP, on the skillet. Allow to cook without moving salmon for about 2.5 minutes. At this time, carefully lift one of the filets to check the color of the filet. It should be a nice golden orange/brown color when it’s time to flip! Â You will also notice on the edges of the salmon that the opaque color is beginning to turn whitish – this is a good way to gauge how “complete” your cooked salmon is. You should flip your salmon before this white coloring gets to the halfway point of the filet cross section (See photo below).
Step 4- Flip & Sear Salmon (skin down). When your salmon filet has reached a nice golden brown color, carefully flip the filets one at a time and drizzle some more olive oil into the pan. Turn the heat down slightly (medium low) and allow the salmon to finish cooking skin side down, checking frequently for doneness. Cut a lemon in half and squeeze generously over the tops of the filets. If you notice that the skin side is becoming charred, you can rectify this issue by turning down the heat and adding more olive oil!Â
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Step 5 – Serve and Enjoy! When your salmon is cooked to completion (the center is no longer opaque), use a spatula to carefully remove filets and plate them. Garnish with a lemon slice, some fresh cilantro, and your side dish/salad of choice! Â Bon apetit!??
**I should mention that one of the biggest players in perfecting seared salmon (or seared anything for that matter), is the cast iron skillet. We received our cast iron skillet for our wedding and I use it almost daily to prepare delicious and flavorful meals. The cast iron skillet soaks up more flavor and chars filets to perfection – it really is a cooking game-changer! If you do not own a cast iron skillet, I encourage you to head to target and pick one up today – the one we recieved as a gift was found for only 12 dollars (I found a similar one for about $18 at target online). SO worth it. A word of advice when using cast iron, do NOT place in dishwasher – you must hand wash your skillet and make sure it is completely dry before storing. I actually lightly dry my skillet and then set in on the hot stove for a few minutes to evaporate all the rest of the water off (to reduce rusting opportunities). In addition to cleaning by hand, be sure to season your skillet every once in a while to keep it in optimal shape!
Here are a few of my favorite salmon dishes that we’ve enjoyed over the past couple months (See the recipe dEATS on my instagram page) ??????
I hope that you will bring the flavors and goods of the sea to your home and family this week! As always, let me know if you attempt any of my recipes – I would LOVE to hear how they turn out! Comment below with any other salmon (or cast iron skillet) tips, delicious side dishes, or benefits! Wishing you all a wonderful and relaxing weekend full of fun, love, and GOOD FOOD! ? Oh, and see below for another photo of fish that Matt and I have caught & cooked (and yes – we ate ALL of that!!)
Kelsie ?
