Here’s a rich, flavorful recipe for Coconut Curry Salmon with Garlic Butter 🥥🐟🧄 — a delicious fusion of bold spices, creamy coconut milk, and tender salmon fillets, finished with a silky garlic butter drizzle. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or impressing guests!
🍛 Coconut Curry Salmon with Garlic Butter
🧂 Ingredients
For the Salmon:
- 4 salmon fillets (skin-on or skinless)
- Salt & pepper to taste
- 1 tbsp coconut oil (or olive oil)
For the Coconut Curry Sauce:
- 1 tbsp coconut oil or butter
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh ginger, grated
- 1–2 tbsp red curry paste (Thai-style)
- 1 tsp ground turmeric (optional)
- 1 can (13.5 oz) full-fat coconut milk
- 1 tsp fish sauce or soy sauce
- Juice of ½ lime (plus wedges for serving)
- 1 tsp brown sugar or honey (optional)
- Fresh cilantro, for garnish
For the Garlic Butter (optional finish):
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp lemon or lime zest
👩🍳 Instructions
1. Sear the Salmon:
- Pat salmon dry and season with salt and pepper.
- Heat 1 tbsp coconut oil in a skillet over medium-high heat.
- Sear salmon skin-side down (if using skin-on) for 3–4 minutes, then flip and cook another 2–3 minutes until just cooked through.
- Remove from skillet and set aside.
2. Make the Curry Sauce:
- In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium.
- Add 1 tbsp coconut oil or butter, then sauté onion until soft (2–3 minutes).
- Add garlic and ginger, cook 1 minute more.
- Stir in red curry paste and turmeric. Let it bloom for 30 seconds.
- Pour in coconut milk, fish sauce, lime juice, and brown sugar.
- Simmer gently for 5–7 minutes until slightly thickened.
3. Return Salmon to Sauce:
- Nestle salmon back into the curry sauce and simmer for 2–3 minutes to meld flavors.
- Spoon sauce over the salmon as it warms through.
4. Make Garlic Butter (optional but amazing):
- In a small saucepan, melt butter over low heat.
- Add garlic and cook gently for 1 minute (don’t brown it).
- Add lemon or lime zest and stir.
5. Serve:
- Plate salmon with sauce over rice, couscous, or sautéed greens.
- Drizzle with garlic butter and top with fresh cilantro or basil.
🍽️ Pairing Suggestions:
- Jasmine or basmati rice
- Coconut rice
- Roasted sweet potatoes
- Sautéed spinach or bok choy