Creamy Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomatoes (Print Version)

Golden pan-seared salmon in a rich garlic cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and fresh herbs. An elegant yet effortless main dish ready in 30 minutes.

# What You Need:

→ Salmon

01 - 4 (6 oz) skinless salmon fillets
02 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
03 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ For Searing

04 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

→ Cream Sauce

05 - 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 cup chicken or vegetable broth
08 - 3/4 cup heavy cream
09 - 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
10 - 1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
11 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 - 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
13 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

→ To Finish

14 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil or parsley

# How to Prepare:

01 - Pat salmon fillets completely dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add salmon fillets and sear for 3 to 4 minutes per side until golden brown and just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep warm.
03 - Reduce heat to medium. Add butter and minced garlic to the same skillet. Sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
04 - Pour in broth, using a wooden spoon to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
05 - Stir in heavy cream, grated Parmesan, chopped sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring frequently, until sauce thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon.
06 - Add fresh lemon juice to the sauce. Return salmon to the skillet and spoon sauce generously over fillets. Simmer for 2 minutes until heated through. Garnish with chopped fresh basil or parsley and serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sauce comes together in the same pan you used for the salmon, which means every drop of flavor gets used
  • Sun-dried tomatoes bring this intense, concentrated sweetness that balances the rich cream perfectly
  • This looks and tastes like something from a restaurant but takes about thirty minutes from start to finish
02 -
  • Dry your salmon really well before it hits the pan, or you will not get that restaurant-quality sear that makes the dish feel special
  • The sauce will look thin at first, but give it time to simmer and it will thicken into something velvety and luxurious
  • Do not let the garlic burn when you add it to the butter, thirty seconds is all it takes to release its flavor without turning bitter
03 -
  • A dry white wine like Sauvignon Blanc pairs beautifully and echoes the brightness from the lemon juice
  • If you are serving this to someone who claims not to like fish, this is the dish that changes their mind

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