To pan fry salmon:
- Pat dry the salmon fillets with a paper towel to remove moisture.
- Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add oil (like olive or avocado oil) to coat the pan.
- Season the salmon with salt and pepper.
- Place the salmon fillets skin side down in the hot pan.
- Cook undisturbed for about 4-5 minutes until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
- Flip the salmon carefully and cook for an additional 1-5 minutes until the salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
- Optional: Remove salmon, add butter, garlic, lemon juice to the pan, then spoon the sauce over the salmon before serving.
Key tips:
- Make sure the pan is hot before adding salmon.
- Do not move the salmon while cooking to develop a crisp crust.
- Salmon is done when opaque and flakes easily.
- Cooking time depends on fillet thickness but generally totals about 8-10 minutes.
