Pan-Seared Salmon with Tomato Basil Feta Sauce

This is one of my all-time favorite dishes.  Whenever fresh Alaskan salmon is on sale I always snatch some up to make this delicious and nutritious meal.  It is super easy to make and only takes about 10 minutes to make from start to finish.  Salmon by itself is delicious, but when paired with this tangy Tomato Basil Feta sauce, it truly is something gourmet!  The only thing I don’t like about this meal is that we never have leftovers!

Pan-Seared Salmon with Tomato Basil Feta Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. filet of wild Alaskan salmon
• salt and pepper
• 2-3 TBSP Ghee (or olive oil or any cooking oil)
• 1/4 cup butter
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1/4 cup cream
• 1/4 cup finely chopped sun-dried tomatoes
• 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
• 1 tsp dried basil or 1 handful fresh torn basil

Preparation:

Heat ghee (or whatever oil you are using) in a large cast-iron skillet over medium heat.  Lightly season the salmon fillet with salt and pepper.  Once pan is hot, place the salmon in the pan and cook on each side for 4-5 minutes or until salmon flakes with a fork.  Don’t overcook the salmon.  The timing will depend on how thick your meat is.

While the salmon is cooking, melt butter in a small saucepan on the stove.  Add minced garlic and let sit for a minute or two.  Add the cream, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, and basil (if you are using dried).  Bring to a low simmer.  Allow the sauce to continue at a low simmer for 2-3 minutes stirring occasionally.  Remove from heat.  (If you are using fresh basil, add it at this time.)

Once the salmon is done, pour the sauce over the salmon and serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Notes:

• If you have never heard of ghee, it is simply clarified butter.  The milk solids, impurities, and water have been removed and all that is left is the butterfat.  It. Is. Delicious. I highly recommend it!
• See this post from A Good and Simple Life about how to make your own Homemade Sun-Dried Tomatoes. 
• Don’t buy farmed salmon!  While wild-caught salmon from clean waters is super good for you, farmed salmon can actually be harmful.  See this article for 7 Reasons to Avoid Farmed Raised Salmon.
• Like all meat, salmon tastes best when it is not overcooked.  Properly cooked salmon should still be juicy and moist, not dry and chewy! 

This post has been shared with Simple Lives Thursday and Pennywise Platter Thursday.

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