Salmon is one of my favorite foods and whether you sear it in a pan, roast it in the oven, or grill it on the barbecue — it always turns out delicious. This Crispy Basil Salmon is easy to cook in a pan and because of its high healthy fat content, it makes it much harder to dry out, or fall apart in the cooking process. The crispy basil leaves brighten this salmon dish and create more deliciously fun.
I make fish often in my house and salmon is the meal I like to prepare most often, especially in the summer months when it’s freshly caught, but you can find some pretty tasty frozen-defrosted varieties year round. In this recipe, I crisped fresh basil in the pan, before I cooked the fish, and it turned a deep green. It was a simple process in a sauté pan, and the results were quite delicious. The basil turned dark and wispy looking, and tasted quite earthy — the contrasting flavors of the sweet seared salmon and crispy basil are fantastic together.
There is nothing like an easy meal that tastes divine and this salmon can be made in under 15 minutes and on the table in no time. I paired my fish with some mixed greens to keep it light and fresh, but you can serve it with rice or noodles too.
Ingredients
2-4 salmon fillets, about 6 ounces each
2 cups fresh basil leaves + more for garnish
salt & pepper
vegetable oil, I like grapeseed
(Serves 2-4)
To Prepare:
- Salt and pepper salmon fillets on both sides, set aside. In a large sauté pan over medium high heat, add 2 teaspoons oil. After 2 minutes add fresh basil leaves. Cook until dark and crisp, about 3 minutes, turning over so all sides get crisp. Remove basil from pan and set aside.
- Add 1 teaspoon of oil to pan and place salmon flesh side down and sear for 3 minutes. Flip over and place a lid on pan for 2 minutes. Remove lid and turn heat to low. Continue to cook for 4-6 minutes, depending upon how you enjoy the internal temperature of your salmon.
- Remove salmon and place on plates. Top with crispy basil and fresh basil, if desired. Enjoy!
No Comments