Easy Honey Garlic Salmon with Asparagus
A quick and delicious 15-minute weeknight dinner featuring seared salmon fillets coated in a sticky, sweet, and savory honey garlic sauce, served with charred asparagus spears.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (approx. 6 ounces each)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1/4 cup honey
- 2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus, tough ends snapped off
Instructions
- Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels and season both sides generously with salt and black pepper. Let sit at room temperature for 5-10 minutes.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, lemon juice, and red pepper flakes until the honey is dissolved.
- Wash the asparagus and snap off the tough woody ends. Pat dry.
- Heat a large skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and butter, swirling to coat the pan once the butter foams.
- Place salmon fillets in the pan, skin-side down if applicable. Sear for 3-4 minutes without moving until a golden crust forms.
- Flip the salmon fillets. Immediately pour the honey garlic sauce over the fish. Tilt the pan and spoon the sauce over the fish repeatedly for 2-3 minutes until it thickens into a glaze.
- Push the salmon to the side of the pan (or remove to a plate). Add the asparagus to the empty space, tossing in the remaining sauce and butter.
- Cook the asparagus for 3-5 minutes, turning occasionally, until tender-crisp and slightly charred.
- Remove from heat. Plate the salmon and asparagus together, spooning any remaining sauce from the pan over the top. Garnish with fresh parsley or lemon wedges if desired.
Notes
Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure proper searing. Watch the sauce closely as honey burns easily; reduce heat if it darkens too quickly. For a gluten-free version, substitute soy sauce with tamari or coconut aminos. For dairy-free, substitute butter with olive or avocado oil.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet and
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 19
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 22
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 28
Keywords: honey garlic salmon, asparagus recipe, quick dinner, weeknight meals, healthy seafood, 15 minute recipes, gluten-free options