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    TaraTeaspoon » Course » Main Dish » Seafood

    This page contains affiliate and sponsored links. See my full disclosure.

    Published: by

    Lemon Butter Salmon Recipe with Cucumber Salad

    Jump to Recipe Pin Recipe Jump to Comments
    lemon butter salmon with cottage cheese and salad on a platter pin
    lemon butter salmon with cottage cheese pin

    Pan searing in lemon butter is an easy way to cook salmon. The flavors are rich and savory and a cucumber salad on the side is crunchy and fresh. 


    A dollop of Hood's creamy, Cottage Cheese with Cracked Pepper is fresh and delicious on top of this lemon butter salmon. The crunchy salad on the side makes for a perfect, and easy dinner. 

    close up of lemon butter salmon with cottage cheese on a platter

    I partnered with Hood Cottage Cheese to create recipes using their new cottage cheese flavor, Cracked Pepper!

    Hood's cottage cheese is such a versatile food and there are so many flavors, both savory and sweet, to choose from. You know it as a tasty addition to breakfast or as a snack, but it's even great for easy dinners and side dishes!

    I knew I wanted a creamy topping for my pan seared salmon, and this unsung hero of the dairy world was the perfect addition.

    You can find Hood Cottage Cheese in your city here.

    cottage cheese on pan roasted salmon
    Jump to:
    • What seasoning is good on salmon?
    • Try my other salmon recipes: 
    • How to cook salmon in a frying pan: 
    • Serve a salad with lemon butter salmon. 
    • Lemon Butter Salmon Recipe with Cucumber Salad

    What seasoning is good on salmon?

    Oh my goodness, I couldn't be more happy with the combo of butter, garlic and lemon. These three ingredients are my perfect seasoning for salmon. 

    I melt the butter, with some olive oil in the pan to help prevent the butter from burning. Add the garlic and let it flavor the butter and oil. 

    Salt and pepper are a must for salmon. The richness needs the extra flavor it can give. 

    I added tons of herbs to this lemon butter salmon recipe because I wanted even more of a fresh punch and a depth to the dish. Add the herbs at the end of cooking so the flavor just bursts, but doesn't cook away.  

    Obviously I love to cook with salmon!

    Try my other salmon recipes: 

    Salmon and Arugula Pasta Salad

    Salmon Sliders with Pickled Beets

    Easy Potato and Salmon Bake

    Blackened Salmon Tacos

    salmon cooking in a cast iron pan with lemon and herbs

    How to cook salmon in a frying pan: 

    This is a great way to make salmon on the stove.

    I use a cast iron skillet, but you can use a nice, large non-stick skillet if you prefer. The cast iron skillet is naturally non-stick and has an even heat.

    I pan fry my salmon without the skin. I don't need that extra fat or flavor, so I prepare the filets, or have the fish monger give them to me without the skin.

    cucumber and tomato salad with lemon, herbs and red onion

    Serve a salad with lemon butter salmon. 

    I love the fresh combination of cucumber and tomatoes for a salad with salmon. It is crunchy, juicy and tangy all at once. 

    The tangy flavors of the tomatoes and the dressing cut the richness of the salmon just perfectly. 

    The salad comes together in just minutes, and is even better if it sits for a few extra moments. 

    Hood's cottage cheese added a creamy freshness to finish the dish. I love that it's already packed with the fun flavor of cracked pepper. A seriously easy way to spruce up the entire meal. 

    pan cooked salmon with cottage cheese and cucumber salad

    Lemon Butter Salmon Recipe with Cucumber Salad

    Tara Teaspoon
    An easy meal! Quick-cooking lemon butter salmon sizzled in a flavorful sauce gets served with a fresh topping of Hood Cottage Cheese and tangy cucumber salad.
    5 from 2 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 35 mins
    Total Time 55 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 210 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • ¾ of an English cucumber
    • 1 cup grape tomatoes sliced in half
    • ¼ cup finely diced red onion
    • 2 lemons
    • Kosher salt and pepper
    • 3 tablespoons olive oil
    • ¼ cup minced herbs (any mix of any parsley, chives, or dill) plus more for garnish
    • 6 4-oz boneless, skinless salmon fillets
    • 4 tablespoons butter
    • 1 clove minced garlic
    • 1½ cups Hood Cottage Cheese with Cracked Pepper

    Instructions
     

    Make the salad:

    • Slice cucumber into thin slices (use a mandolin if you have one) and toss with tomatoes and red onion.
    • Juice one lemon and season with ¼ teaspoon kosher salt. Whisk in 2 tablespoons olive oil and drizzle over cucumbers. Add 1 tablespoon of the minced herbs and toss salad together. Set aside.

    Make the salmon:

    • In a large (12-inch) non-stick or cast iron skillet, over medium-high heat, melt butter, 1 tablespoon olive oil and garlic together. Season salmon with salt and pepper and add to the hot butter. Sauté until the bottom is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes, and turn fillets over. Cook another 1 to 2 minutes until salmon is just cooked through, or cooked to your desired doneness. Salmon should register 125°F internally on a meat thermometer.
    • Transfer to a serving platter. Add lemons and remaining 3 tablespoons herbs to the skillet and let cook about 1 minute. remove pan from heat.
    • Serve lemons and herb butter with salmon and cucumber salad. Top salmon with a dollop of Hood Cottage Cheese. Garnish salad and salmon with extra herbs if desired.

    Notes

    • Ask the fish monger to skin your salmon so you don't have to do it at home. You can certainly make this with skin-on salmon, but it doesn't need it. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 210kcalCarbohydrates: 9gProtein: 8gFat: 17gSaturated Fat: 7gCholesterol: 30mgSodium: 277mgPotassium: 246mgFiber: 2gSugar: 4gVitamin A: 769IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 70mgIron: 1mg
    Want to watch videos to show you how to cook?Check out our Youtube and try this recipe and more.

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    Tara in kitchen making salad

    About Tara Teaspoon

    I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes & food-styling for magazines, books, television & advertising. Order my new cookbook & stick around for amazing things to eat.

    Find out more!

    Recipe by Tara Teaspoon. Photography Ty Mecham. 08/19

    cucumber and tomato salad with lemon and herbs pin
    lemon butter salmon with cottage cheese pin
    lemon butter salmon with cottage cheese and salad on a platter pin
    « Fresh Corn Fritters with Cheddar and Pimentos
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    Filed Under: Easy Dinners, Seafood Tagged With: cucumber salad, cucumbers, easy dinner, herbs, lemon butter, Salmon

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Alfie says

      March 22, 2020 at 5:30 pm

      Hi! Wondering what you heat the oven for in this recipe under step 1?

      Reply
      • Tara says

        March 23, 2020 at 6:10 pm

        Oh my goodness! You don't! I had that in there from my original edit of the recipe and then I retested and didn't use the oven. Thanks for catching, I fixed it. You're awesome to send a comment.

        Reply
    2. Mia says

      January 05, 2021 at 9:38 pm

      This Salmon looks so very good! Must try!

      Reply

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