Pan-Seared Salmon with Citrus Butter and Wilted Spinach

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 developed and reviewed.

Salmon fillets pan-seared to golden perfection and finished with a zesty citrus butter sauce alongside tender wilted spinach. This Mediterranean-inspired Mother’s Day recipe, ready in about 25 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, salt, black pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 400 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.

Prep: 10 min Cook: 15 min Serves 4 Mediterranean cuisine 400 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 salmon fillets and season both sides with 1 tsp salt and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  2. Step 2: Place salmon fillets skin-side down in the hot skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes until the skin is crisp. Flip and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes until salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
  3. Step 3: Remove salmon and set aside. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and add 3 tbsp unsalted butter, 2 tbsp lemon juice, and 1 tsp orange zest, stirring until butter melts and sauce thickens slightly.
  4. Step 4: In a separate pan, sauté 2 minced garlic cloves in 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat for 30 seconds until fragrant. Add 5 cups fresh baby spinach and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 2 minutes. Season with a pinch of salt.
  5. Step 5: Serve salmon topped with citrus butter sauce alongside wilted spinach for a bright, flavorful dish.

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