Description
Succulent salmon meets zesty lemon butter cream sauce in this elegant Mediterranean-inspired dish that promises restaurant-quality flavor right from home kitchens. Delicate fish and silky sauce blend beautifully, offering you a quick gourmet meal perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 5 salmon fillets (skinless), about 150 g / 5 ounces each
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half
Seasonings and Flavor Enhancers:
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons old style Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- Salt, to taste
Garnish and Additional Ingredients:
- 1 garlic clove (minced)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons garlic cloves (minced)
- 1–2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (optional)
- 1 tablespoon parsley (finely chopped)
- Lemon slices, for serving
Instructions
- Create a zesty marinade by whisking lemon juice, olive oil, minced garlic, and Dijon mustard until smooth and well-combined.
- Place salmon fillets in a baking dish, thoroughly coat with the marinade, ensuring even coverage and maximum flavor absorption.
- Sprinkle salt and black pepper over the salmon, allowing it to marinate while preheating the oven to 425°F (220°C).
- Position salmon on the center rack and bake for 10-15 minutes, monitoring for opaque, flaky texture that easily separates with a fork.
- During baking, prepare the cream sauce by melting butter in a saucepan over low-medium heat.
- Add minced garlic to the butter, sautéing briefly until fragrant without browning.
- Gradually pour heavy cream into the butter mixture, stirring continuously until it reaches a gentle boil and slightly thickens.
- Enhance sauce with an extra splash of lemon juice, then season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle freshly chopped parsley into the sauce for added color and flavor.
- Remove salmon from oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes, enabling juice redistribution.
- Generously drizzle lemon butter cream sauce over the salmon fillets.
- Garnish with fresh lemon slices and serve immediately for optimal taste and presentation.
Notes
- Marinate the salmon for extra flavor absorption by letting it sit in the lemon mixture while the oven preheats, enhancing the overall taste profile.
- Prevent overcooking by checking salmon’s doneness with a fork; the fish should be opaque and easily flake, maintaining its tender, moist texture.
- Customize the sauce thickness by adjusting cream and lemon juice quantities, creating a personalized consistency that complements the salmon perfectly.
- Adapt the recipe for dietary restrictions by substituting heavy cream with coconut cream for a dairy-free version, or using ghee instead of butter for a lactose-sensitive alternative.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 360
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 400 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 5 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg