Marry Me Salmon Quick Dinner (Print View)

Tender salmon with creamy garlic and sun-dried tomato sauce, perfect for an elegant, quick dinner.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Salmon

01 - 2 skinless salmon fillets
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil
03 - Salt to taste
04 - Black pepper to taste
05 - 1/2 teaspoon paprika, optional

→ Creamy Sauce

06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, drained and sliced
08 - 1 cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
09 - 1 cup heavy cream or coconut cream
10 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese or nutritional yeast
11 - 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
12 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
13 - Salt and black pepper to taste

→ Garnish

14 - 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

# Directions:

01 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides generously with salt, black pepper, and paprika. Allow fillets to rest at room temperature for 10 minutes before cooking.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place salmon fillets in the hot skillet and sear for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Transfer seared salmon to a clean plate.
03 - Using the same skillet with residual oil, add minced garlic and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
04 - Add sliced sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet and cook for 2 minutes while stirring frequently.
05 - Pour chicken broth and heavy cream into the skillet, stirring to combine ingredients thoroughly. Bring to a gentle simmer and cook for approximately 3 minutes.
06 - Stir grated Parmesan cheese into the sauce until completely melted and smooth. Add Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper to achieve desired flavor balance.
07 - Return seared salmon fillets to the skillet, spooning sauce over the top. Simmer on low heat for 5 to 7 minutes until salmon is heated through and sauce achieves a slightly thickened consistency.
08 - Transfer salmon to serving plates and spoon sauce generously over fillets. Garnish with fresh chopped basil. Serve immediately with rice, pasta, or roasted vegetables.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It looks fancy enough to serve to someone you're trying to win over, but honest enough that you won't stress about getting it perfect.
  • The creamy garlic sauce transforms simple salmon into something restaurant-quality in under thirty minutes.
  • It works just as well for a solo Friday night as it does when you're cooking for someone special.
02 -
  • Don't skip patting the salmon dry—it's the difference between a beautiful golden crust and a soggy, steamed fillet.
  • If your sauce breaks or looks separated, a splash of cold cream and a quick whisk will usually bring it back together without fuss.
03 -
  • If you find sun-dried tomatoes packed in oil at the store, use those instead—the oil adds even more richness to your sauce.
  • The moment the salmon starts looking opaque and flakes easily with a fork, it's done—overcooking it even by a minute or two makes it dry and disappointing.
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