Pan-Seared Coho Salmon with Garlic Butter
Pan-seared coho salmon with crispy skin, tender flaky flesh, and a quick garlic butter pan sauce finished with fresh lemon or lime juice. Ready in about 15 minutes.
Ingredients
- 2 coho salmon fillets, about 6 ounces each
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Kosher salt and black pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 small garlic clove, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon or lime juice
- Lemon or lime wedges for serving
Instructions
- Pat the thawed salmon very dry with paper towels. Season both sides with kosher salt and black pepper.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Place the salmon in the skillet skin-side down. Press each fillet gently with a fish spatula for about 30 seconds to keep the skin flat.
- Cook for 4 to 5 minutes without moving the fish, until the skin is crisp and the salmon is cooked about halfway up the sides.
- Flip the salmon and cook for about 1 minute, until the thickest part registers 120°F on an instant-read thermometer. It will climb to about 125°F as it rests.
- Reduce the heat to low. Add the butter and minced garlic. Cook for about 30 seconds, just until the garlic is fragrant.
- Squeeze in the lemon or lime juice. Tilt the skillet slightly and spoon the garlic citrus butter over the salmon for about 1 minute.
- Remove the salmon from the heat and serve right away with the pan sauce spooned over the top and lemon or lime wedges on the side.
Notes
Pat the salmon very dry before cooking so the skin can crisp.
Coho is leaner than king salmon, so the window between perfect and overcooked is short. Pull it at 120°F for medium, or 125°F if you prefer it opaque throughout. Carryover heat adds about 5 degrees while it rests.
If the skin sticks when you try to flip it, it is not ready. Salmon releases on its own once the skin has crisped, so give it another 30 to 60 seconds.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat gently in a covered skillet over low heat or in a 300°F oven until warmed through.
Nutrition
Calories: 407.9kcalCarbohydrates: 1.1gProtein: 34gTotal Fat: 29.1gSaturated Fat: 9.8gCholesterol: 123.7mgSodium: 281.7mgPotassium: 851.7mgFiber: 0.1gSugar: 0.1g
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