This is how fried salmon is prepared! It’s an easy way to make it in no time, and you can’t beat the seared salmon flavor.
Here’s a method every cook should know: preparation Fried Salmon! This is one of the best ways to cook salmon in no time as it’s quick, easy and delivers amazing flavor. In fact, we’re embarrassed to admit we’ve only just learned this trick! We usually cook salmon in the oven, but it’s even faster in the pan: it also gives the salmon the perfect crispy crust. For us it’s a deal breaker! It also leaves the oven free to roast veggies as a side dish. Ready to start?
How to Make Seared Salmon: Basic Steps
You can jump straight to the recipe when you’re ready to get started. But let’s talk briefly about the method, because knowledge Why doing something in the kitchen is just as important as doing it. How to cook fried salmon:
- Salt the salmon. The first step is optional if you are short on time. But it makes the best of a crispy outside, chewy piece of salmon with no white stuff on the inside (see below). Simply soak the salmon in a brine solution for 15 minutes; This also allows the salmon to return to room temperature.
- Sear the salmon, skin-side down, for 2 to 3 minutes. Cook over medium heat until about half done.
- Flip and cook for another 2 to 5 minutes. When it’s done depends on the thickness of the salmon piece, so use your best judgment. It should be just soft and pink in the center (about 130 degrees Fahrenheit).
A useful tool for fried salmon is a fish spatula! We recently switched to this useful tool and it makes pan frying easier. A fish spatula is a wide slotted metal spatula used to gently slide under the fish as you pick it up. Because it’s so wide, it’s useful for many other tasks besides seafood! We love using it to flip and lift all types of food, like eggplant pizza or french fries.
If you don’t have one, you can just use any large, wide spatula. The metal is nice so it slides easily under the fish’s skin. Would you like to take one for yourself? Here is a link to ours fish spatula.
Season salmon: 4 variations
There are several ways to flavor roast salmon: Of course, there are many other ideas! We usually do the easy method, but redacted is another favorite. Here are all of our favorite ways to season salmon:
- Easy Roasted Salmon: Season with salt and pepper and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice.
- Blackened Spices: Mix up a batch of our Blackened Seasoning, a slightly spicy Cajun-style blend. It’s packed with savory flavors and is a family favorite. Go for blackened salmon.
- Cajun Spice: Same idea but with Cajun spice: a spicy twist! Go Cajun Salmon.
- Magic Salmon Spice: This salmon seasoning is truly magical: the spices are perfect for juicy, flaky salmon.
The 3 best sauces for fried salmon
You can also season the fried salmon with a sauce. It’s not necessary, but it can take this healthy fish to new heights. Here are some salmon sauce ideas:
Why Salt Salmon and “White Stuff”
The salmon pickling step takes 15 minutes. So if you’re late, you can skip it if you want. However, it does a few things that are useful for this fish:
- This will help the salmon come back to room temperature. This will help the salmon cook evenly. If it’s too cold, the inside may still be cold when the outside is fully cooked.
- It flavors the salmon. The curing also helps add flavor to the whole piece of fish.
- Even better, it reduces the “white stuff”. Have you ever seen white stuff rise to the surface of salmon as you cook it? It’s a coagulated protein that infiltrates what’s called the surface albumin. The amount of albumin varies greatly between fish, so it’s not something you can control. (Read more here.) But pickling the salmon helps!
Side dishes for fried salmon
Roasted Salmon is easy to make, so it’s a great idea for a quick and easy dinner! Here are some ideas for quick side dishes to cook with; Prepare them while the salmon is pickling:
This Seared Salmon recipe is…
Pescetarian, gluten and dairy free (with olive oil only).
The description
This is how fried salmon is prepared! It’s an easy way to make it in no time, and you can’t beat the seared flavor.
- 1 Pound salmon fillet, with skin (preferably wild)
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more for the brine
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp Butter (or olive oil for non-dairy products)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil, plus a drizzle
- 1 tbsp Lemon juice, plus a few lemon wedges
- Optional spices: Blackened Spice or Magic Salmon Spice
- Salt salmon* (optional): In a large shallow bowl, whisk together 4 cups room temperature water and 3 tablespoons Kosher salt until dissolved. Put the salmon in the water and wait 15 minutes.
- Pat the salmon dry with a clean towel. Rub generously with oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and generously ground freshly ground pepper. (Options: Use ½ kosher salt and season with 2 tablespoons Blackened Seasoning or Magic Salmon Seasoning.)
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the butter and olive oil. When the butter has melted, add the salmon skin side up and cook for 2-3 minutes until cooked about ½ way from the center of the thick part of the salmon.
- Turn the salmon over (a fish spatula makes it easier). Tilt the pan down slightly and quickly pour the pan juices over the fish a few times. Drizzle with lemon juice and pour in the cooking juice several times. Bake for 2-5 minutes, depending on thickness, until tender and pink in the center (internal temp should be 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit in center after removing). Remove from fire. Drizzle with the juice of a few lemon slices and serve.
Remarks
*Curing is optional: it is most important for lower quality salmon. Either way, you’ll need to bring your salmon to room temperature before cooking so it’s just as easy to complete the salting step (this helps with flavor and moisture).
- Category: main course
- Method: Cook
- Kitchen: seafood
- Diet: Gluten free
Keywords: Seared salmon, how to sear salmon, how to sear salmon
Last update: January 2021
