Name: Pan-Seared Salmon with Brown Butter and Lemon
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 10 min
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 4 salmon fillets; ½ teaspoon kosher salt; ¼ teaspoon black pepper; 2 tablespoons butter; 1 lemon; 3 sprigs fresh thyme

Pan-Seared Salmon with Brown Butter and Lemon

weeknightclassiceasy

5 minPrep10 minCook4Serves

Ingredients

4salmon fillets (6 ounces each, skin-on)
½ teaspoonkosher salt
¼ teaspoonblack pepper
2 tablespoonsbutter
1lemon
3 sprigsfresh thyme (or 1 teaspoon dried)

Method

01
Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides evenly with kosher salt and black pepper.
02
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add 1 tablespoon of butter and let it melt.
03
Place salmon skin-side up in the skillet and sear for 4 to 5 minutes until the skin is crispy and golden. Do not move the fillets.
04
Flip the salmon skin-side down and add the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and the thyme sprigs to the pan. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes more until the flesh is opaque and flakes gently.
05
Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the salmon and drizzle with the browned butter from the pan. Serve immediately.

Spice Tips

For warmth, add a small pinch of cayenne pepper when seasoning the salmon. A touch of garlic powder (1/4 teaspoon per fillet) pairs beautifully with the brown butter. If you like heat, finish with a few red pepper flakes scattered over the plate.

Serve with roasted asparagus or a simple green salad. If your fillets are thicker than 1 inch, lower the heat slightly and add 2 more minutes to the second sear.