Description
Marry Me Salmon is a decadent and flavorful skillet-cooked salmon dish featuring a creamy sun-dried tomato sauce infused with garlic, parmesan, and Italian herbs. It’s perfect for an impressive weeknight dinner or a special occasion, offering a rich and comforting meal that’s easy to prepare.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Salmon
- 4 salmon filets, skinless
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon cracked black pepper
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 2 teaspoons garlic, minced
- 3 tablespoons flour
- 1 1/2 cups chicken broth
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup parmesan, grated
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare the salmon: Brush olive oil on each salmon filet and season evenly with dried Italian seasoning, Kosher salt, and cracked black pepper.
- Sear the salmon: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the salmon filets in the hot skillet and sear them until golden brown and crispy on each side, about 3 minutes per side. Once browned, reduce the heat to allow the salmon to cook through to the center. Remove the filets from the skillet and set them aside.
- Make the sauce: Return the skillet to medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add the minced garlic and sauté for about 30 seconds until fragrant. Sprinkle in the flour and stir continuously to form a paste. This creates the base for your creamy sauce.
- Whisk in the liquids: Gradually whisk in the chicken broth and heavy cream, blending thoroughly to prevent lumps. Add the grated parmesan cheese and stir until melted and smooth.
- Add the remaining ingredients: Mix in the sun-dried tomatoes, additional dried Italian seasoning, and lemon zest. Taste, and add more salt and pepper as needed to adjust seasoning.
- Simmer and thicken: Let the sauce simmer gently for a few minutes until it thickens slightly and develops rich flavor.
- Return the salmon: Place the salmon filets back into the skillet, layering them on top of the sauce so they can absorb flavors.
- Simmer and garnish: Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer the salmon in the sauce for 10 more minutes. Finally, garnish with freshly chopped basil leaves and optionally add extra lemon zest for brightness.
- Serve: Serve the salmon warm over your choice of pasta or rice to soak up the creamy sauce and enjoy a satisfying meal.
Notes
- You can adjust the spice level by adding more or less Italian seasoning according to your taste.
- If sun-dried tomatoes are unavailable, fresh chopped tomatoes can be substituted but will offer a milder flavor.
- Feel free to experiment with other cheeses such as cheddar or mozzarella to vary the sauce’s richness.
- This dish can be prepared ahead: make the sauce up to 3 days in advance and refrigerate. Reheat gently before adding the salmon for final cooking.
