This easy Pan Seared Salmon recipe is a flavorful dinner that takes just 30 minutes to make! Topped with a dairy free creamy dijon sauce, you’ll be amazed by how delicious this quick dinner idea is.
An Easy & Healthy Pan Seared Salmon Recipe
Our family is obsessed with Salmon. We have it for dinner at least once a week. It’s a great source of protein filled with “good fats” and Omega 3’s. And if you can get the perfect flaky fish every time it’s a game changer!
Normally, I like to bake salmon because it’s a fool proof way to ensure the perfect consist doneness. However, when you bake fish you just can’t get that same crunchy sear on the outside of the fish. Sure the fish is flaky, but for me there is just something about that sear.
When you Pan Sear Salmon, as soon as the salmon hits the hot pan the proteins seize up to the heat and create this “wall.” That wall later turns into a lightly browned seared wall of deliciousness. So instead of your fork cutting through soft flaky fish, it’s a wall of seasoned goodness then the flaky fish.
Are you drooling yet? Just wait till I get to the sauce. Because OMGeee!
pan seared salmon drizzled with creamy dijon sauce on a plate
Recipe Ingredients
Salmon Filets
Avocado Oil
Dry Basil & Oregano
Garlic Powder & Fresh Garlic
White Cooking Wine
Low Sodium Chicken Broth
Full Fat Coconut Milk
Dijon Mustard & Stone Ground Mustard
Lemon Juice
Fresh Thyme
process photos of how to make pan seared salmon
How to Cook Pan Seared Salmon
To a small bowl add dry basil, dry oregano, garlic powder and salt. Using a spoon stir to mix and season the flesh side of the salmon filets.
Heat a large skillet to medium high heat and add avocado oil. Add salmon into the pan flesh side down first. Cook for 5 minutes and gently flip. Cook salmon on the skin side for 4 minutes.
Remove the salmon from the pan and let rest.
pan seared salmon drizzled with creamy dijon sauce on a plate
How to Make a Creamy Dijon Sauce (Dairy Free)
In my opinion, if you’ve got a delicious protein you’re golden. But if you have an out of this world sauce, life is divine. This (dairy free) Creamy Dijon Sauce is just that, divine. Made with coconut milk, lemon juice, cooking wine, lots of garlic and mustard – it brightens up the fish perfectly but would also be great over pasta, vegetables, steak or chicken.
To a small sauce pan, add chicken broth and white cooking wine. Bring to a simmer.
Add in garlic cloves and saute for 30 minutes.
Next add in coconut milk, dijon mustard, stone ground mustard and lemon juice. Whisk to combine everything and let simmer for 5 minutes.
Then add fresh thyme and salt to taste, let simmer for 1 minute.
Serve creamy mustard sauce over the salmon.
pan seared salmon on a plate with asparagus
The acid and coconut milk in the dijon sauce cuts through the natural fattiness of salmon and really makes this dish shine. Honestly, I could straight up put this sauce on anything. In fact, the night that I made this my husband was working late so I invited friends over to the house to swim and eat and the kids were putting this sauce on their vegetables.
This Pan Seared Salmon is a quick healthy meal that takes 30 minutes to make but definitely is a show stopper. It looks fancy than it is, trust me!
Bon Appetit friends!