Pan-Seared Lemon Garlic Salmon with Wilted Kale
A simple pan-seared salmon fillet infused with lemon and garlic, served over tender wilted kale for a nutritious meal. This seafood recipe, ready in about 22 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, olive oil, garlic cloves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 420 calories and feeds 2, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. 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.
Ingredients
- 2 pieces (6 oz each) salmon fillets
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3, thinly sliced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 4 cups, chopped kale leaves
- 1 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp black pepper
- 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
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Instructions
- Step 1: Pat dry 2 salmon fillets (6 oz each) and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 0.5 tsp black pepper. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Step 2: Place the salmon fillets skin side down in the skillet and cook for 4-5 minutes without moving, until the edges are crispy and golden.
- Step 3: Flip the salmon and add 3 thinly sliced garlic cloves to the pan. Cook for 2 more minutes while spooning the garlic-infused oil over the fillets. Squeeze 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice over the salmon and remove from heat.
- Step 4: In a separate pan, heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add 4 cups chopped kale, 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes, and sauté for 3-4 minutes until kale is wilted but still vibrant.
- Step 5: Serve the salmon fillets atop the wilted kale, spooning any remaining lemon-garlic oil from the pan over the top.







