Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs

You’ll find that this Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs is one of the easiest recipes you will ever make. And it’s delicious and elegant too.

I’ve been trying to eat low-carb meals to help shred some pandemic pounds and that means I’ve been making some favorite proteins of mine in new, delicious ways. This Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese is one of my newest creations and I have to say it is so good, it’s going into our rotation of meals – even when I’m eating all the carbs again.

This recipe is not only delicious and elegant, but it also takes less than 15 minutes to make. In fact, I made this for lunch and photographed it before eating it. Golden, crispy salmon on top from pan searing works perfectly with the soft goat cheese and medley of herbs. Pan searing it is how you will often find salmon cooked in a restaurant setting and it’s easy to make this delicious dish at home too.

A weekly staple

We actually eat salmon a lot in our house. Before dating me, Kevin never ate fish at all so that fact that it’s now a staple in our lives must say something good. Now, it’s probably a one a week meal and we usually like to prepare it as simply as possible. So, we either pan sear it like it is here in the Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs or we bake it.

I know a lot of people can be iffy on fish, but I promise, this is one way of preparing it that will make everyone love it. The creamy goat cheese just pairs so well with the crispy seared salmon, and the addition of a few, simple herbs makes it an elegant dish that can be served at dinner parties too.

Ingredients in Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs

Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese starts with some really simple ingredients. First, you need a good cut of fresh salmon. Freshness is key whenever you’re eating fish so make sure you either go to a fish market or get a fresh cut from the grocery store. If you can, get it cut in 6 ounce portions. This makes it easier to cook when pan searing. If you end up buying a larger piece, you can always cut it at home with a sharp knife.

Next, you want to find goat goat cheese crumbles. If you can’t find crumbles, you can use a log of goat cheese and crumble/cut it yourself. Just don’t use a spread.

Then it’s time to bring on all the flavors! Get fresh thyme, oregano and parsley to make this an unforgettable meal. Again, use fresh herbs if you can find them as opposed to dry herbs. The flavor just won’t be the same.

Lastly, you will need some fresh squeezed lemon juice, olive oil, sea salt, fresh ground pepper and red pepper flakes (These are optional.)

How to make Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs

To make this recipe, cut mince or roughly chop the herbs. Then mix them with the goat cheese and set it aside.

Next, season the salmon with sea salt and pepper. Don’t skimp on the salt. It brings all the flavor to the surface.

Then, heat olive oil in a non-stick pan. I like using my cast iron pan best when making Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs. If you don’t have one, you can find the one I have {HERE}.

Once the olive oil has heated in the pan, add the salmon to the oil with the skin facing up. Cook it for 4 minutes and don’t peek at it until time is up. It will interrupt the cooking process.

After 4 minutes, use a spatula to flip the salmon so the skin side is down in the pan. Cook it for another 3-4 minutes. Drizzle it with half the lemon juice about 2 minutes in and then remove the pan from the burner.

Lastly, spoon the goat cheese mix onto the salmon and drizzle on the rest of the lemon juice. Give it another sprinkling of sea salt and pepper and then a few red pepper flakes.

Tips for making Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs

• As mentioned above, make sure you have 6 oz. portions before cooking Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs. This is important for the fish to cook properly.
• Use fresh herbs whenever possible.
• Use sea salt to really pull all the flavor out of the ingredients and take the dish to the next level.
• Use high quality extra virgin olive oil to start with the best flavor for cooking this meal.
• If the fish is still sticking to the pan when you try to flip it, give it another minute and try again.
• To keep this low carb, serve it up over some arugula like I did or some broccoli, zucchini or asparagus. If you’re not worried about carbs, serve this up with some delicious roasted potatoes like these Lemon & Herb Baby Potatoes {HERE}.

Thank you so much for joining me today, friends! I hope that you love this simple Pan Seared Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs and make it for your family. You can find the full, printable recipe below.

If you have a question and need to reach me as soon as possible, send me a direct message on Instagram @rachelquenzer or @sugarmaplefarmhouse. If you’re looking for other low-carb recipe, check out this Bacon & Mushroom Smothered Chicken {HERE} or this Baked Shrimp Scampi recipe {HERE}.

Happy eating!

Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs

This Salmon with Goat Cheese & Herbs is pan seared and a delicious way to add some seafood to your diet. It's also a low carb recipe that

5 from 13 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: dinner

Cuisine: American

Keyword: pan seared salmon, salmon with goat cheese, salmon with goat cheese & herbs

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 8 minutes

Servings: 2 6 oz. servings of salmon

Author: Rachel

Equipment

• Cast iron pan or non-stick pan

Ingredients

• 3 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil + an additional drizzle for each piece of the fish at the end
• 2 6oz pieces of salmon
• 2 Tbsp. fresh thyme, chopped well
• 2 Tbsp. fresh oregano, chopped well
• 2 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped well
• 4 oz. goat cheese crumbles This should actually make enough for 3-4 pieces of fish.
• 4 Tbsp. fresh squeezed lemon juice
• Sea salt and pepper to taste
• Optional: Red pepper flakes

Instructions

• In a small bowl, mix together goat cheese crumbles and chopped herbs. Set aside.
• Cut the salmon fillet into 6 oz. portions. Season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a cast iron or non-stick pan over a medium flame and then add the 3 Tbsp. of olive oil. Heat the oil through and then add the fish, skin side up.
• Heat the oil through and then add the fish, skin side up, for four minutes.
• Flip with a spatula and then cook for another 3-4 minutes with the skin side down. Drizzle with half the lemon juice about halfway through this time.
• When time is up remove the pan from the burner and then spoon the goat cheese mix to the top of the salmon.
• Drizzle the rest of the lemon juice over the salmon and add another light drizzle of olive oil to each piece.
• Finish with additional pepper and sea salt to taste and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes. Serve with arugula or potatoes! Enjoy!