Pan-Seared Salmon with Lemon-Dill Caper Sauce

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.

Tender pan-seared salmon fillets served with a bright lemon-dill sauce studded with capers, perfect for a light yet flavorful seafood dinner. 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 380 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 380 cal/serving
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Ingredients

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Instructions

  1. Step 1: Pat dry 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each) 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 until shimmering.
  2. Step 2: Place salmon fillets skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes without moving until the skin is crisp, then flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes until cooked through and golden.
  3. Step 3: Remove salmon from skillet and set aside. Reduce heat to medium, add 2 tbsp unsalted butter and 2 minced garlic cloves, sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
  4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp capers, 3 tbsp fresh lemon juice, and 1/4 cup heavy cream, simmer for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Step 5: Remove from heat and fold in 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill. Spoon the lemon-dill caper sauce over the salmon fillets before serving.