How to Make Salmon Meuniere – A Step-by-Step Guide

Salmon meuniere is a delicious French-inspired salmon dish that is easy to make at home. Meaning “miller’s wife” in French, salmon meuniere features salmon fillets dredged in flour and pan-fried in butter, then finished with a lemon-parsley pan sauce. The end result is a restaurant-worthy meal that takes minimal effort to prepare.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn everything you need to know to make perfect salmon meuniere at home, including:

• An overview of salmon meuniere
• The key ingredients needed
• Step-by-step photo instructions
• Serving suggestions and meal pairings
• Storage and reheating tips

So let’s get cooking! Here’s how to make easy, delicious salmon meuniere at home.

Overview of Salmon Meuniere

Salmon meuniere originated as a preparation for delicate white fish like sole, but it works beautifully with salmon’s richer flavor. The cooking method is classic French cuisine – a simple pan fry in butter to coax out maximum flavor.

The salmon is dredged in seasoned flour, then pan-fried to create a crisp, golden brown exterior. Finishing it off with browned butter, fresh lemon juice, parsley, and capers creates an incredible sauce right in the same pan.

The beauty of salmon meuniere lies in its simplicity. With just a few easy techniques and ingredients, an elegant French-bistro-style dish can be made easily at home.

Salmon Meuniere Ingredients

Salmon meuniere requires just a few simple ingredients

• Salmon fillets – 2 6-ounce skinless salmon fillets. Wild-caught is best.

• Flour – For dredging the salmon before frying. All-purpose flour works great.

• Butter – High-quality butter with a high fat content is best for frying and flavor European style is ideal

• Lemon – Fresh lemon juice and zest provide brightness

• Parsley – Fresh parsley adds color and herby flavor.

• Capers – Briny capers provide pops of salty flavor.

• Salt and pepper – For seasoning the flour and salmon.

That’s it! Salmon meuniere comes together with common ingredients you likely have on hand. Now let’s get cooking.

Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Salmon Meuniere

Follow these simple step-by-step instructions to make restaurant-quality salmon meuniere at home.

Step 1: Prepare the Salmon and Make the Dredging Station

Start by patting the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Sprinkle them evenly with salt.

Next, set up your dredging station. In a shallow dish or pie plate, combine the flour, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp pepper.

Salmon dredged in seasoned flour

Step 2: Melt the Butter in a Skillet

Melt 2 Tbsp butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Continue heating, swirling the pan periodically, until the butter starts to brown and become fragrant.

Reducing the heat to medium low will prevent it from burning.

Melted browned butter in skillet

Step 3: Dredge the Salmon in the Flour Mixture

When the butter is browned, dredge the salmon fillets in the seasoned flour, coating both sides evenly and shaking off any excess.

Salmon dredged in flour

Step 4: Pan Fry the Salmon

Carefully place the salmon in the hot skillet butter-side down. Let it cook undisturbed for 3 minutes, until the bottom is golden brown.

When the sides turn opaque and the top begins to opaque as well, flip the fillets over.

Pan-fried salmon cooking in skillet

Step 5: Transfer to the Oven

Add the lemon zest and juice directly to the skillet. Immediately transfer it to a 425°F oven.

Let bake for 6 minutes, until the salmon is barely opaque in the center. It will finish cooking as it rests.

Salmon meuniere baking in the oven

Step 6: Make the Pan Sauce

Remove the salmon from the oven, cover with foil, and let rest 5 minutes. This allows the juices to redistribute through the fish.

Meanwhile, the lemon juice and browned butter in the pan have created an incredible sauce. Stir to incorporate.

Lemon pan sauce

Step 7: Finish and Serve

Spoon the sauce from the skillet over the plated salmon. Garnish with parsley and capers.

Serve immediately while hot, with rice, vegetables, or pasta to soak up the delicious pan sauce. Enjoy!

Finished salmon meuniere with sauce

Serving Suggestions for Salmon Meuniere

Salmon meuniere pairs wonderfully with:

• Rice – White or lemon rice

• Pasta – Buttery noodles or linguine

• Roasted vegetables – Brussels sprouts, asparagus, broccoli

• Sauteed greens – Spinach, kale, chard

• Salad – Tossed greens with lemon vinaigrette

A crisp white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, makes the perfect partner as well.

For dessert, a citrusy flavor profiles complement nicely, like lemon tart or sorbet.

Storing and Reheating Leftover Salmon Meuniere

Storage

Let leftover salmon meuniere cool completely, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for 2-3 days.

Reheating on the Stove

Heat a skillet over medium low. Add a tsp of olive oil, then the salmon. Cook about 5 minutes per side until warmed through.

Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice to freshen it up.

Reheating in the Microwave

Place the salmon on a microwave-safe plate, cover with a paper towel, and microwave in 30 second intervals until heated through. Check for even heating and continue as needed.

Freezing

Salmon meuniere can be frozen for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Make Restaurant-Worthy Salmon Meuniere at Home

With just a few easy techniques, salmon meuniere makes an elegant French-bistro-style dish using common ingredients you likely have on hand.

Dredge, pan fry, finish in the oven, and let the salmon itself shine with a decadent browned butter and lemon pan sauce.

For optimal flavor, use high-quality wild salmon, European-style butter, and freshly squeezed lemon juice. With the simple tips in this guide, you can master this classic preparation for seafood at home.

So grab some fresh salmon fillets and a lemon on your next trip to the market to make this easy yet impressive salmon meuniere recipe for your family or guests. Bon appétit!