Pan Seared Salmon in Lemon Cream Sauce

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Perfectly spiced and pan seared salmon in a decadent lemon cream sauce. This delicious and healthy recipe comes together in under 30 minutes! Serve over cauliflower rice the perfect Whole30 and Low Carb meal. 

Originally published 03/2021

pan seared salmon in lemon cream sauce in a large skillet - there are fresh lemon slices and chopped parsley

This is a go-to dish for our family. It is so flavorful and feels fancy even though it is so easy to make. I love to serve it over cauliflower rice to help soak up that beautiful sauce. If you are not doing a round of Whole30, white rice and pasta are delicious with this salmon as well.

I use wild caught salmon that I get from ButcherBox. It is such good quality and I always have some in my freezer for meals like this. I place my frozen fish in the fridge the night before so it has time to thaw out in a safe manner. If I am in a rush, I will put the fish (still in it’s vacuum packaging) in cold water.

Tips for the Salmon:

  • Use a non-stick skillet or your best well seasoned cast iron pan
  • Make sure the pan is nice and hot before adding the salmon
  • Use avocado oil or Ghee, they have a higher smoke point
  • Don’t force the fish to flip, it should release a little from the pan when it is ready
  • Use a fish spatula to flip the salmon

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Photography by Loren Runion of SweetRusticBakes.com

Pan Seared Salmon in Lemon Cream Sauce

Sara
Perfectly spiced and pan seared salmon in a decadent lemon cream sauce. This delicious and healthy recipe comes together in under 30 minutes!
5 from 17 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 Servings
Calories 548 kcal

Ingredients
  

Salmon

  • 2 Tbls Avocado Oil or ghee
  • 4 Salmon Filets
  • 1.5 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1.5 tsp Paprika
  • 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper

Lemon Cream Sauce

  • 1 Tbls Ghee
  • 2 Tbls Shallots or yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 can Coconut Milk full fat (14.5oz)
  • 1/4 cup Chicken Broth
  • 1/4 tsp Pepper Flakes
  • 1 tsp Sea Salt
  • 1 Lemon
  • 2 Tbls Parsley fresh

Instructions
 

Salmon

  • Mix the spices in a small bowl to combine
    Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel and season both sides with spice mixture
    Heat avocado oil of medium high heat in a large cast iron (or non-stick) skillet
    Once the skillet is hot, sear the salmon for 2-3 minutes a side and remove from the pan (2 minutes for thiner filets)

Lemon Cream Sauce

  • Carefully wipe out the pan and turn to medium heat, add in the ghee
    Then add in the shallots and garlic, let saute for 2-3 minutes
    Add in the chicken broth, coconut milk, pepper flakes and sea salt. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer
    Let it simmer until it starts to reduce and thicken up (7-10 minutes)
    Stir in the juice of half a lemon and parsley then taste for salt
    Place the seared salmon filets in the sauce and let simmer for 2 minutes to warm up
    Use the other half of the lemon to cut into wedges to serve with dinner
    Serve over cauliflower rice, white rice, or pasta and enjoy!

Notes

Tips for Fish:
  • Use a non-stick skillet or your best well seasoned cast iron pan
  • Make sure the pan is nice and hot before adding the salmon
  • Use avocado oil or Ghee, they have a higher smoke point
  • Don’t force the fish to flip, it should release a little from the pan when it is ready
  • Use a fish spatula to flip the salmon
 

Nutrition

Calories: 548kcalCarbohydrates: 7gProtein: 37gFat: 43gSaturated Fat: 23gCholesterol: 103mgSodium: 1600mgPotassium: 1149mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 698IUVitamin C: 20mgCalcium: 51mgIron: 5mg
Keyword clean eating, gluten free, keto, low carb, paleo, whole30
Tried this recipe?Mention @thebetteredblondie
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12 Comments

  1. Does it add any coconut flavor? I’m looking for a dairy alternative for savory that doesn’t impart it’s own flavor to my dish.

    1. Yes, you can taste the coconut in this dish. Nutpods is a good dairy free option, it does have some coconut in it but has a very mild flavor

  2. 5 stars
    This recipe is so good. I don’t eat poultry so I made this tonight for my Thanksgiving main dish while others had Turkey. It was awesome and there were jealous Turkey eaters around the table. Will definitely make again!

  3. 5 stars
    I never leave comments but omg. Had to. This recipe is amazing and so simple. Everyone loved it. I didn’t have chicken broth so I just used salt water. Added some fresh dill and zest from the lemon. Definitely will be making again.

    1. 5 stars
      The best salmon recipe! We’ve been having this dish every week for fish Friday’s. My kids love it!

  4. 5 stars
    I made this two times already. Could make again and again. 2nd time I used cod fillets, butter instead of ghee, and heavy whipping cream instead of coconut milk. So delicious! Didn’t last long on my plate! Thank you for the scrumptious recipe!

  5. 5 stars
    This is one of the best salmon dishes I have ever had. I make it regularly! I don’t add paprika because I don’t really like it, but otherwise perfection!

  6. 5 stars
    This was simply AMAZING!!! The flavors felt so rich and clean. One of the best meals I have had in a long time.

  7. 5 stars
    This was simply AMAZING!!! The flavors felt so rich and clean. One of the best meals I have had in a long time.

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