Description
Succulent pan-seared salmon with a creamy Florentine sauce elevates home cooking with Italian-inspired elegance. Delicate fish meets rich spinach sauce, creating a restaurant-quality meal you can savor in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (6 oz / 170 g each)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups (60 g) fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- ¼ cup (25 g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 2 tbsps unsalted butter
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Lemon slices (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Salmon Preparation: Pat salmon fillets dry and season comprehensively with garlic powder, salt, and pepper across both surfaces.
- Searing Technique: Heat skillet on medium-high with olive oil, carefully place salmon skin-side up to develop golden crust for 4-5 minutes, creating caramelized exterior.
- Cooking Completion: Flip salmon, continue cooking 3-4 minutes until fish reaches perfect flaky consistency, then transfer to warm plate.
- Sauce Foundation: Reduce skillet heat, melt butter and sauté minced garlic until aromatic, releasing rich flavor profile.
- Spinach Integration: Add spinach to skillet, stirring until leaves wilt and transform into tender green component of sauce.
- Sauce Development: Pour heavy cream, introduce Parmesan cheese, Italian seasoning, and lemon juice, creating smooth, harmonious blend while gently simmering.
- Sauce Refinement: Thicken sauce to velvety consistency, adjusting seasoning with salt and pepper to enhance flavor complexity.
- Final Assembly: Return salmon to skillet, delicately coating fillets with creamy Florentine sauce and warming through for one minute.
- Elegant Presentation: Garnish with fresh lemon slices and parsley, serving immediately with complementary side dishes.
Notes
- Pat Salmon Dry: Remove excess moisture completely to ensure a perfectly crisp, golden-brown exterior when searing, preventing steaming and promoting ideal caramelization.
- Control Heat Precisely: Maintain medium-high temperature for salmon searing to achieve a beautifully crisp crust without overcooking the delicate fish interior.
- Cream Sauce Consistency: Simmer sauce gently and stir constantly to prevent separation or burning, creating a smooth, velvety texture that clings perfectly to the salmon.
- Adapt for Dietary Needs: Substitute heavy cream with coconut milk for dairy-free version, or use Greek yogurt for a lighter, protein-rich alternative while maintaining creamy sauce quality.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 3
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 6 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 130 mg