Description
Succulent one skillet salmon with lemon orzo brings Mediterranean flavors to your dinner table. Creamy orzo nestles perfectly beneath flaky salmon, creating a simple yet elegant meal that satisfies without complicated preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (skin-on or skinless)
- 1 tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp paprika
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 2 cups chicken or vegetable broth
- ½ teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano (or thyme)
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- ½ cup parmesan cheese (optional, for creaminess)
- 1 cup baby spinach or arugula (optional)
- Fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- Lemon wedges
Instructions
- Preparation: Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring a crisp exterior during cooking.
- Seasoning: Create a flavorful rub by generously coating salmon with salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and paprika on both sides.
- Pan Searing: Heat a blend of olive oil and butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating an ideal environment for golden caramelization.
- Cooking Technique: Carefully place salmon skin-side down in the hot pan, allowing the skin to transform into a crispy, golden-brown layer without moving the fish.
- Finishing Touch: Cook for 4-5 minutes until edges turn opaque, then delicately flip using a wide spatula and cook an additional 2-3 minutes, ensuring the salmon remains tender and just cooked through.
- Resting: Transfer the perfectly seared salmon to a warm plate, allowing it to rest briefly before serving to maintain its juicy texture and maximize flavor absorption.
Notes
- Moisture Matters: Blot salmon fillets completely dry to achieve that coveted crispy, golden exterior during searing.
- Seasoning Symphony: Create a bold spice blend using salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika to elevate the salmon’s natural flavors and provide a complex taste profile.
- Heat Control: Maintain medium-high heat with a butter-olive oil combination to create the perfect searing environment without burning the delicate fish.
- Cooking Precision: Watch salmon’s edges carefully and avoid overcooking; aim for a tender, translucent center that remains moist and flaky, typically 4-5 minutes per side depending on fillet thickness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 485
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 23 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg