How to Pan Fry Salmon

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pan fried salmon
Photo by jansokoly is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0

Looking for a delicious recipe to cook up in minutes? Pan-fried salmon is an excellent go-to option.  This easy preparation cooks up quickly for a delicious and nourishing meal. Begin with fresh, flavorful ingredients and you’re in for an incredible dinner that anyone is sure to enjoy.  

For the very best testing salmon dinner, we recommend beginning with wild-caught salmon. Due to the salmon’s natural diet and habitat, they are richer in flavor and nutrients than their farm-raised counterparts. Here at Maine Lobster House, we partner directly with fishermen to procure only the best wild-caught salmon to deliver conveniently to your door. 

With wild-caught salmon on hand, and a few additional fresh ingredients, you can have an incredible meal on the table in no time. 

Before beginning any seafood preparation, we recommend defrosting your fish overnight. Remove salmon filets from the package and place in a resealable plastic bag. Place in the refrigerator and let thaw for around 12 hours. If you’re in a time crunch, you can place the zip-top bag of fish in a bowl of cool water for around 20 minutes. Check that the fish is thawed and then begin cooking.

To prepare pan-fried salmon, gather the following tools and ingredients – 

Tools: 

  • Large Frying Pan or Cast Iron Skillet
  • Fish Spatula
  • Pastry brush (optional)
  • Food thermometer
  • Serving Dish

Ingredients:

  • 4 Wild-Caught Salmon Filets
  • 4 tablespoons of Olive Oil
  • 1-2 lemons
  • Salt (to taste) 
  • 4 teaspoons of black pepper 
  • 4 teaspoons of garlic powder
  • Herbs of your choosing (such as dry thyme or oregano or fresh parsley or dill 

Instructions for Pan-Frying Salmon

  1. To begin, remove defrosted salmon from the resealable bag and place on a cutting board or large dish.
  2. Drizzle each salmon filet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, making sure it is generously coated in oil. If necessary, use your hands or a pastry brush to evenly distribute the oil over the salmon. 
  3. Next, sprinkle each filet with salt (to taste), and the remaining seasonings including black pepper, garlic powder, and herbs of your choosing (such as dry thyme or fresh parsley). 
  4. Finish each filet with a squeeze of lemon before cooking. 
  5. Once your salmon filets are prepped, prepare a large skillet with a generous drizzle of olive oil and heat on high for 1 minute. 
  6. Place the salmon filets in the pan, skin side up, making sure not to overcrowd the skillet. 
  7. Let the salmon cook untouched for about 5 minutes until a nice crust has formed. 
  8. Using a fish spatula, carefully flip each salmon filet to the skin side and finish cooking for about 2 minutes. Using an instant read thermometer, check for doneness. Cooked salmon will have an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  9. Once cooked, remove from the heat and place on a serving dish. Drizzle with another squeeze of fresh lemon juice and top with herbs of your choosing. 

Pan-fried salmon makes an excellent and delicious meal that can be cooked up quickly for a healthy and flavorful weeknight dinner. Serve pan-seared salmon alongside an easy side dish like brown rice and steamed vegetables. 

For more meal-time inspiration browse our cooking guides at Seafood University, or order your salmon filets from us today!

pan fried salmon

Pan Fried Salmon

Course Main Course
Servings 4 people

Equipment

  • large frying pan or cast iron skillet
  • fish spatula
  • pastry brush optional
  • instant read thermometer
  • serving dish

Ingredients
  

  • 4 wild caught salmon filets
  • 4 tbsp olive oil
  • 1-2 lemons
  • salt, to taste
  • 4 tsp ground black pepper
  • 4 tsp garlic powder
  • herbs of your choosing (such a dry thyme, oregano, fresh parsley, or dill)

Instructions
 

  • To begin, remove defrosted salmon from the resealable bag and place on a cutting board or large dish.
  • Drizzle each salmon filet with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, making sure it is generously coated in oil. If necessary, use your hands or a pastry brush to evenly distribute the oil over the salmon.
  • Next, sprinkle each filet with salt (to taste), and the remaining seasonings including black pepper, garlic powder, and herbs of your choosing (such as dry thyme or fresh parsley).
  • Finish each filet with a squeeze of lemon before cooking.
  • Once your salmon filets are prepped, prepare a large skillet with a generous drizzle of olive oil and heat on high for 1 minute.
  • Place the salmon filets in the pan, skin side up, making sure not to overcrowd the skillet.
  • Let the salmon cook untouched for about 5 minutes until a nice crust has formed.
  • Using a fish spatula, carefully flip each salmon filet to the skin side and finish cooking for about 2 minutes. Using an instant read thermometer, check for doneness. Cooked salmon will have an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Once cooked, remove from the heat and place on a serving dish. Drizzle with another squeeze of fresh lemon juice and top with herbs of your choosing.

Notes

*Photo by jansokoly is marked with CC BY-SA 2.0