Pan-Seared Mediterranean Salmon with Lemon-Caper Sauce
Crisp-skinned salmon fillets served with a bright lemon-caper sauce and a side of sautéed regional greens for a fresh Mediterranean-inspired meal. This Mediterranean-inspired seafood recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, olive oil, salt for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 410 calories and feeds 4, 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
- 4 pieces, 6 oz each, skin-on salmon fillets
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 2, minced garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp, drained capers
- 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 cups baby spinach
- 1 cup, halved cherry tomatoes
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Instructions
- Step 1: Season 4 skin-on salmon fillets with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place salmon skin side down and cook for 5-6 minutes until skin is crispy, then flip and cook for 2-3 minutes until just cooked through. Remove salmon and set aside.
- Step 2: In the same skillet, add 1 tbsp olive oil and 2 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add 2 tbsp drained capers and 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, stir for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to low and whisk in 2 tbsp unsalted butter until sauce thickens and becomes glossy.
- Step 4: In a separate pan, sauté 4 cups baby spinach and 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes in 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat for 3-4 minutes until spinach wilts and tomatoes soften.
- Step 5: Plate salmon over the sautéed greens and spoon the lemon-caper sauce over the top immediately before serving.








