Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon - The Recipe Critic (2024)

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Creamy Tuscan garlic salmon is an easy 30-minute restaurant-quality meal. The pan-seared salmon gets smothered in the most amazing creamy Tuscan garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. This is one unforgettable meal!

We love Tuscan-inspired recipes at our house. They are some of the top searched recipes on the site! Be sure to also try this Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken, Stuffed Tuscan Garlic Chicken, and Creamy Tuscan Garlic Shrimp ASAP!

Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon - The Recipe Critic (1)

A Reader’s Review

My new go-to recipes when I want to impress. Also great with shrimp and chicken. Had my g’friends over and they all but licked their plates. No leftovers to take home!

-Judy

Tuscan Garlic Salmon Recipe

I feel like my collection of salmon recipes is now complete with the Tuscan garlic salmon. It’s crispy and flaky salmon and smothered in a creamy garlic sauce. This helps keep the salmon fillets tender, flaky, and moist. Tuscan recipes are always some of the top searches on this site and I think it’s because the sauce is finger-licking good!

My favorite part about this recipe is that you can get a restaurant-quality meal RIGHT AT HOME! This meal is ready in under 30 minutes and is better than any restaurant I have had. This meal is one that you will make over and over again! Cook it with some pasta and a delicious salad and it will be the perfect meal.

Ingredients in Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon

This salmon looks at tastes like it’s from a restaurant but the ingredients used are actually very simple! Check out the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact measurements.

  • Salmon Fillets: These will be the star of the show!
  • Olive Oil: You will sear your salmon in the olive oil to get a nice golden edge.
  • Garlic Cloves: If you don’t have fresh garlic cloves on hand then you can used minced garlic. 1/2 teaspoon equals about 1 clove of fresh garlic.
  • Heavy Cream: The heavy cream stands out and give the sauce that delicious creaminess that you want in this recipe!
  • Chicken Broth: This will be the base of the sauce and gives some additional flavor.
  • Garlic Powder: Can you ever have too much garlic? I don’t think so!
  • Italian seasoning: I like to make my Italian seasoning at home using this recipe because it’s so delicious. But you can use store bought as well!
  • Parmesan Cheese: This adds to the taste and texture of the sauce.
  • Cornstarch: The cornstarch will help your sauce to thicken.
  • Spinach: I use fresh spinach that I have chopped up.
  • Sun-Dried Tomatoes: This is th best flavor that you can add to the dish in my opinon!
Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon - The Recipe Critic (2)

How to Make Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon

  1. Sear the Salmon: To start,To start, add oil to a large skillet and salt and pepper your salmon. Pan sear the salmon by placing skin side down and turn to medium low heat.
  2. Cook and Flip: Let it cook for about 7 minutes and then flip the salmon over and then cook for an additional 3 minutes until it is barely pink in the center. Set aside on a plate.
  3. Make Sauce: Add minced garlic to your pan and cook for a minute and then stir in the heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese to make the cream sauce.
  4. Add Spinach and Tomatoes: Whisk in the cornstarch and then let it sit at a gentle simmer for 1-2 minutes. Add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes and let simmer until spinach starts to wilt. Then, add the salmon filets back to the pan. Serve over some pasta (like spaghetti noodles).
Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon - The Recipe Critic (3)

When is Salmon Fully Cooked?

This creamy Tuscan garlic salmon is cooked with the fat liquefies and runs out. Cook the salmon further only to get the degree of doneness that you desire. When flakes separate easily but the meat is translucent, it’s rare but edible. The internal temperature of fully cooked salmon should be 135-145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon - The Recipe Critic (4)

Variations

Thiscreamy Tuscan garlic salmon recipeis so easy and is ready in under 30 minutes! Here are some tips and variations to make yours the best of the best.

  • Simmer, don’t boil: To get your sauce nice and creamy and avoid having it separate, you want to keep the sauce simmering and don’t let it boil.
  • Broth: You can substitute the chicken browth for water or vegetable broth.
  • Fish: If you prefer to use another type of fish, you can try trout, cod or tilapia instead.
Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon - The Recipe Critic (5)

What is Tuscan Style Food?

It is a blend of garlic, Italian-style herbs, and can include spinach and sun-dried tomatoes. It is great served as a pasta dish.

More Tuscan Recipes to Try

The Tuscan recipes on my site are some of the top recipes and for good reason! They are so good! Plus, no matter what protein you like, chicken or shrimp or fish, there is a recipe for everyone!

Dinner

Creamy Tuscan Garlic Chicken

25 mins

Soup

Creamy Tuscan Garlic Tortellini Soup

15 mins

Dinner

Amazing Creamy Tuscan Garlic Scallops

25 mins

Dinner

Creamy Tuscan Garlic Shrimp

20 mins

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Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon

5 from 23 votes

By: Alyssa Rivers

Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon is an easy 30-minute restaurant-quality meal. The pan-seared salmon gets smothered in the most amazing creamy Tuscan garlic sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach. This is one unforgettable meal!

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes

Total Time: 25 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 Servings

Ingredients

Instructions

  • To start, add oil to a large skillet and salt and pepper your salmon. Pan sear the salmon by placing skin side down and turn to medium low heat.

  • Let it cook for about 7 minutes and then flip the salmon over and cook for an additional 3 minutes until it is barely pink in the center. Set aside on a plate.

  • Add minced garlic to your pan and cook for a minute and then add the heavy cream, chicken broth, garlic powder, Italian seasoning and parmesan cheese.

  • Whisk in the cornstarch and let simmer for 1-2 minutes. Add spinach and sun-dried tomatoes and let simmer until spinach starts to wilt. Add the salmon back to the pan.

Video

Notes

Originally Posted on October 14, 2018

Updated on June 12, 2022

Nutrition

Calories: 371kcalCarbohydrates: 14gProtein: 8gFat: 33gSaturated Fat: 17gCholesterol: 91mgSodium: 372mgPotassium: 611mgFiber: 2gSugar: 5gVitamin A: 1796IUVitamin C: 11mgCalcium: 221mgIron: 2mg

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

Additional Info

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American, Italian, Italian American, Mediterranean

Tried this recipe?Mention @alyssa_therecipecritic or tag #therecipecritic!

About Alyssa Rivers

Alyssa Rivers is the author of 'The Tried and True Cookbook', a professional food photographer and experienced recipe-developer. Having a passion for cooking, her tried and true recipes have been featured on Good Morning America, Today Food, Buzzfeed and more.

Read More About Me

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Insanely Good Creamy Tuscan Garlic Salmon - The Recipe Critic (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 makes salmon taste better? ›

Sugar + acid is your friend.

For one, it's delicious. But from a scientific standpoint, the sugar and acid cut through salmon's fishiness. Glazes add a ton of flavor while taming the salmon. It's a win-win.

How do you make salmon skin crispy without overcooking? ›

Though you want fairly high heat at the start, cooking at that temperature the entire time will lead to the salmon overcooking on its outer layers, which can cause it to turn chalky and leak unsightly white albumen. So, just before adding the fish, lower the heat under the pan to medium-low.

What brand is creamy garlic sauce? ›

Frank's Thick Sauce Garlic Parmesan
  1. cheddar chipotle dip heinz. garlic dipping sauce. creamy garlic dipping sauce.
  2. creamy garlic. heinz garlic dip. heinz creamy garlic dip.

Why is it called Tuscan? ›

Tuscany is named after its pre-Roman inhabitants, the Etruscans. It was ruled by Rome for many centuries. In the Middle Ages, it saw many invasions, but in the Renaissance period it helped lead Europe back to civilization.

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.

What is the most delicious salmon in the world? ›

King (Chinook)

There's a reason this species is at the top of the list and earned itself the royal moniker: King salmon is considered by many to be the best salmon money can buy. It's rich, high in fat, and big.

What seasoning should I put on salmon? ›

Here are some spices you may have that could be good as part of a homemade salmon seasoning.
  1. Paprika.
  2. Chile/Chili powder.
  3. Garlic powder/salt.
  4. Ground cumin.
  5. Onion powder.
  6. Ground ginger.

What kills the fishy taste in salmon? ›

How to Control Salmon's Fishiness with a Milk Bath. You can also lessen salmon's strong flavor by soaking it in a milk bath for 20 minutes and then draining it and patting it dry before cooking. The casein in milk binds to the TMA, and when drained away, it takes the culprit that causes fishy odor with it.

Why do I feel so good after eating salmon? ›

Offers Omega-3 Fatty Acids

It aids in the absorption of certain nutrients, protects your organs, provides energy, plus so much more. Your body needs fat to survive. But the kind of fat you consume matters. Unsaturated fat, the kind abundant in salmon, has profound health benefits.

Is it better to bake or pan fry salmon? ›

If you enjoy a crispy exterior, then pan seared salmon is the way to go. Baking salmon is a great option for a larger piece of fish (try this Baked Salmon in Foil for an easy technique).

How does Gordon Ramsay cook salmon crispy? ›

Score the salmon skin

With a sharp knife, gently slice through the salmon skin, making slits along the fish every inch or so. Gordon Ramsey explains that scoring the skin helps the fish cook more quickly and keeps the skin extra crispy. Be careful not to cut too deeply into the fish or the inside will dry out.

What Flavour is 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.

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 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 is cream sauce made of? ›

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. Some recipes include milk or flour.

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