Pan Seared Salmon

This easy recipe for pan seared salmon with blue cheese topping is proof that preparing seafood does not need to be complicated. Try this simple one-skillet recipe once and I guarantee, it will become a go-to fish dinner soon!

My pan seared salmon recipe is one you will make over and over again. Delicately-seared fresh salmon fillets with brown sugar, garlic, and thin lemon slices are topped with creamy blue cheese. A show stopper at your next party or a perfect dinner ready in 15 minutes! A salmon lovers’ dream.

I love salmon and have a variety of salmon recipes ranging from Air Fryer Salmon, Grilled Salmon, Baked Salmon With Greek Dressing, Sockeye Salmon With Lemon Butter Sauce, Sushi Burrito with Spicy Salmon, a simple Smoked Salmon Platter and this story on How to Cook Salmon.

Cooking Salmon

Seafood in general is something I tackle a lot at my cooking classes, and it all boils down to this : a myth. Or several myths to be exact, such as

• seafood is hard to cook through,
• it overcooks and dries out,
• or seafood has a strong fishy taste or seafood is hard to flavour…

…and the list goes on. Well, I find that seafood is just the opposite of all of the above! Seafood happens to cook really easy and really fast, be it on the stove, roasted, broiled, steamed, poached, fried, you name it. My favorite ways would be roasted, broiled, or seared.

Seared Salmon Recipe 

This amazing recipe for seared salmon comes together in 15 minutes.

It was the first time I have tried out the combination of blue cheese because it was what I had in my fridge at the time, and I found the flavors to be perfectly complimented! Not too strong as you might expect, but rather each strong flavor is made smoother by the other.

The addition of brown sugar to season the fillets before searing not only balances out the blue cheese but also helps the fish get this perfectly golden crust which contrasts the soft interior of the fillet.

HOW TO PAN SEAR SALMON

Ingredients for Seared Salmon Recipe

• Salmon Fillets. Look for firm, pink fillets with no brown spots or soft areas. Check the amount of moisture in the package. If the packaging is filled with liquid, it is not fresh.
• Kosher Salt.
• Black Pepper.
• Brown Sugar. Light or dark will both work. Dark Brown Sugar has a more intense flavor.
• Olive Oil.
• Garlic Cloves. Minced. Fresh minced garlic is not as hard as you think. Just invest in a good garlic press and you will love it!
• Lemon Slices.
• Crumbled Blue Cheese. This adds so much flavor to the finished dish.
• Parsley.
• Honey.

Over medium-high heat, preheat a nonstick skillet or cast-iron pan and add the olive oil. Olive oil allows you to have pan-fried salmon with healthy fats. Season salmon fillets on both sides with brown sugar, salt, and pepper.

Once the skillet is ready, place the salmon in the skillet over medium-high and then lower the heat to medium. Make sure to place the salmon skin side down first. Allow the salmon to sear for about 2 minutes dropping the heat to medium-low after the first minute. Flip the salmon and repeat the same process.

Once the fillets are seared until nice and golden, the garlic is added along with thin lemon slices and sautéed for just a minute to infuse flavor. At that point, the skillet is covered for 2 minutes until the fish is perfectly cooked through.

Finally, while off the heat the blue cheese is crumbled on top of each fillet and covered for just 30 seconds to soften up and stick to the salmon.

If you prefer the cheese to melt completely, keep the fillets covered for a full minute. A sprinkle of parsley and a soft thin drizzle of honey marks the final touch to this fabulous seafood dish! Enjoy.

TIPS FOR THE BEST PAN SEARED SALMON RECIPE

When cooking salmon, don’t be tempted to turn up the heat, or your salmon will be overcooked on the outside and raw on the inside.

Start flesh side up.

Trust me, the cheese will melt on top of the salmon, even though the heat is turned off.

Use maple syrup instead of honey or coconut sugar instead of brown sugar, if desired.

Begin with room temperature salmon for best results. If your salmon is cold you may have to adjust the cooking time.

Use paper towels to remove any extra moisture from the meat before seasoning.

Whenever you are ready to eat salmon, squeeze the lemon juice over the filet.

FAQ

Can you pan-sear salmon with skin?

Yes. Skin is usually only on one side of a salmon filet. Sear the skin side first.

What side of salmon do you sear first?

Searing the salmon is so easy! If it has skin, then the skin goes down first.

How long to pan sear salmon?

It takes 6-8 mins per side depending on the size and thickness of the fillet.

MORE GREAT SALMON RECIPES

We have so many great salmon using a huge variety of different cooking techniques, so you can always find a new way of preparing salmon on Two Purple Figs. Here are some great choices to consider:

Air Fryer Salmon. Air-frying is a wonderful way to cook salmon quickly and create a crispy finish without frying in grease.

Baked Salmon. I find that baking salmon is incredibly easy and fast.

Grilled Salmon. Grilling results in a perfectly flaky fish without making a mess in the kitchen.

Sockeye Salmon Seared in Sauce. When the sauce is part of the cooking process, the flavor is unbelievable.

4.24 from 13 votes

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Pan Seared Salmon

This easy recipe for pan seared salmon with blue cheese topping is proof that preparing seafood does not need to be complicated. Try this simple one-skillet recipe once and I guarantee, it will become a go-to fish dinner soon!

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword easy salmon recipe, pan-seared salmon, salmon, salmon recipes, seafood, seafood recipe, seared salmon

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 25 minutes

Servings 4

Calories 304 kcal

Author Mahy

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt ( or to taste)
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 teaspoons brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• 1/2 lemon thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons crumbled blue cheese
• 1 tablespoon parsley
• 1 teaspoon honey

Instructions

1. Over medium-high heat, preheat a non-stick skillet or cast-iron pan and add the olive oil.
2. Season the salmon fillets on both sides with salt, pepper and brown sugar.
   
3. Once the skillet is ready, place the salmon fillets and lower the heat to medium, and allow the salmon to sear on each side for about 2 minutes dropping the heat to medium-low after the first minute.
   
4. Add the garlic and lemon slices and sauté them with the salmon fillets for 1 minute until the flavors burst out, then cover your skillet with a lid (or use aluminum foil if you don’t have a lid for that skillet or pan) while maintaining the heat at medium-low.
   
5. Uncover the skillet, turn off the heat and crumble the blue cheese on top of each fillet and cover them again for a just a few seconds to soften the cheese a little bit.
   
6. Sprinkle the salmon with parsley and drizzle about 1/4 teaspoon of honey on each.
   

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

TIPS FOR THE BEST PAN SEARED SALMON RECIPE

1. When cooking salmon, don’t be tempted to turn up the heat, or your salmon will be overcooked on the outside and raw on the inside.
2. Start flesh side up.
3. Trust me, the cheese will melt on top of the salmon, even though the heat is turned off.
4. Use maple syrup instead of honey or coconut sugar instead of brown sugar, if desired.
5. Begin with room temperature salmon for best results. If your salmon is cold you may have to adjust the cooking time.
6. Use paper towels to remove any extra moisture from the meat before seasoning.
7. Whenever you are ready to eat salmon, squeeze the lemon juice over the filet.

FAQ

Can you pan-sear salmon with skin?

Yes. Skin is usually only on one side of a salmon filet. Sear the skin side first.

What side of salmon do you sear first?

Searing the salmon is so easy! If it has skin, then the skin goes down first.

How long to pan sear salmon?

It takes 6-8 mins per side depending on the size and thickness of the fillet.

Nutrition Facts

Pan Seared Salmon

Amount Per Serving (1 fillet)

Calories 304 Calories from Fat 135

% Daily Value*

Fat 15g23%

Saturated Fat 3g19%

Cholesterol 96mg32%

Sodium 561mg24%

Potassium 861mg25%

Carbohydrates 5g2%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 4g4%

Protein 35g70%

Vitamin A 179IU4%

Vitamin C 9mg11%

Calcium 45mg5%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

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