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garlic butter salmon over creamy lemon pasta

Garlic Butter Salmon with Creamy Lemon Pasta

Buttery salmon with crispy bits of garlic over the creamiest lemon pasta = YES PLEASE
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Serves 2 people

Ingredients
  

For the Salmon:

  • 2 salmon filets
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tbsp butter
  • Salt
  • 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • Fresh parsley or dill chopped (for garnish)

For the Creamy Lemon Pasta:

  • 1/2 lb pasta fettuccine, spaghetti, or your choice
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 small shallot minced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • Zest of 1 lemon
  • Juice from 1/2 lemon
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions
 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  • Take the salmon out of the fridge about 20 minutes prior to cooking. This will help it cook more evenly. Pat dry with a paper towel on both sides and season with salt.
  • Start boiling your water in a large pot. Prep your garlic, shallot and lemon zest (makes it easier to throw in while cooking!)
  • In a pan over medium-high heat, heat up some olive oil and 1 tbsp butter. Sear the salmon, skin-side down for about 3 minutes and then flip. Gently sear for another 2 minutes, reduce the heat to low, and remove the salmon from the pan and place on a baking sheet (I like adding a layer of parchment paper underneath).
  • Add in the second tbsp of butter and then the sliced garlic, stirring frequently for a few minutes until the garlic slices turn lightly golden brown and crispy.
  • Spoon the brown butter and crispy garlic mixture over the salmon filets and pop into the oven for 5-10 minutes, or until cooked to your liking. Option to finish under the broiler for a few minutes to get the top of the salmon and garlic bits a little crispier!
  • Salt the boiling water, add the spaghetti or fettuccine and cook until al dente.
  • Meanwhile, in the same pan you cooked the salmon/butter/garlic, add in your last tbsp of butter over medium heat and sauté the shallots and minced garlic for two minutes.
  • Add in lemon zest, the juice of half a lemon and stir for another minute.
  • Add in heavy cream, stir, and then in goes the al dente pasta along with some of the starchy pasta water. Let the pasta get nicely coated with the sauce over the next minute then we’re ready to plate!
  • Creamy Lemon Pasta on the bottom, and topped with the Garlic Butter Salmon, finished with some fresh parsley or dill. Enjoy!