One Skillet Salmon Lemon Orzo (Print Version)
Seared salmon joins bright orzo, spinach, and Parmesan to make dinner fast and simple—everything comes together in one single pan.
# Ingredients:
→ Salmon and Seasoning
01 -
1 tsp garlic powder
02 -
1 tsp sweet paprika
03 -
1 tsp coarsely ground black pepper, divided
04 -
1 tsp salt, divided
05 -
4 skinless salmon fillets
→ Cooking Base
06 -
3 cups low sodium chicken broth
07 -
1 tsp dried thyme
08 -
1 cup dry orzo pasta
09 -
3 garlic cloves, minced
10 -
1 yellow onion, finely chopped
11 -
1 tsp unsalted butter
12 -
1 tbsp olive oil
→ Final Additions
13 -
chili flakes, for serving
14 -
freshly ground black pepper, for serving
15 -
½ cup grated Parmesan
16 -
juice from ½ lemon
17 -
5 ounces baby spinach
# Instructions:
01 -
Grab your salmon—pat it dry with a paper towel. Coat both sides with half that salt, half that pepper, sweet paprika, and garlic powder. Chop up the onion, smash and mince the garlic, and grate your Parmesan to get set up.
02 -
In a big nonstick skillet, drop in your olive oil and butter and warm them on medium-high. Place the seasoned salmon in and let it cook till the first side is golden, flip it, and cook the second side the same. Remove and let it rest nearby.
03 -
Lower the burner to medium. Toss in the chopped onions and minced garlic, and let it sizzle a couple minutes till soft and it smells great. Sprinkle in the rest of that salt and pepper, plus your dried thyme. Give it all a good stir.
04 -
Slide the orzo into the skillet. Keep it moving for about a minute so it gets a little toasted and mingles with the flavors.
05 -
Slowly pour in your chicken broth. Crank up the heat till it bubbles, then drop it down to keep a gentle simmer. Let the orzo soak up almost all that liquid, stirring once in a while. This should take about 8 minutes.
06 -
Toss in all the spinach and stir till it gets soft and wilts, only a couple minutes. Drop in the lemon juice and Parmesan and mix well. Taste and add more salt if it needs it.
07 -
Put those salmon fillets right back in the pan. Let them sit in the bubbling orzo for two or three minutes so they heat through again.
08 -
Spoon the salmon and orzo onto plates, then sprinkle with as much chili flakes and black pepper as you want before digging in.