Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (2024)

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This Creamy Grapefruit Salmon is an incredibly easy one pan recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner. It's a little bit tart, a little bit sweet, and full of creamy flavor!

Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (1)
Jump to:
  • ❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
  • 🐟 Ingredients
  • 🔪How to make
  • 🍚 What to serve with
  • 🍣 More salmon recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Wait, don't leave! Trust me, I know this recipe might strike you as a little bit strange. Grapefruit and cream and salmon aren't a combination you see every day. When the idea for creamy grapefruit salmon first popped in my head, I started doing research and couldn't find anything like it.

Trust me when I say that as a recipe developer, it's very rare to have an idea and then see that nobody's done anything like it yet. Generally, you think you have the BEST idea ever and then realize that 50 people have already done it a million times better than you even had it pictured in your mind. That immediately made me feel like this combination was wrong.

If it was a good idea, it would have already been done before, right? Well, not necessarily... The thing is, lemon cream salmon is delicious and has been done so many times. And lots of people serve salmon with grapefruit sections (and avocado... omg so good!). So why not a grapefruit cream sauce??

So, I did it and it worked and it was delicious. And now I hope you make it, too!

❤️ Why you'll love this recipe

You'll fall in love with this grapefruit salmon because it's such a unique and delicious flavor combination.

If you're as much of a fan of grapefruit as I am, you'll be shocked more people aren't turning it into a creamy sauce and serving it with all kinds of things.

Plus, this recipe is so easy to make and the final dish is so pretty!

If you're looking for another easy fish recipe, try this delicious broiled tilapia or this easy sablefish with lemon garlic butter sauce.

🐟 Ingredients

You don't need many ingredients at all to make this salmon recipe. It's pretty simple and easy! Here's everything required (see recipe card below for ingredient amounts and full directions):

  • Salmon,cut into 4 filets
  • Salt and pepper
  • Unsalted butter
  • Onion
  • Garlic
  • Grapefruit zest
  • Grapefruit juice(preferably freshly squeezed)
  • Heavy cream
  • Basil

🔪How to make

Like I said, this grapefruit salmon recipe is super easy to make! All you have to do is pan sear the salmon (rub some salt and pepper on it and cook it for about 4 minutes on each side) and then move it to a separate plate.

Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (2)

Then cook the onions and garlic in the skillet with some butter. Add the grapefruit zest and grapefruit juice and bring it to a simmer.

Pour in the cream and let the sauce thicken up a bit. Add the salmon back in and spoon the sauce over the top.

Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (3)

I recommend sprinkling some basil on top, too. That's it! Does it get any easier?

🍚 What to serve with

I served this salmon as is with a big side of broccoli. But you can also serve it on a bed of rice or quinoa. Anything that would soak up all that delicious sauce. I'm also not opposed to drinking it with a spoon. Here are my favorite ideas:

  • Rice (brown or white)
  • Quinoa
  • Cauliflower Rice
  • Pasta
  • Farro
  • Broccoli
  • Asparagus
  • Green Beans
  • Zucchini
Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (4)

I may have mentioned this a time or two on my blog before, but grapefruit is one of my favorite foods in the world. I eat multiple a week and sometimes a whole one in one sitting. Pink grapefruit is the best because it has all of the glorious tartness of grapefruit, but with a little sweetness too.

I've always loved a good lemon cream sauce, but grapefruit cream sauce may be my new obsession.

Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (5)

Can you imagine a grapefruit cream sauce pasta dish? Maybe with some chicken? That may be next on my recipe bucket list. Guess I need to buy even more grapefruit next time I go to the grocery store.

But really, I'm always on the hunt for the next great salmon recipe. I try to incorporate salmon into my meal planning as much as possible because it's so healthy, but sometimes I get bored of the same old same old.

Luckily, salmon is almost always ridiculously easy to prepare and this creamy grapefruit salmon is no exception.

🍣 More salmon recipes

If you're like me and always looking for more delicious salmon recipes, I have so many ready for you! Here are some of the best:

  • One-Pan Creamy Chipotle Salmon
  • Everything Bagel Salmon
  • Caesar Salad with Grilled Citrus Salmon
  • Winter Salmon Tacos
  • Chili Lime Salmon over Coconut Rice
  • Salmon Fettuccine with Sour Cream Caesar Sauce
  • Chipotle Rubbed Grilled Salmon Tacos
  • Baked Dijon Lemon Caper Salmon (from Life's Little Sweets)
Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (6)

If you're looking for an easy weeknight dinner that's healthy and also a little bit out of the ordinary, I hope you'll try this creamy grapefruit salmon!

If you love grapefruit as much as I do, check out my Grapefruit Scones recipe. If you want to add it to more savory dishes, I love these Grapefruit Shandy Mussels with Grapefruit Linguine.

📖 Recipe

Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (7)

Creamy Grapefruit Salmon

This Creamy Grapefruit Salmon is an incredibly easy one pan recipe perfect for a weeknight dinner. It's a little bit tart, a little bit sweet, and full of creamy flavor!

4.75 from 4 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Entree

Cuisine: American

Keyword: Salmon with Grapefruit, Savory Grapefruit Dishes, Unique Salmon Recipes

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 15 minutes minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes minutes

Makes: 4 servings

Calories: 389kcal

Author: Sues

Ingredients

  • 1 ¼ lb. salmon, cut into 4 filets
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ¼ tsp pepper
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter, divided
  • ¾ cup diced onion (1 medium onion)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ Tbsp grapefruit zest
  • ¾ cup grapefruit juice (preferably freshly squeezed)
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • Basil

Instructions

  • Lightly season salmon filets on each side with salt and pepper.

  • In a large skillet, melt 1 Tbsp butter over medium heat. Add salmon to the pan, skin-side-up and cook for about 4 minutes. Flip and cook for another 4 minutes skin-side-down. Remove salmon from pan and set aside on a plate.

  • Add remaining 1 Tbsp butter to the skillet. Add onion and cook for 5 minutes. Add garlic and cook for another 2 minutes, until garlic is fragrant and onions are translucent.

  • Add grapefruit zest and juice to pan and bring to a simmer, scraping up the browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a spatula. Once simmering, slowly pour the cream into the pan. Stir and let sauce thicken a bit.

  • Add salmon back to pan to heat through, spooning sauce over the salmon.

  • Serve salmon with brown rice, quinoa, or pasta or simply with a vegetable side.

Nutrition

Calories: 389kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 26g | Cholesterol: 134mg | Sodium: 222mg | Fiber: 1g

Share a Photo of Your Finished Recipe!Mention @wearenotmartha and share a photo if you've made the recipe!

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Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (11)Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (12)

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Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (17)

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Nancy | Flavorpalooza says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (18)
    What interesting, vibrant flavors! I love that this is a one-pan meal, too. Always looking for those on busy weeknights. Plus, healthy for the whole family. Win!

  2. Andrea Metlika says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (19)
    I was skeptical at first but you're right, it sounds and looks delicious! Will definitely give it a try.

  3. Vicky says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (20)
    What a beautiful and colorful dish. I love the idea of citrus with salmon. I bet this is so tasty.

  4. Taylor Kiser says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (21)
    This is such a delicious dinner! Going on the menu as a favorite!

  5. jenn says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (22)
    This is one of the most unique recipes I"ve seen in a while! Looks great - grapefruit and salmon, whodathunkit?

  6. Beth Christensen says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (23)
    I saw this beautiful recipe yesterday and made it today! We eat a lot of salmon and are always looking for new ways to prepare it. I used ghee and coconut cream instead of butter and cream and served it with cauliflower rice just because we try to eat whole30’ish and it was super delicious! Thank you for creating!

  7. Janel says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (24)
    Susie this was INCREDIBLE!!! Made it with canned coconut milk and had it over quinoa that I also cooked with broth/coconut milk and I could eat this for-ev-er. YUM!

  8. Sues says

    @Janel Aww thank you so much! I'm so glad you liked it!!

  9. Margaret says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (25)
    This was wonderful. I found this recipe because I wanted to make salmon but I didn't have any lemons on hand but had recently been gifted some grapefruits.

    I had it with roasted carrots and just changed a couple things - two skinless salmon filets, added mushrooms and cherry tomatoes because I need to use them, used slightly less onion and slightly more garlic. The grapefruit flavor is beautiful with the salmon and the cream and I will probably want to do this on purpose in the future!

  10. Kat says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (26)
    Différent than any salmon dish I’ve ever tried. Made as described, i didn’t completely love the dish… but i added some candied jalapeño peppers as garnish, and the heat from those balanced the dish perfectly. Yum!

    Don’t skip the fresh basil 😀

    Thanks for the recipe

  11. Heather says

    Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (27)
    I love how innovative this recipe is. And it was incredible-tasting. I absolutely want to make/eat this succulent flavor combination again. It was fairly simple to make as well. I don’t cook a lot so I’m not quick in the kitchen, thus it did take me closer to 50-55 minutes to prep and cook. Thank you, Sues!

  12. Sues says

    I'm so glad you enjoyed the salmon, Heather! Thank you so much for letting me know 🙂

Leave a Reply

Creamy Grapefruit Salmon Recipe | We are not Martha (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep salmon juicy? ›

Here are some key tips that prevent salmon from drying it out: Don't season too early: Unless you're marinating or brining the fish, wait until just before cooking to season the fillets with salt. Over time, salt pulls out moisture from the salmon and can leave behind a less juicy fillet.

How to cook a side of salmon Mary Berry? ›

Place the salmon in the middle of the foil and season well with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Scatter the sliced fresh root ginger and lemon all around, then fold over the foil and seal to make a parcel. Place in the preheated oven and bake for about 25–30 minutes, until just cooked. The fish should be opaque.

How do you make dry salmon taste better? ›

Moisten with Broth: If the salmon is extremely dry, gently simmer it in a flavorful broth or wine to rehydrate and infuse it with flavor. Add Moisture: Top the salmon with slices of citrus fruits (lemon, orange) before cooking or serve it with a fresh salsa or fruit relish to add moisture.

Should salmon be soaked in milk before cooking? ›

Before cooking, soak the fish in milk for 20 minutes

What's left behind is sweet-smelling, brighter flesh with clean flavor. (Just make sure you pour that milk down the drain.

Is it better to cook salmon with butter or oil? ›

Yes, yes, and yes again! Butter is a wonderful substitute for oil when it comes to cooking salmon because it adds a beautifully rich flavor to the fish. Just try this lemon butter salmon recipe if you need proof!

What does soaking salmon in milk do? ›

Apparently, the proteins present in milk can bind to the fatty acids that have been exposed to air and give salmon its fishy odor or taste and mitigate them to be more neutral. (Fishiness is caused by the oxidation of fatty acids.)

Is it better to bake or pan fry salmon? ›

If you enjoy a crispy exterior, then pan seared salmon is the way to go. Baking salmon is a great option for a larger piece of fish (try this Baked Salmon in Foil for an easy technique).

Is it better to cook salmon in the oven or on the stove? ›

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

Do you put seasoning on both sides of salmon? ›

After drying, make sure to season the salmon generously with salt and pepper on both sides. If you have a little time to spare, seasoning it at least 45 minutes in advance and letting it rest in the fridge up to several hours can help the fish retain more moisture as it cooks.

What brings out the flavor of salmon? ›

Spices: Dried spices, such as onion powder, garlic powder, and cumin, can add depth of flavor to salmon. Smoked paprika or sweet paprika can add smokiness to the salmon. To add heat, try chili powder, cayenne pepper, jerk seasoning, Cajun seasoning, or Chinese five-spice powder.

What is the most flavorful way to cook salmon? ›

Wrap your salmon in a parchment packet with aromatics, citrus, veggies, and a drizzle of olive oil. The steam trapped in the packet will infuse the fish with flavor and cook it gently, making it tender and juicy. Bonus: The parchment packets only take about 15 minutes at 425°F and the cleanup is minimal.

Should I cover salmon when baking? ›

Baked salmon is best when cooked at 425°F in the oven.

Even thicker fillets don't take long. We recommend baking the salmon uncovered. Simply rub the fillets with a little oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, then place them in the roasting pan skin-side down before popping them in the oven.

Is it better to pan sear or bake salmon? ›

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

How is salmon traditionally cooked? ›

Traditionally, a whole salmon is gently poached in a little fish stock or water in a fish kettle or a large roasting tin. This retains moisture as well as adding flavour to the fish when cooking.

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