Tuscan Garlic Salmon Skillet with Spinach and Tomato (2024)

This easy and healthy Tuscan salmon recipe takes just a few minutes of prep and makes a perfect weeknight meal in 30 minutes or less.

by Christina Cherrier–Updated Feb 3, 2023

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Ingredients list for theTuscan Garlic Butter Salmon

1lb. (450g) salmon fillets
2 tablespoonsolive oil
1 tablespoonolive oilorunsalted butter
1/4 teaspoonred pepper flakes
1 teaspoonsmoked paprikaor more, to taste
Kosher salt and freshly groundblack pepper, to taste
1 teaspoonItalian seasoning
1 medium onion, chopped
4 clovesgarlic, minced
4 Roma tomatoes, chopped
6oz fresh spinach
1/4 cup freshbasil leaves, chopped
1/2 cup (60ml)vegetable or chicken stock (or dry white wine)
2tablespoons high-qualityolive oil, optional

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Directions

1.To make the Tuscan garlic salmon skillet: Add 2 tablespoons of olive oil to a large skillet, on medium-low heat. Add the salmon fillets, red pepper flakes, paprika, Italian seasoning, and salt in the skillet and cook salmon on medium heat on both sides, until salmon is cooked through – about 5 minutes. Remove salmon fillets from the skillet and set them aside on a plate.

2.In the same skillet over medium heat, addtablespoonolive oil or melt 1 tablespoon butter. Add garlic and chopped onion and cook gently until fragrant and translucent. Add chopped tomatoes, chopped fresh basil leaves, fresh spinach, and vegetable or chicken stock (or white wine). Cook on medium heat for about 3 – 5 minutes until spinach wilts just a little and tomatoes release some of their juice. Adjust seasoning, if needed.

3.Add cooked salmonback to the skillet to reheat quickly. Drizzle with good quality olive oil just before serving, for extra taste. Serve the Tuscan garlic salmon immediately, enjoy!

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

How to cook salmon in the pan

Use either skin-on or skinlesssalmon fillets. We like skin-on fillets because it guarantees the second round of searing won’t stick to the bottom of the pan. But if you prefer salmon without the skin, no problem!
To allow the salmon flesh to crisp up evenly while cooking, bring the salmon fillets at room temperature and pat dry with paper towels. This also helps to prevent sticking in the pan when you first flip the fillets.
Make sure your pan is nice and hot before adding your salmon fillets in. Sear your salmon fillets flesh-side down first (skin-side up) until nicely golden and crispy for 3-4 minutes on each side, depending on the thickness of your salmon fillet. If the fillets are extra-thick, cook a little longer, reducing the heat to medium or medium-low, so you don’t burn the outside while the inside is still undercooked.

What to serve with the Tuscan salmon fillets?

Thispan-seared Tuscan salmon recipeis super easy and goes with lots of possibilities when it comes to choosing a side dish. We like to serve this salmon with steamed/roasted veggies ( zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice, asparagus, broccoli, etc…), white or brown rice, and of course, pasta.

How and how long to keep the Tuscan salmon leftovers?

You can keep the garlic Tuscan salmon leftovers for up to 3 days in an airtight container in your refrigerator.

What other readers say about thisTuscan Garlic Salmon Skillet recipe

“This is great! Seems so simple and basic, but the flavors work together wonderfully. I did not add any butter and it was perfect. Maybe next time I will use half oil half butter because of the flavor. I did simmer the tomatoes longer (cca 10, 15 min) so the sauce was thicker and then added the spinach. Lovely!” – Mary

“Great recipe, will make it again” – Ronnella

More salmon recipes you might like

Creamy Garlic Tuscan Salmon With Spinach and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
Baked Salmon in Foil with Asparagus and Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
Spinach Salmon Casserole with Cream Cheese and Mozzarella
Honey Garlic Baked Salmon in Foil

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

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I tried this recipe today and it turned out very delicious.
2024-03-08 13:38:12
Very easy recipe
Emily
2023-11-10 21:59:37
I did not have the red pepper flakes, nor basil and I used wine rather than stock. My husband asked me if if was his birthday, (it was not) this was such a treat! Yum!
Polly
2023-10-25 16:20:06
I have made this several times now. Easy and SO delicious. I changed nothing.
Jane
2023-10-22 01:35:46
Delicious!
Carole Archibald
2023-07-04 14:26:02
Lovely tasty recipe, will definitely make it again. I too, cooked the tomatoes for a bit longer and also added some chopped mushrooms Thank you
Paula
2023-03-09 14:25:50
My husband is not a big Salmon fan, but he really liked this recipe, and I LOVED it!
Shanna
2023-01-26 14:43:13
Great flavors! I added mushrooms too and put it over a bed of cilantro jasmine rice
Kristen
2022-12-15 18:08:33
I had to omit much of the oil and butter since I am counting macros and could not afford the calories and fats. :( However, overall good and healthy week night recipe. I would make again.
Bonnie
2022-08-06 22:04:00
Totally awesome. Easy to make too!
Billie
2022-06-14 15:44:10
I love this dish. My husband does not like the taste of salmon but when I make this he thinks it’s delicious. I add a can of white beans to mine to make it a bit more hearty.
Bridget
2022-05-15 19:42:21
It was delicious...Thanks for sharing...base ingredients can be used for other fish dishes...I made small adjustments but still very good...
Winona
2022-02-06 19:39:07
WOW! Simply amazing. I am not a salmon fan so I used cod and it was fantastic! My husband loved it as well! Simple ingredients to elevate the cod to the next level.
Tracy Butler
2021-11-08 18:16:10
This recipe was amazing. I did change it up a bit. I added a can of rotel instead of Roma tomatoes & added in a small amount of whipping cream & shredded mozzarella & Parmesan at the end to make a creamy dish. Thank you for an amazing recipe.
Jeannie
2021-09-22 17:43:37
My husband and I just moved to the area of Maine called The Down East. Fresh fish is now happily the main component of our diet. I followed this recipe as was written. I added black olives and mushrooms. We were blown away by the flavor. The salmon was crisp but flakey and the vegetables were incredibly flavorful. Thank you for sharing this fantastic recipe.
Shawn
2021-06-25 01:00:42
My husband and I don’t care for salmon so I made this using swordfish. It was SO GOOD! I used white wine (duh) and halved cherry tomatoes. Next time I’ll make more sauce because it’s just so good.
MonB
2021-05-27 17:22:03
I like that broth is an option for non wine drinkers.
Ginger Johnson
2021-05-21 09:24:06
I will be making this again. It’s simple, healthy & delicious!
Tobie
2021-05-18 18:31:39
I made the recipe but my sauce looked NOTHING like the sauce in the pic.
Rita
2021-05-18 00:06:41
Love this recipe, my 93 year old mother loved it too! Simple but so tasty!
Mary
2021-05-08 14:35:12
This is so simple but so delicious! I would never have thought about pairing salmon with tomatoes.
Sunita
2021-04-26 23:47:31
Loved it...made it without basil(I did not have any) but followed the recipe.. and it turned great. So delicious!!!!
Sharon W
2021-04-26 15:11:44
This recipe was amazing! I believe it’s the tastiest salmon dish that I have made so far. I am trying this recipe today with chicken breast .
Lori
2021-03-06 09:13:56
Do you out the spices directly in the pan with the salmon or sprinkled on the salmon? If you put the directly in the pan won’t they burn?
Cheryl
2020-11-11 20:20:44
Excellent. Added mushrooms. Only used olive oil.

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Tuscan Garlic Salmon Skillet with Spinach and Tomato (2024)

FAQs

Is salmon better in the oven or skillet? ›

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

Tell Me More ›

Do you need to flip salmon when pan frying? ›

Coat salmon on both sides with cooking oil. Add enough cooking oil to coat the bottom of the pan and heat over medium-high heat. Place salmon, skin-side up, into pan and cook until browned, about 4 minutes. Carefully flip salmon and cook for another 3 minutes or until done.

Keep Reading ›

Which side of salmon to saute first? ›

Starting your salmon skin-side down, and cooking it until it is well rendered, lightly browned, and crisp, and then turning the salmon to finish the cooking, will make for a terrific dining experience.

Get More Info ›

Do you put oil on salmon before cooking? ›

Baked salmon is best when cooked at 425°F in the oven.

We recommend baking the salmon uncovered. Simply rub the fillets with a little oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, then place them in the roasting pan skin-side down before popping them in the oven.

Tell Me More ›

Should you cover the pan when cooking salmon? ›

Cover the pan with a lid and let it cook on high heat on the stovetop for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes, reduce the heat to medium and cook for another 8-10 minutes. Remove from heat and let it rest for a few minutes to finish. Remove the lid, open the parchment, and top with your favorite fresh herbs!

Know More ›

Do you pan fry salmon on high or low heat? ›

Heat the oil in a 12-inch nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering. Cook the salmon, without moving, skin side up, until golden and crisp, about 4 minutes. Carefully flip the fillets and reduce the heat to medium. Continue cooking until done to your liking, 4 to 5 minutes more.

Show Me More ›

What is the white stuff coming out of my salmon? ›

The white stuff that oozes out of salmon is called albumin, a type of protein in the fish (other foods with albumin include eggs, beef and milk). You can't see albumin when the fish is raw—it only appears when the salmon is exposed to heat. As salmon cooks, the albumin turns from its liquid state into a semi-solid one.

Discover More Details ›

How long does salmon take to cook on the stove? ›

Place the salmon, skin-side up in the pan. Cook until golden brown on 1 side, about 4 minutes. Turn the fish over with a spatula, and cook until it feels firm to the touch and the skin is crisp if desired, about 3 minutes more. The skin can be served or removed easily with a knife or spoon.

Read The Full Story ›

What not to do when cooking salmon? ›

5 Common Mistakes That We All Make When Cooking Salmon

Not removing pin bones. Fact: Most salmon fillets have pin bones in them. ...
Mistreating the skin. ...
Using the wrong pan. ...
Overcooking your fish. ...
Reheating leftover salmon.

May 17, 2021

Tell Me More ›

What is the secret to the best salmon? ›

A dry brine gives you firmer, juicier fish fillets with kettle-chip-crisp skin. Credit... Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times.

Learn More Now ›

Do you put salt or oil first on salmon? ›

If you're grilling salmon, season it with salt and pepper like you would for any other cooking technique: Gently pat the fish dry, brush it with oil to help prevent sticking and sprinkle salt and pepper on all sides (including the skin).

Read On ›

Is salmon better in the oven or frying pan? ›

Roasting salmon fillets in the oven gives you beautiful, succulent fish that doesn't require constant attention. This method, which we recommend if you're cooking four or fewer fillets, has you sear the fish in a pan on the stovetop first, which crisps the skin delectably.

What is the best oil to fry salmon in? ›

Use a cooking oil with a high smoke point, like canola oil, sunflower oil, or avocado oil. Using an oil with a low smoke point, such as extra virgin olive oil, will cause that oil to burn in the pan & will not allow you to get a proper sear on your salmon. Be sure that you allow your oil to get hot enough.

Tell Me More ›

How do you know when pan seared salmon is done? ›

Firmness: Cooked salmon should be firm but still moist. When you press down gently on the flesh with a fork or your finger, it should feel slightly resistant but still give way easily. If the salmon is still hard or resists your fork, it needs more time to cook. If it is mushy or falls apart, it may be overcooked.

Explore More ›

Which cooking method is well suited for salmon? ›

Pan seared salmon reigns supreme as the simplest, quickest, and debatably most delicious way to prepare salmon. In under 10 minutes and only 3 ingredients (salt, pepper, and salmon) you will be enjoying a crispy, juicy, tender piece of salmon.

Learn More Now ›

How is most salmon cooked? ›

The two easiest and most common ways of cooking salmon are in the oven on a sheet tray at 425°F and on the stovetop with a little oil.

Explore More ›

Is it better to cook salmon in foil or not? ›

Cooking salmon in foil just makes things easier. It creates a buttery, fresh, evenly cooked fish without having to be as precise. Moisture is preserved while flavor is exploded! Your fish won't have any char marks either!

Show Me More ›

Tuscan Garlic Salmon Skillet with Spinach and Tomato (2024)

This easy and healthy Tuscan salmon recipe takes just a few minutes of prep and makes a perfect weeknight meal in 30 minutes or less.

Ingredients list for theTuscan Garlic Butter Salmon

Directions

How to cook salmon in the pan

What to serve with the Tuscan salmon fillets?

How and how long to keep the Tuscan salmon leftovers?

What other readers say about thisTuscan Garlic Salmon Skillet recipe

More salmon recipes you might like

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FAQs

Is salmon better in the oven or skillet? ›

Do you put salt or oil first on salmon? ›