Description
Delicious butter-basted salmon steaks with perfectly crispy skin, cooked in just 20 minutes. This simple yet elegant recipe features salmon fillets pan-seared in olive oil, then basted with rich unsalted butter to infuse the fish with flavor and keep it moist. Perfect for a quick, healthy weeknight dinner or an impressive meal for guests.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 4 salmon steaks
- Salt to taste
- Black pepper to taste
Cooking fats
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
Instructions
- Heat the oil: Warm 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking to prepare for searing the salmon.
- Season the salmon: Pat the salmon steaks dry and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper to enhance the natural flavors.
- Cook skin-side down: Place the salmon steaks skin-side down in the hot skillet. This helps the skin crisp up beautifully and prevents sticking.
- Sear the skin: Cook the salmon undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until the skin becomes deeply crispy and releases easily from the pan.
- Flip and baste: Turn the salmon steaks over carefully. Add 4 tablespoons of unsalted butter to the skillet and tilt the pan slightly while spooning the melted butter continuously over the salmon for 3-4 minutes until the fish is cooked through and glossy.
- Serve: Remove the salmon from the skillet and serve immediately with your choice of sides such as steamed vegetables, rice, or a fresh salad.
Notes
- For best results, use fresh, sustainably sourced salmon steaks with the skin on.
- Make sure the skillet is sufficiently hot before adding the salmon to achieve crispy skin.
- Basting with butter adds moisture and flavor—do not skip this step.
- Adjust cooking times slightly based on steak thickness to avoid under- or overcooking.
- Serve immediately for the crispiest skin and best texture.
