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    Home » Seafood Recipes » Pan-Fried Salmon Steak

    Pan-Fried Salmon Steak

    Last updated: Apr 18, 2022 · Recipes developed by Vered DeLeeuw and nutritionally reviewed by Rachel Benight MS, RD · This website generates income via ads and uses cookies.

    Jump to Recipe Card

    Salmon steak is a true delicacy when seasoned with sage and cooked in butter.

    It's a delicious and seemingly fancy restaurant-level dish that is in fact very easy to prepare, making it the ideal choice for a weeknight dinner.

    Salmon steak served on a white plate, garnished with lemon and parsley.

    Salmon is a huge favorite of mine. It's wonderfully fatty and so very flavorful. I usually prefer it to mild white fish, although this baked cod is excellent too.

    In this easy recipe, perfect for a weeknight dinner, the butter and sage impart wonderful flavors to the already-delicious fish. And I love how easy it is to make - it's literally ready in just 15 minutes, from start to finish. You can't beat that!

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients
    • Instructions
    • Expert tip
    • Frequently asked questions
    • Variations
    • serving suggestions
    • Storing leftovers
    • Related recipes
    • Recipe card

    Ingredients

    You'll only need a few simple ingredients to make this tasty salmon recipe. The exact measurements are included in the recipe card below. Here's an overview of what you'll need:

    Salmon steaks: I usually get them at Whole Foods. I try to buy wild-caught salmon when possible.

    Sea salt and black pepper: Freshly ground black pepper has the best flavor. And if you choose to use a coarser salt (such as kosher salt), you can use a little more of it.

    Dried sage: Make sure it's fresh! It's an important part of this recipe, and a stale spice can easily ruin a dish. Speaking from a sad experience...

    Unsalted butter: I use it for frying. You can also use olive oil. But butter adds wonderful flavor, so that's what I normally use.

    Instructions

    It's easy to cook salmon steaks! Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

    Your first step is to season the fish pieces with spices.

    Then you fry them in butter until browned on the outside and cooked through. This should take about three minutes per side. You will probably need to lower the heat from medium-high to medium at some point.

    A photo collage showing the steps for cooking a salmon steak.

    Expert tip

    Note that this recipe was written for 6-oz steaks. If yours are bigger, you'll need to fry them longer, possibly 4-5 minutes per side. But then do reduce the heat to medium or even medium-low after the first 3 minutes.

    Frequently asked questions

    What is salmon steak?

    It's the cut you get when you slice the whole salmon crosswise, including the bone. In contrast, a salmon fillet is a cut you get when you slice the fish lengthwise, away from the bone.

    What is the best method to cook salmon?

    There's no one "best" method! I like it sauteed, as we do here; baked - check out this baked salmon recipe; grilled salmon is juicy and flavorful; poached salmon is tasty and moist.

    And it's also excellent when broiled - here's a good recipe for broiled salmon.

    When is salmon fully cooked?

    Salmon is fully cooked when its color changes from translucent to opaque. Its internal temperature, measured by an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part (without touching the bone), should reach 135°F.

    Although it should be noted that the FDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F, measured in the thickest part of the fish.

    Variations

    I love this recipe as is and almost always make it as written. But in case you'd like to vary the basic recipe, here are a few ideas for you:

    • You can use the same recipe to cook 6-oz fillets of salmon. However, depending on their thickness, they might need to be cooked for a shorter time.
    • Feel free to add more spices! Garlic powder is a very nice addition. And for a completely different flavor profile, cook the fish pieces in olive oil instead of butter, and season them with smoked paprika and a bit of ground cumin.

    serving suggestions

    This is a very versatile main dish. It pairs well with almost any side dish. I often serve it with butternut squash souffle and with steamed spinach.

    It also goes well with salads, including creamy cucumber salad, tomato salad, and arugula salad.

    Storing leftovers

    You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to three days.

    Make sure you reheat them very gently so that they don't dry out. I usually reheat them in the microwave, covered, on 50% power.

    Salmon steak served on a white plate with a slice of lemon.

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    👩🏻‍🍳 I typically publish a new or an updated recipe once a week. Want these recipes in your inbox? Subscribe! You can unsubscribe at any time.

    Recipe card

    Salmon Steak
    4.98 from 270 votes
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    Pan-Fried Salmon Steak

    Pan-fried salmon steak is a delicacy when seasoned with sage and fried in butter. It's a delicious dish that is also very easy to make!
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Total Time15 mins
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 2 servings
    Calories: 364kcal
    Author: Vered DeLeeuw
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    INGREDIENTS

    • 2 (6 oz) salmon steaks about ½ inch thick
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • ½ teaspoon dried sage
    • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

    INSTRUCTIONS

    • Sprinkle, then rub, both sides of the salmon steaks with salt, pepper, and sage.
    • Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Swirl to coat.
    • When foaming subsides, add the salmon steaks.
    • Fry the salmon steaks 3 minutes on the first side.
    • Turn to the other side, lower the heat to medium, and cook until the steaks are cooked through, about 3 more minutes.
    • Transfer the salmon steaks to plates, spoon the pan juices on top, and serve.

    WATCH THE VIDEO:

    NOTES

    This recipe was written for 6-oz steaks. If yours are bigger, you'll need to fry them for longer, possibly 4-5 minutes per side. But then do reduce the heat to medium or even medium-low after the first 3 minutes.
    Salmon is fully cooked when its color changes from translucent to opaque. Its internal temperature, measured by an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part (without touching the bone), should reach 135°F. Although it should be noted that the FDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F, measured in the thickest part of the fish.

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    DISCLAIMERSMost of our recipes are low-carb (or keto) and gluten-free, but some are not. Please verify that a recipe fits your needs before using it. Recommended and linked products are not guaranteed to be gluten-free. Nutrition info is approximate and the carb count excludes non-nutritive sweeteners. Nutrition info may contain errors, so please verify it independently. Recipes may contain errors, so please use your common sense when following them. Please read our Terms of Use carefully before using any of our recipes.

    NUTRITION PER SERVING

    Serving: 1steak | Calories: 364kcal | Protein: 36g | Fat: 24g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 411mg
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    More Keto Seafood Recipes

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    About the Author

    Vered Deleeuw Vered DeLeeuw, LL.M., CNC, has been following a low-carb real-food diet and blogging about it since 2011. She's a Certified Nutrition Coach (NASM-CNC), has taken courses at the Harvard School of Public Health, and has earned a Nutrition and Healthy Living Certificate from Cornell University. Her work has appeared in several major media outlets, including Healthline, HuffPost, Today, Women's Health, Shape, and Country Living. Click to learn more about Vered.

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    Healthy Recipes Blog was founded in 2011 by Vered Deleeuw. It features real-food recipes with a focus on low-carb and gluten-free ingredients. All recipes are nutritionally reviewed by a Registered Dietitian. Contact us at HealthyRecipesBlog@gmail.com.


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