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I am in love with salmon, but I have kind of limited myself to cooking sinaing na salmon, plus, of course, the buttered garlic salmon from one of my besties. The rest of the time, I order creamy salmon in restaurants whenever I get the chance.
One fine day, I decided that I could also add another healthy salmon recipe to my collection. Why not, right? I will share this new healthy recipe with you in this post. I called it creamy salmon and it was so because of the addition of a creamy sauce where the salmon slices or fillets can get extra juice. This has become one of the family’s favorite recipes after that “one fine day.”
This fish recipe is excellent as a luscious lunch or healthy dinner meal, and it goes along with many carb staples, steamed or grilled vegetables, and salad.
First, What is Salmon?
Salmon is a type of fish that is delicious and incredibly nutritious. It is known for its rich flavor making it a favorite among seafood lovers worldwide. Whether you are looking for a healthy meal option or a weeknight dinner idea, salmon is the perfect choice. Its tender and flaky flesh can be cooked in a variety of ways, from baking and grilling to pan-searing and even making salmon patties. With its vibrant pink color and delicate taste, salmon is a seafood superstar that is sure to impress your taste buds and provide you with a wholesome and satisfying meal.
Is Salmon Healthy?
Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for maintaining heart health and reducing inflammation in the body protecting against chronic diseases such as heart disease and arthritis. This nutrient-dense fish is also high in protein and contains vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, and selenium. Salmon is often hailed as a superfood due to its numerous health benefits and exceptional nutritional value.
Incorporating salmon into your diet on a regular basis has been found to lower blood pressure, reduce the risk of heart disease, improve brain function, and support overall health and well-being. So why not indulge in this healthy and creamy salmon recipe and treat your taste buds to both a delicious and nourishing meal?
The Benefits of This Recipe
One of the greatest advantages of this delicious recipe is its versatility. Whether you have fresh or canned salmon on hand, you can easily create a delicious and nutritious meal in no time.
Not only is this recipe versatile, but it also boasts a quick preparation time, making it an excellent option for busy weeknights. With simple ingredients and easy-to-follow steps, you can have a wholesome meal on the table in a matter of minutes.
For those with dietary restrictions, this recipe is also gluten-free. By using fresh, simple ingredients such as fresh lemon juice, extra-virgin olive oil, fresh herbs, and cream, you can create a flavorful and creamy sauce without any gluten-containing ingredients.
Ingredients for Creamy Salmon
To make this healthy and creamy salmon recipe, you only need a handful of simple ingredients. Start with fresh salmon fillets cut in similar sizes.
Olive oil is the perfect choice for cooking the salmon, as it has a high smoke point and adds a subtle, buttery flavor.
You’ll also need garlic, and lemon juice to add a tangy freshness to the dish.
For the creamy sauce, you’ll need heavy cream, which adds a luscious texture to the dish.
To enhance the flavor, fresh herbs can be added, along with black pepper and red pepper flakes for a hint of spice, if you prefer a little heat in the sauce.
With these simple ingredients, you’ll be able to create a delicious and healthy meal that will satisfy your taste buds.
How to Cook Creamy Salmon
Prepare the Salmon Slices
Salmon fillets or slices can be purchased from your local supermarket or grocery store, or you can get them in bigger pieces and do the slicing. Make sure that the cut sizes are the same (well, almost), to ensure consistency when cooking them.
Run the fillets in cold water, that should be enough to clean the salmon as long as there is no blood or guts in the meat. If you prefer, you can squeeze half a lemon directly into the salmon meat and then wash it in water. Other than that, there is no need to season salmon with salt as the taste of the dish will come from the sauce.
Prep the rest of the ingredients
- Peel garlic and mince them.
- Have the olive oil and butter ready,
- Squeeze lemon. Add salt, ground black pepper, pepper flakes (if using), thick cream, and vegetable broth or chicken broth. Mix them with a whisker (affiliate link) or with a fork, ensuring that there are no more lumps from the cream.
- Cut up herbs. Set aside.
You want all of these handy when you are cooking.
Cooking Instructions
Note that the cook time for this fish recipe might change depending on the type of salmon, the thickness of the cut, etc., but this post will guide you through the process. Here you go:
Heat a medium-sized pan or heavy-bottom pot (affiliate links) and drizzle with olive oil. When the oil is heated enough, place the salmon skin down first and cook for about 6 minutes. Turn the fish slices over and cook for another 6 minutes. You can see from the sides of the fish if they have been cooked through. You may add a couple of minutes if you see that the sides of the salmon have not turned to a paler pink. When cooked, remove fish from the pan and set aside.
You may want to use the same pan to cook the cream. If very few fish pieces – like sediments – were left on the pan, just remove them, but that is not necessary. Add butter to the pan (or if you are using another pan, heat that up and add olive oil and butter).
Over medium-high heat, sautee minced garlic until they are light golden brown in color. Reduce stove temperature to medium heat, then add the lemon-cream-broth mixture. Let simmer and stir occasionally making sure that the mixture comes out smooth. Add the parmesan cheese. Continue to stir.You may want to add broth or water to the mixture if you find your sauce thicker than expected. Otherwise, just let the sauce simmer until it reaches your desired consistency.
There are two ways to deal with the next step:
- One – pour the sauce over the cooked salmon slices and top with garnishings.
- Two – return the cooked salmon slices to the saucepan and cook further for a couple of minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and top with garnishings.
Serve with fresh lemon slices, just in case. Actually, always the case with Mr. Green Eyes.
Serving Suggestions
Serve creamy salmon with:
- mashed potatoes or oven-baked yam
- cauliflower rice
- steamed white rice
- Crusty bread
- Cooked pasta. If you are using pasta for this dish, I suggest you double the amount of the sauce. It is excellent for the pasta to absorb the creamy texture of the sauce.
- Steamed or grilled vegetables, such as green beans, carrots, zucchini, and broccoli. I used steamed broccoli with this recipe.
- Fresh baby spinach can be added to this recipe straight on during the last two minutes of cooking.
- Any green salad or bean salad of your choice on the side.
Storing Leftover Salmon
Leftover creamy salmon can be kept in an airtight container in the fridge for a couple of days. You can also cover the dish with plastic wrap and keep it in the refrigerator.
Microwave leftovers and serve.
Additional Cooking Tips
- If you are using frozen salmon, make sure that they are completely thawed before you start your cooking process.
- Replace olive oil with avocado oil.
- Roll your salmon slices in all-purpose flour before frying. This will keep them from breaking apart, especially if your cooking temperature is higher than necessary.
- Top with minced fresh dill instead of parsley.
- Another topping option is parmesan cheese. If you do, reduce the amount of salt in the recipe.
A Wholesome Creamy Salmon Recipe You’ll Love
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20
- Total Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main dish
- Method: cooking
- Cuisine: International
Description
A healthy creamy salmon recipe that is a level up from the usual garlic-buttered salmon.
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- juice of 1 lemon
- 2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- fresh herbs for garnishing
Instructions
- Over medium heat, gently fry salmon filets in a pan with pre-heated two tablespoons of olive oil – about six minutes on each side. Set aside.
- Using a whisker (affiliate link) or a spoon, mix the juice of a lemon, salt, ground black pepper, pepper flakes (if using), thick cream, and vegetable broth or chicken broth. Make sure that there are no more lumps from the cream.
- Over medium-high heat, sautee minced garlic until they are light golden brown. Reduce temperature to medium heat, then add the lemon-cream-broth mixture. Let simmer and stir occasionally making sure that the mixture comes out smooth. You may want to add broth or water to the mixture if you find your sauce thicker than expected. Otherwise, just let the sauce simmer until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Pour the sauce over the cooked salmon slices and top with garnishings. Or return the cooked salmon slices to the saucepan and
Tools used in this recipe:
Heavy-bottom pot
Cooking Pan
Whisker
