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Overhead view pan seared salmon fillet topped with avocado gremolata on brown speckled plate.

10-Minute Pan Seared Salmon with Avocado Gremolata


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5 from 5 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay Cotter
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 3 servings 1x

Description

Pan Seared Salmon with Avocado Gremolata is a Whole30 compliant, healthy fish recipe. Making this crispy skin salmon requires just 7 ingredients and 10 minutes of cooking time! This is a quick, easy, kid-friendly meal that’s grain free, gluten free, low carb, paleo, and using oil instead of butter, it can be dairy free, too!


Ingredients

Scale
  • 2 salmon fillets (45 ounces) or one 10 ounce salmon fillet, skin on
  • 1 to 2 Tablespoons butter or light olive oil
  • Kosher salt and black pepper, to taste

Avocado Gremolata

  • 1 small ripe avocado or 1/2 large, peeled and diced
  • 1/3 cup chopped fresh parsley or 4 teaspoons dried parsley
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning or peppercorns
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3 to 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 lemon, juiced or 23 Tablespoons lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Rinse the fish fillets with water and pat dry.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, add the butter and swirl until pan is coated in melted butter.
  3. Add the salmon fillets to the pan, flesh side down (skin side up).
  4. Sear the salmon 3 minutes, then flip with a spatula to sear the skin. For super crispy skin, use a flat spatula to gently press down on the fish until it flattens a little, sealing the skin against the pan. When the flesh feels firm to the touch and the fish is no longer pink but opaque (3-5 minutes), the salmon is ready.
  5. Remove pan from heat and cool the salmon in the pan for 2-3 minutes. The salmon will continue cooking in the pan even when removed from the stovetop. Sprinkle the flesh side of the fillets with a little salt and pepper.
  6. Prepare the avocado gremolata by adding all the ingredients to a small bowl and gently mixing until combined. 
  7. Top the salmon with the avocado gremolata, and serve. 

Notes

Cooking Tips – The avocado gremolata can be prepared before cooking the salmon and stored in the fridge to marinate, if desired. To add some spice/heat to the salmon, sprinkle with red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper. 

  • Prep Time: 4 min
  • Cook Time: 6 min
  • Category: Main
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 362
  • Sugar: 1.5 g
  • Sodium: 272.3 mg
  • Fat: 29.1 g
  • Saturated Fat: 4.6 g
  • Carbohydrates: 5.8 g
  • Fiber: 3.6 g
  • Protein: 22.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 48.3 mg