Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe (2024)

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This creamy Tuscan salmon recipe has an amazing cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and lemon juice. The best part? It only takes about 20 minutes to make!

Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe (1)

I originally made Tuscan Chicken,and I knew that style of sauce would go fabulously with salmon, so I had to make it. Olive Garden inspiration strikes again!

You know what? As good as the chicken one was, this pan-seared salmon version has it beat! I just love this flavor combo. Searing the salmon over a high heat gives it a wonderful slightly crispy crust and tender, flaky inside.

Love creamy salmon recipes? You may also like Creamy Garlic Salmon Pasta, my Creamy Lemon Salmon recipe, thisCreamy Garlic Salmon, or this Creamy Salmon Piccata.

Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe (2)

How do you make creamy Tuscan salmon?

Coat the salmon pieces in salt, pepper, and garlic powder; dredge in flour. Sear the salmon on both sides; take it out of the pan and set aside. Make the sauce by adding the chicken broth, lemon juice, and sun-dried tomatoes, followed by the cream. You then add the spinach and salmon and let the fish cook through. Take it up a notch and serve it with freshly grated parmesan cheese and basil on top! (Full ingredients & instructions are in the recipe card below)

Recipes notes & tips:

  • Go up to 2 cups (packed) spinach if you like lots of spinach since it really does shrink down.
  • If you buy salmon with skin on and don’t want to eat it, it’s really easy to peel off once you sear it on both sides (peel it off before adding it back to the skillet).
  • You will get the best results using heavy cream, but if you’re looking for a dairy-free alternative, you may want to try Silk brand dairy-free whipping cream; readers have recommended it to me.
  • Skip the flour if you want this to be low-carb.
  • If you want this to be extra garlicky, add in a couple cloves of minced garlic prior to adding the chicken broth.

Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe (3)

What do you serve with Tuscan salmon?

I typically serve this dish with spaghetti or linguine, but any kind of pasta would work, as would rice or mashed potatoes. Or, make it a lower-carb dinner by serving it with cauliflower rice.

If you’re looking for a wine pairing, this Tuscan salmon would go well with sauvignon blanc. You could also add some into the recipe (instead of the chicken broth) if you want.

Love Tuscan flavors? Try these:

  • Creamy Tuscan Sausage Gnocchi (One Pan, 20 Minutes)
  • Tuscan Garlic Shrimp Recipe
  • Tuscan Sausage Pasta

Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe (4)

Will you make this salmon in a creamy sun-dried tomato and spinach sauce? It’s DELICIOUS. 😉

Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe (5)

5 from 15 votes

Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe

By Natasha Bull

This creamy Tuscan salmon recipe has an amazing cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, garlic, and lemon juice. The best part? It only takes about 20 minutes to make!

Prep: 5 minutes mins

Cook: 15 minutes mins

Total: 20 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound fresh salmon cut into 4 pieces
  • Salt & pepper to taste
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • Flour for dredging
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or dry white wine
  • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes (see note)
  • 1 cup heavy/whipping cream
  • 1-2 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach

Optional:

  • 1 tablespoon fresh basil sliced thin
  • Freshly grated parmesan cheese

Instructions

  • Prep your salmon and sprinkle each piece on both sides with salt & pepper and garlic powder, then dredge the salmon in flour.

  • Add the oil and butter to a skillet over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the salmon. Cook the salmon for 3-4 minutes/side or until it has a nice crust (careful not to overcook - it should not be fully cooked yet). Take the salmon out of the pan and set aside.

  • Add the chicken broth, lemon juice, and sun-dried tomatoes to the pan. Let it bubble for a couple of minutes.

  • Stir in the cream and let it cook for a couple more minutes.

  • Reduce heat to medium-low and add the spinach to the skillet. Let it wilt for 30 seconds or so, then add the fish in. Cook for a few minutes until the salmon is cooked through and the sauce thickens up a bit.

  • Serve with the basil and fresh parmesan if desired.

Notes

  • Anything around 3/4-1 pound of fish will work. Most grocery store salmon is about an inch thick in the thickest part, so use that for reference when considering how long to cook it.
  • I used the oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes (draining them prior to adding to the sauce), which tend to taste more concentrated. If using a variety not packed in oil, you may want to add more if desired.
  • Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy only and should be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. Ingredients can vary and Salt & Lavender makes no guarantees to the accuracy of this information.

Nutrition

Calories: 453kcal, Carbohydrates: 6g, Protein: 26g, Fat: 37g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Cholesterol: 151mg, Sodium: 270mg, Potassium: 1061mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 1g, Vitamin A: 6668IU, Vitamin C: 27mg, Calcium: 114mg, Iron: 3mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

© Salt & Lavender Inc. Content and photographs are copyrighted. Sharing this blog post is much appreciated, but copying and pasting full recipes without authorization to social media is strictly prohibited.

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Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe (6)

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Creamy Tuscan Salmon Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is Tuscan cream sauce made of? ›

It's full of garlic, butter, seasoning, and most importantly, heavy cream. — The mix-ins. We added cherry tomatoes and spinach to our skillet (like we do in most of our Tuscan-inspired recipes), but you can add even more additions if you have them on hand, or swap out the cherry tomatoes for sun-dried tomatoes.

What is a good sauce to eat with salmon? ›

7 Easy Sauces for Salmon
  • Creamy Horseradish Dill Sauce.
  • Spicy Maple Mustard Sauce.
  • Hot Honey Butter Sauce.
  • Brown Sugar Teriyaki Sauce.
  • Miso Lemon Butter Sauce.
  • Buttery Caper Sauce.
  • Caramelized Honey Miso Sauce.
Feb 6, 2023

What do you soak salmon in before cooking? ›

Soaking salmon in a simple, quick brine for as little as 10 minutes (up to overnight, if you like planning ahead) is all it takes. To make it happen you need two very basic ingredients: water and salt. Combine 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water.

What is the creamy Italian sauce called? ›

Alfredo Sauce: Alfredo is a rich, creamy white sauce mixed with butter and grated Parmesan cheese seasoned with pepper, and sometimes nutmeg. Alfredo sauce is typically served on fettuccine noodles and topped with vegetables, chicken or shrimp.

What are Tuscan ingredients? ›

8 Quintessentially Tuscan Ingredients
  • Tuscan bread. This salt-free loaf features a hard crust and soft crumb that wonderfully complements the regional cuisine, letting the vibrant flavors shine. ...
  • Pine nuts. ...
  • Beans. ...
  • Brigidini. ...
  • Testaroli. ...
  • Extra-virgin olive oil PGI. ...
  • Bistecca alla fiorentina. ...
  • Lardo di Colonnata PGI.

What is the most delicious salmon in the world? ›

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tschawytscha), also known as King salmon, is considered by many to be the best-tasting of the salmon bunch. This large variety has a high-fat content and corresponding rich flesh that ranges from white to a deep red color.

What is the secret to best salmon? ›

A dry brine gives you firmer, juicier fish fillets with kettle-chip-crisp skin. Credit... Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times.

How does Bobby Flay cook salmon? ›

Instructions. Preheat the oven to 250°F. Brush each salmon filet on all sides with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Place the salmon in a small baking dish, add the garlic cloves, and slowly cook until buttery and soft, about 30 minutes.

What brings out the flavor of salmon? ›

Spices: Dried spices, such as onion powder, garlic powder, and cumin, can add depth of flavor to salmon. Smoked paprika or sweet paprika can add smokiness to the salmon. To add heat, try chili powder, cayenne pepper, jerk seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or Chinese five-spice powder.

Why put mayo on salmon? ›

Humble mayonnaise, at its essence, is “just protein and fat,” says associate food editor Kendra Vaculin. “It promotes quick browning, works like a nonstick coating to help release fish from the sheet pan, and helps seasonings penetrate better.”

What should I put on top of my salmon? ›

A creamy but slightly tangy sauce works really well with salmon, and it's why sour cream-dill sauce over salmon is such a classic. Try mixing in curry powder, Sriracha, or scallions into yogurt or crème fraîche for an easy, elegant salmon topper.

What happens if you don't rinse salmon before cooking? ›

“So, washing could change how the salmon tastes and feels when you eat it. Not washing the salmon could help keep all those yummy flavors and textures.”

What does soaking salmon in milk do? ›

Apparently, the proteins present in milk can bind to the fatty acids that have been exposed to air and give salmon its fishy odor or taste and mitigate them to be more neutral. (Fishiness is caused by the oxidation of fatty acids.)

What is Tuscan style marinara? ›

Made with fresh tomatoes, basil, and parsley. It's a basic tomato sauce suitable for Italian crostini or pasta.

What is in Toscana sauce? ›

Ingredients: pulp of tomato and cherry tomato puree (93%), extra virgin olive oil, garlic, sea salt, paprika, pepper, acidifier: citric acid. Pasteurised. May contain traces of milk and celery.

What does cream sauce contain? ›

Garlic, chicken stock, flour, milk. None of them are really needed to make a full flavour cream sauce for any types of pasta. No need to build more suspense though. Truth is all you need is cream, freshly grated parmesan cheese and a pinch of salt.

What are the flavors of Tuscan? ›

The Tuscan flavor profile includes herbs such as rosemary, basil, parsley, thyme and marjoram. Aromatics like onion, garlic, red bell pepper and spicy red pepper flakes along with cracked black pepper. Lemon and citrus play a large part in the Tuscan flavor so lemon zest and lemon crystals make an appearance as well.

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