Description
A cozy yet elegant dinner featuring tender garlic butter salmon served over creamy orzo with sautéed mushrooms and wilted spinach, full of rich flavor and comforting textures.
Ingredients
- Salmon fillets: 4 fillets (about 150 g each)
- Orzo pasta: 1 cup dry
- Fresh mushrooms: 200 g, sliced
- Fresh spinach: 2 packed cups
- Unsalted butter: 3 tablespoons
- Olive oil: 1 tablespoon
- Garlic cloves: 4 cloves, minced
- Vegetable broth: 2 cups
- Lemon juice: 1 tablespoon, freshly squeezed
- Salt: 1 teaspoon
- Black pepper: 1/2 teaspoon, freshly ground
- Dried Italian herbs: 1 teaspoon
Instructions
- Pat the salmon fillets dry and season both sides evenly with salt and black pepper.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the salmon fillets and sear for 4 to 5 minutes per side until golden and flaky. Remove and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium heat, scraping up any browned bits.
- Add the sliced mushrooms and cook for about 5 minutes until softened and lightly browned.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
- In a separate saucepan, bring the vegetable broth to a gentle boil. Add the orzo and cook for 8 to 10 minutes until tender, then drain if needed.
- Add the cooked orzo and fresh spinach to the skillet with the mushrooms. Stir until the spinach wilts.
- Mix in the lemon juice and dried Italian herbs, stirring until creamy and well combined.
- Return the salmon to the skillet, spoon the garlic butter orzo over the top, and warm gently for 2 to 3 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Use room temperature salmon for more even cooking.
- Do not overcrowd the pan when searing the salmon to achieve a good crust.
- Add a splash of extra broth when reheating to keep the orzo creamy.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg
Keywords: garlic butter salmon, salmon with orzo, mushroom spinach orzo, easy salmon dinner, creamy orzo recipe