This pan seared salmon in Parmesan cream sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach embodies delightful Tuscan flavours.
You’ll need to remove extra moisture from the salmon so the fish can sear instead of steam. Pat each piece with a paper town until it is dry, then season with salt and pepper. Searing the salmon on high heat intensifies the flavour and improves the texture of the salmon. You’re looking for a golden finish. When making the sauce, you can use the same oil your sun-dried tomatoes were packed in. This will infuse it with more flavour. Use a dry white wine to deglaze the pan. I often use Vermouth as it’s always in my cupboard and I don’t have to open a new bottle just for the sauce. Other wines will work, but make sure you don’t grab a sweeter wine as it’ll change the flavour of the sauce. If you don’t want to cook with alcohol, you can deglaze with chicken or vegetable stock instead, plus a squeeze of lemon juice for acidity. Freshly grated Parmesan cheese is always a better option. Pre-grated Parmesan tends to lose its flavour quickly, meaning you need to use more, and also doesn’t melt properly into a smooth sauce. Kale or arugula/rocket can be used in place of spinach. Remember to return the salmon to the pan so it can cook for 5 minutes until cooked all the way through. But keep an eye out. If it begins to break apart, it’s overcooked!