Lemon Butter Salmon Recipe with Cucumber Salad

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. 

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.

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

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.

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. 

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.

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Prep Time 35 mins

Total Time 55 mins

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Servings 6 servings

Calories 210 kcal

Ingredients

  

1x2x3x

• 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 tsp 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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Recipe by Tara Teaspoon

I’ve been in the food publishing business for over 20 years, creating recipes and food styling for magazines, books, television and advertising. Find out more about me!

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