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Best Quick Garlic Butter Salmon Bites Recipe in 15 Minutes

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These quick garlic butter salmon bites are the kind of recipe that makes you wonder why you ever stressed about cooking fish. They come together in one skillet, in under 15 minutes, and they taste like something you’d order at a nice restaurant.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound salmon fillet, skinless
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice, freshly squeezed
  • 1 teaspoon salt (fine sea salt)
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  1. Prep the salmon (2 minutes): Place your salmon fillet on a cutting board. Using a sharp knife, cut it into 1-inch cubes. Try to keep them as uniform as possible so they cook at the same rate. Pat the cubes dry with paper towels. This is crucial. Moisture is the enemy of a good sear. Season the cubes generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
  2. Heat the pan (1 minute): Place your skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of the butter and let it melt. The butter should sizzle gently when it hits the pan but not smoke. If it smokes, your heat is too high. Swirl the pan to coat the bottom evenly.
  3. Sear the salmon (4-5 minutes): Carefully place the salmon cubes in a single layer in the hot pan. Do not overcrowd the pan. If you have a lot of salmon, cook it in two batches. Let the cubes sear undisturbed for 2-3 minutes until the bottoms are golden brown and crispy. Flip each piece using tongs and cook for another 1-2 minutes on the other side. The salmon should be cooked through but still tender and flaky in the center.
  4. Make the garlic butter sauce (2 minutes): Reduce the heat to medium-low. Push the salmon to one side of the pan. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the empty space. Once melted, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Stir constantly for about 30 seconds until the garlic is fragrant. Be careful not to let it burn. Burnt garlic tastes bitter and will ruin the dish.
  5. Combine and coat (1 minute): Toss the salmon cubes in the garlic butter sauce until every piece is evenly coated. Squeeze the fresh lemon juice over the top and give everything one final toss. Remove the pan from the heat immediately to prevent overcooking.
  6. Garnish and serve (1 minute): Transfer the salmon bites to a serving platter. Spoon any remaining garlic butter sauce from the pan over the top. Sprinkle with fresh parsley and a little lemon zest if you have it. Serve immediately while hot and crispy.

Notes

Pat the salmon bone-dry for the best sear. Cut uniform cubes to ensure even cooking. Do not overcrowd the pan. Reduce heat when adding garlic to prevent burning. Use room temperature butter for even melting. Taste the butter sauce before adding lemon juice to adjust seasoning.

Nutrition

Keywords: garlic butter salmon bites, quick salmon recipe, 15 minute dinner, easy salmon bites, weeknight salmon

Find it online: https://lucastable.com/best-quick-garlic-butter-salmon-bites-recipe-in-15-minutes/