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Flavorful Cajun Blackened Salmon Recipe with Easy Lemon Butter Sauce

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A quick and easy Cajun blackened salmon with a smoky crust paired with a silky lemon butter sauce that balances spice and richness perfectly.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 skin-on salmon fillets, about 6 ounces (170g) each
  • 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning blend
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 1 clove minced garlic
  • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Instructions

  1. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides lightly with salt and pepper.
  2. In a small bowl, combine Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper. Stir well.
  3. Sprinkle the seasoning mix evenly over the salmon fillets, pressing gently to adhere.
  4. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat until very hot, about 3 minutes. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and swirl to coat.
  5. Place the fillets skin-side up in the skillet. Cook for 3-4 minutes without moving to develop the blackened crust.
  6. Flip carefully and cook skin-side down for another 3-4 minutes, or until salmon is opaque and flakes easily (internal temp around 125°F for medium-rare).
  7. While salmon cooks, melt remaining 3 tablespoons butter in a small saucepan over low heat. Add minced garlic and sauté gently for 1 minute until fragrant.
  8. Stir in lemon juice and remove from heat.
  9. Plate the salmon fillets, spoon warm lemon butter sauce over the top, and garnish with chopped fresh parsley if desired.

Notes

Pat salmon dry to ensure a good crust. Preheat pan thoroughly. Use real butter but watch heat to avoid burning. Flip salmon only once. Adjust cayenne pepper to control spice level. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive or coconut oil and use lemon vinaigrette instead of lemon butter sauce.

Nutrition

Keywords: Cajun salmon, blackened salmon, lemon butter sauce, quick dinner, spicy salmon, healthy seafood

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