Garlic Butter Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemon-Herb Quinoa

By AislePrompt Editorial · ·

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are drafted and published.

Buttery, golden pan-seared salmon fillets served atop fluffy quinoa infused with fresh lemon and herbs for a bright, nutritious meal. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe (gluten free), ready in about 30 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, unsalted butter, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 450 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with rice, quinoa, or a quick salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 20 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 450 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Rinse 1 cup quinoa under cold water. Bring 2 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan, add quinoa, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes until water is absorbed and quinoa is fluffy.
  2. Step 2: While quinoa cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season 4 salmon fillets with salt and black pepper, then place skin-side down. Cook for 5-6 minutes without moving until skin is crisp.
  3. Step 3: Flip salmon fillets gently and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pan; baste the salmon with melted butter and garlic for 2-3 minutes until salmon is cooked through and glossy.
  4. Step 4: Remove salmon from heat and tent loosely with foil to rest.
  5. Step 5: Fluff the cooked quinoa with a fork and stir in 1 tsp lemon zest, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley. Adjust seasoning with salt as needed.
  6. Step 6: Plate quinoa and top with garlic butter salmon fillets; spoon remaining garlic butter from the pan over the salmon before serving.

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