Description
A quick, one-pan weeknight dinner featuring seared salmon fillets blistered with cherry tomatoes, Kalamata olives, and capers in a bright lemon-garlic sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (about 6oz / 170g each)
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes (red and yellow mix)
- 1/2 cup Kalamata olives, pitted
- 2 tablespoons capers, drained
- 1 large fresh lemon (half for juice, half for wedges)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley or basil, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Pat salmon fillets dry and season generously with salt and pepper. Let rest for 10 minutes.
- Heat a large skillet (10-12 inch) over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and let it shimmer.
- Place salmon in the pan, skin-side down or presentation-side down. Sear undisturbed for 4-5 minutes until color changes halfway up the side.
- Flip salmon carefully and cook for another 3-4 minutes. Remove salmon from pan and set aside on a plate.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add cherry tomatoes to the same pan and cook for 3-4 minutes until they start to soften and blister.
- Add minced garlic, olives, and capers. Cook for 30-60 seconds until garlic is fragrant.
- Return salmon to the pan, nestling it on top of the vegetables. Spoon sauce over the fish.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over everything. Cover the pan with a lid or foil and cook for 2-3 minutes until salmon flakes easily with a fork.
- Remove from heat, garnish with fresh parsley or basil, and serve immediately with pan juices.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure proper searing. Use fresh garlic for best flavor. Kalamata olives provide the authentic taste; avoid cheap canned black olives. Salmon continues to cook after removal from heat, so pull it when just barely opaque in the center. Do not freeze leftovers as texture suffers.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet with
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 580
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 3
- Carbohydrates: 6
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 34
Keywords: salmon, mediterranean, one-pan, weeknight dinner, healthy, quick meals, keto friendly, low carb