The Best Garlic Butter Salmon Scampi – Delicious!
This delectably good Garlic Butter Salmon Scampi is a delicious, healthy recipe made with olive oil, garlic, fresh lemon, salmon filets, white wine, butter, fresh basil, and crispy caper berry topping. It comes together in about 30 minutes and is perfect for a weeknight meal or weekend dinner party! It’s an easy dinner your whole family will love.
This delicious pan-seared salmon recipe contains anti-inflammatory salmon, capers, garlic and basil. The sauce is wonderful and brings the flavor of the salmon scampi to life. You can prepare the salmon while the rice cooks and the broccoli roasts. This is one of our favorite ways to eat salmon! We love Mediterranean Diet recipes, and this Mediterranean salmon-style recipe is special. If you love salmon you might also like our Pan Glazed Honey Garlic Salmon Recipe , and our Pan Seared Salmon Bites. Delicious served with Creamy Gluten-Free Risotto.
Our newest fav is The Best Pan Seared Honey Salmon Tacos with Peach Salsa
What you’ll love about this recipe:
Recipe Ingredients
You’ll need the following ingredients to make this amazing Garlic Salmon Scampi.
- ¼ cup capers
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- salt and black pepper, to taste
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- Two -4 oz salmon filets
- ½ cup white wine
- ¼ cup salted butter
- 2 cloves minced fresh garlic cloves
- ¼ cup onion, finely diced
- juice from ½ a lemon
- ¼ cup parmesan
- ¼ teaspoon cornstarch, optional
- 3 to 5 basil leaves, chopped
Ingredient Notes
- We used a dry white wine for this recipe.
- If you don’t like capers omit them. It’s still delicious!
How To Make Pan-Seared Salmon Scampi- Step by Step
- Drain the capers and dry them with paper towels as much as possible.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium size frying pan or large skillet over medium heat. You can also use a cast iron skillet. Add in the capers, and cover with a lid immediately. Stir occasionally, and cook until capers become just barely crispy, about 5 minutes.
- Remove capers from the pan and place in a paper towel lined bowl. Set aside. This will be the topping.
- Pat salmon with a paper towel and season the flesh side of the salmon with salt and black pepper and a small pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Return the pan to medium-high heat and add in the additional 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Once the oil is heated, add the seasoned salmon filets to the hot pan skin side down. Cook each side for a few minutes (4-6 minutes for the first side), continually checking to see if the salmon is sticking to the pan. If the salmon is sticking to the pan, it’s not ready to flip yet. Once done cooking, set aside. Salmon should reach minimum internal temperature of 125-135 degrees for medium to medium rare salmon. Remove salmon while you prepare the sauce.
- Reduce heat to medium heat. Add in the white wine to the same pan, and let the wine cook for at least two minutes to burn off the alcohol.
- Next, add the butter, minced garlic, and finely diced onion. Cook for a few minutes, until fragrant.
- Add in the fresh lemon juice and parmesan cheese and stir until parmesan dissolves. At this point you can add in a bit of cornstarch if you’d like your sauce thicker.
- Add in the chopped basil and cook for one minute, stirring to combine.
- Plate the salmon over a bed of rice or pasta, and top with the scampi sauce. Sprinkle the capers on top. Serve with lemon wedges. Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- For medium to medium-rare salmon scampi, aim for a temperature of 125°F to 135°F when you remove it from the heat. The salmon will continue cooking a bit after it comes off of the heat but remain tender and moist inside.
Storage and Reheating
Store in the refrigerator in an airtight container. Reheat over low heat on the stove top.
Additions and Substitutions
- You can also make this recipe with halibut filets.
- Use red pepper flakes instead of cayenne pepper.
- Add a tablespoon of creme fraiche to make a cream sauce.
- Serve with mashed potatoes, rice or angel hair pasta.
- Delicious with broccoli, roasted broccolini or roasted cherry tomatoes
- Top with chopped fresh parsley and lemon zest
- Leftover salmon is great with a salad the next day
- You can flake this salmon into pasta
Frequently Asked Questions for Salmon Scampi
The word scampi is the plural of scampo, the Italian name for breaded prawns or langoustine.
Mashed Potatoes, Rice or Pasta all lovely with Shrimp Scampi or Salmon Scampi!
Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel, season and make sure you are using a hot pan. Cast iron skillets are a great choice as they heat evenly.
I hope you loved this Garlic Salmon Scampi Recipe. If you make it, leave a rating so I know you liked it!
Our Favorite
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy!
The Best Garlic Butter Salmon Scampi – Delicious!
This wonderful Garlic Butter Salmon Scampi is a delicious, healthy recipe made with olive oil, garlic, fresh lemon, salmon filets, white wine, butter and capers. It comes together in about 30 minutes and is perfect for a weeknight meal or weekend dinner party!
- Prep Time: 15 Minutes
- Cook Time: 25 Minutes
- Total Time: 30 Minutes
- Yield: 2 Servings 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Mediterranean Diet
- Diet: Gluten Free
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup capers
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- salt and pepper, to taste
- pinch of cayenne pepper
- Two –4 oz salmon filets
- 1/2 cup white wine
- 1/4 cup salted butter
- 2 cloves minced fresh garlic
- 1/4 cup onion, finely diced
- juice from 1/2 a lemon
- 1/4 cup parmesan
- 1/4 teaspoon cornstarch, optional
- 3 to 5 basil leaves, chopped
Instructions
- Drain the capers and dry them with paper towels as much as possible.
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium size frying pan over medium heat. Add in the capers, and cover with a lid immediately. Stir occasionally, and cook until capers become just barely crispy, about 5 minutes.
- Remove capers from the pan and place in a paper towel lined bowl. Set aside.
- Season salmon with salt and pepper and a small pinch of cayenne pepper.
- Return the pan to medium heat and add in the additional 2 tablespoons of olive oil.
- Once the oil is heated, add the seasoned salmon filets to the hot pan skin side down. Cook each side for a few minutes, continually checking to see if the salmon is sticking to the pan. If the salmon is sticking to the pan, it’s not ready to flip yet. Once done cooking, set aside.
- Add in the white wine to the same pan, and let the wine cook for at least two minutes to burn off the alcohol.
- Next, add in the butter, garlic, and onion. Cook for a few minutes, until fragrant.
- Add in the fresh lemon juice and parmesan cheese and stir until parmesan dissolves. At this point you can add in a bit of cornstarch if you’d like your sauce thicker.
- Add in the chopped basil and cook for one minute, stirring to combine.
- Plate the salmon over a bed of rice or pasta, and top with the sauce. Sprinkle the capers
on top. Enjoy!
Notes
- We used a dry white wine for this recipe.
- If you don’t like capers omit them. It’s still delicious!
Delicious! Love the sauce!