Thai Red Curry Baked Salmon
Sear-then-sauce Thai red curry salmon that’s on the table in 20 minutes. The sear gives you a golden crust on the flesh side, then the fish finishes in a rich, creamy Trader Joe’s-based curry sauce that reduces right in the pan. The same sauce as the Thai red curry udon noodles, make it once, use it all week.
Servings: 4
Calories: 374kcal
Ingredients
- 4 Salmon fillets (about 1 lb total, skin-on preferred)
- 1 TB Olive oil
- 1½ cups Thai red curry sauce (homemade)
Instructions
- Pat the salmon fillets dry with a paper towel. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high heat until hot.
- Place salmon flesh-side down in the pan. Cook undisturbed for 2-3 minutes, until the fish is cooked about ¼” up from the bottom (you can see the color change from the side of the fillet).
- Flip the salmon to skin-side down and lower the heat to medium-low. Add 1½ cups of Thai red curry sauce to the pan. Cook for 5-7 minutes, spooning sauce over the salmon occasionally, until the salmon reaches 125°F internal temperature. The sauce will reduce and thicken slightly.
- Serve immediately over rice or noodles with the pan sauce spooned generously over the top.
Notes
Doubling the recipe: This recipe doubles easily. Use a larger pan so the fillets aren’t crowded, crowding causes steaming instead of searing.
Skin-on vs. skinless: Skin-on salmon is easier to handle when flipping and acts as a natural barrier in the pan. Skinless works too, just flip carefully.
Internal temp: Pull at 125°F for moist, flaky salmon. Overcooked salmon gets noticeably fishier in flavor, this digital food thermometer takes all the guesswork out.
Serving suggestions: Great over jasmine or basmati rice (Trader Joe’s microwave pouches work perfectly here) or right on top of leftover Thai red curry udon noodles.
Leftover Storage: Leftover salmon keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave. The sauce may thicken in the fridge — add a small splash of coconut milk when reheating to loosen it.
Nutrition
Calories: 374kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 94mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 833mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 14041IU | Vitamin C: 7mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 4mg
