Sear-Roasted Salmon Fillets with Lemon-Ginger Butter

By barbgreenfield

Ingredients

• 6 tablespoons butter, well softened at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice, warmed slightly
• 2 tablespoons minced fresh ginger
• 2 tablespoons snipped fresh chives
• Olive oil for the pan
• 4 salmon fillets (5 ounces each), skinned if you like, patted dry
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Step 1

1. In a bowl, blend the butter, lemon juice, ginger, and chives well. Set aside at room temperature. 2. Heat the oven to 500 degrees F. Set a large ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and add just enough oil to make a light film. Sprinkle the salmon lightly with salt and pepper. When the oil is very hot, add the salmon, skin side up, and cook until nicely browned, about 1 minute. Flip the fish over and put the skillet in the oven. Roast for 2 minutes for medium rare; 4 minutes for medium well. Check for doneness with the tip of a knife. Remove the pan from the oven, transfer the fish to serving plates, and immediately top the salmon with a dab of the lemon-ginger butter.