Love at First Bite Salmon & Orzo
Love at First Bite Salmon & Orzo
Ingredients
For the Salmon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for drizzling
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 salmon fillets, skin-on, about 7 ounces each
- 1 pinch coarse salt, to taste
- 1 pinch coarse black pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Creamy Lemon Orzo
- 1 shallot, large, finely chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup white wine, such as Pinot Grigio (optional)
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 cup orzo
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch salt, to taste
- 1 pinch black pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
For the Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, as needed
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped, as needed
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the salmon fillets by patting them dry. Season each fillet generously with a pinch of coarse salt, coarse black pepper, 2 teaspoons of onion powder, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper on all sides.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil to the pan. Once hot, carefully place the seasoned salmon fillets, skin-side down, into the skillet.
⏱️ 1 min
- 3
Sear the salmon for 5 minutes on medium-low heat until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Flip the salmon fillets to the other side. Add 2 tablespoons of salted butter to the pan. Continuously baste the salmon with the melted butter for 2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
Remove the cooked salmon fillets from the pan and transfer them to a wire rack. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm while you prepare the orzo.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
In the same skillet (do not clean it, as the leftover butter and oil will add flavor), add the finely chopped shallot and minced garlic. Sauté over medium heat until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
(Optional) If using, add 1/4 cup of white wine to the pan, stirring to deglaze and incorporate with the shallots and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until the wine has mostly evaporated.
⏱️ 1 min
- 8
Add 1 cup of orzo to the pan and stir to combine it with the aromatics, toasting lightly for about 1 minute.
⏱️ 1 min
- 9
Pour in 2 cups of chicken stock and squeeze in the juice from 1/2 lemon. Stir well, then cover the pan with a lid and let the orzo cook for 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the orzo is tender.
⏱️ 10 min
- 10
Once the orzo has absorbed the liquid, remove the lid. Stir in 2/3 cup of heavy cream and 3 tablespoons of salted butter until melted and combined.
⏱️ 2 min
- 11
Add 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley, 1 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of red chili flakes, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder to the orzo. Stir until the cheese is fully incorporated and the orzo is creamy.
⏱️ 2 min
- 12
Season the orzo with a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper to taste. Stir all the seasonings until well combined.
⏱️ 1 min
- 13
To serve, spoon the creamy lemon orzo onto plates. Arrange the cooked salmon fillets on top of the orzo. Garnish with additional fresh parsley, fresh dill, and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Love at First Bite Salmon & Orzo
For the Salmon
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, for drizzling
- 2 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 salmon fillets, skin-on, about 7 ounces each
- 1 pinch coarse salt, to taste
- 1 pinch coarse black pepper, to taste
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
For the Creamy Lemon Orzo
- 1 shallot, large, finely chopped
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup white wine, such as Pinot Grigio (optional)
- 1/2 lemon, juiced
- 1 cup orzo
- 2 cups chicken stock
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 pinch salt, to taste
- 1 pinch black pepper, to taste
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
For the Garnish
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped, as needed
- 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped, as needed
- 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, grated, as needed
Instructions
- 1
Prepare the salmon fillets by patting them dry. Season each fillet generously with a pinch of coarse salt, coarse black pepper, 2 teaspoons of onion powder, 2 teaspoons of garlic powder, and 1 teaspoon of cayenne pepper on all sides.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add a drizzle of olive oil to the pan. Once hot, carefully place the seasoned salmon fillets, skin-side down, into the skillet.
⏱️ 1 min - 3
Sear the salmon for 5 minutes on medium-low heat until the skin is crispy and golden brown.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Flip the salmon fillets to the other side. Add 2 tablespoons of salted butter to the pan. Continuously baste the salmon with the melted butter for 2 minutes.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
Remove the cooked salmon fillets from the pan and transfer them to a wire rack. Cover loosely with foil to keep warm while you prepare the orzo.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
In the same skillet (do not clean it, as the leftover butter and oil will add flavor), add the finely chopped shallot and minced garlic. Sauté over medium heat until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
(Optional) If using, add 1/4 cup of white wine to the pan, stirring to deglaze and incorporate with the shallots and garlic. Cook for 1 minute until the wine has mostly evaporated.
⏱️ 1 min - 8
Add 1 cup of orzo to the pan and stir to combine it with the aromatics, toasting lightly for about 1 minute.
⏱️ 1 min - 9
Pour in 2 cups of chicken stock and squeeze in the juice from 1/2 lemon. Stir well, then cover the pan with a lid and let the orzo cook for 10 minutes, or until most of the liquid has been absorbed and the orzo is tender.
⏱️ 10 min - 10
Once the orzo has absorbed the liquid, remove the lid. Stir in 2/3 cup of heavy cream and 3 tablespoons of salted butter until melted and combined.
⏱️ 2 min - 11
Add 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley, 1 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, 1/2 teaspoon of red chili flakes, 1 teaspoon of onion powder, and 1 teaspoon of garlic powder to the orzo. Stir until the cheese is fully incorporated and the orzo is creamy.
⏱️ 2 min - 12
Season the orzo with a pinch of salt and a pinch of black pepper to taste. Stir all the seasonings until well combined.
⏱️ 1 min - 13
To serve, spoon the creamy lemon orzo onto plates. Arrange the cooked salmon fillets on top of the orzo. Garnish with additional fresh parsley, fresh dill, and a sprinkle of grated Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min