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Easy Garlic Butter Salmon with Lemon Herb Rice

Rose
Easy Garlic Butter Salmon with Lemon Herb Rice is a quick and flavorful seafood dinner featuring pan-seared salmon fillets coated in a rich garlic butter sauce with fresh lemon and parsley. Served over fluffy jasmine rice, this simple meal delivers bright citrus flavor and comforting richness in under 30 minutes.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Course Dinner
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 420 kcal

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • saucepan or rice cooker for cooking rice
  • spatula for flipping salmon
  • Measuring spoons
  • fork for fluffing rice

Ingredients
  

  • 4 salmon fillets
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • 1/2 tsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 3 tbsp butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped
  • 2 cups cooked jasmine rice
  • extra chopped parsley for garnish
  • lemon slices for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Prepare the jasmine rice according to the package instructions. Once cooked, fluff the rice with a fork and keep it warm.
  • Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture.
  • Season both sides of the salmon with salt, black pepper, and paprika.
  • Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking.
  • Place the salmon fillets skin-side down in the skillet and cook undisturbed for 4–5 minutes until the skin becomes crisp.
  • Flip the salmon carefully with a spatula and cook another 3–4 minutes until opaque and flaky.
  • Reduce heat to medium and add the butter and minced garlic to the skillet.
  • Cook for about 1 minute while stirring gently until the garlic becomes fragrant.
  • Add lemon juice and lemon zest, then spoon the garlic butter sauce over the salmon several times.
  • Sprinkle parsley into the sauce. Serve salmon over warm rice and garnish with lemon slices and additional parsley.

Notes

Pat the salmon dry before cooking to help it sear properly. Avoid moving the fish while it cooks so the skin becomes crisp. Add the garlic only after the salmon has mostly cooked to prevent burning. For variation, add honey for sweetness, chili flakes for spice, or a splash of cream for a creamy lemon garlic sauce.

Nutrition

Calories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 32gProtein: 34gFat: 18gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 520mgPotassium: 700mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 300IUVitamin C: 8mgCalcium: 40mgIron: 1.5mg
Keyword easy salmon dinner, garlic butter salmon, lemon herb rice, pan seared salmon
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