• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Cookin Canuck
  • Recipe Index
  • 30 Minute Meals
  • Cooking 101
  • Instant Pot Recipes
  • About
  • Subscribe
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Recipes
  • Quick&Easy
  • Instant Pot
  • About
  • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Recipes
    • Quick&Easy
    • Instant Pot
    • About
    • Subscribe
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Home » Entrees » Seafood Recipes

    Salmon with Tarragon & Shallot Butter Sauce Recipe

    Published: Aug 11, 2009 · Modified: Sep 25, 2019 by Dara · This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. · 27 Comments

    77Shares

    Salmon with Tarragon & Shallot Butter Sauce

    I was 11 years old when I first sunk my teeth into the tarragon chicken salad sandwich at a local Vancouver sandwich shop.  I don't know if the shop still exists or, if they do, whether or not that chicken salad is still on their menu, but it will live on in my bank of food memories for years to come.  My dad, our family's own sandwich Michelangelo (seriously, the guy can build a mean sandwich), decided to take my mum and me out for lunch at a sandwich shop near his office.  When I ordered the tarragon chicken salad sandwich, I didn't actually know what tarragon was.  Nor did I care.  I loved mayonnaise (still do) and the only thing that mattered to me was that the chicken salad being heaved onto my sandwich with an ice cream scoop was laden with the creamy goodness.  Then I took a bite.  Creamy goodness...check.  Fresh, tender chicken...check.  Fresh licorice, herbal taste...huh?  Of course, it was the tarragon.  I was hooked.

    Despite my fondness for this frond-like herb, I don't cook with it very often.  So, when Kalyn of Kalyn's Kitchen offered to send me home with some of the fresh tarragon from her garden, I could hardly refuse.  Paired with butter, shallots, and lemon, tarragon turns a simple salmon fillet into something extraordinary.

    Season four 5-6 ounce fillets of salmon with salt and pepper. 


    Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add ¼ cup of olive oil and then add the salmon, skin side down.


    Cook until the salmon is cooked almost all the way through, about 4-5 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook for about 2 more minutes, or until the salmon is just cooked through. Place the salmon on a plate and set aside.

    Pour the excess oil out of the pan and place the pan back on the stove, over medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons of butter to the pan. Once the butter melts, add 3 tablespoons of chopped shallots and squeeze in the juice of ½ large lemon.


    Add 3 tablespoons chopped fresh tarragon, season the sauce with salt and pepper, and cook for 1 minute.


    Plate the salmon, spoon the sauce over each piece, and serve immediately.

    Other tarragon recipes:
    Simply Recipes' Chicken Salad with Tarragon
    Michael Ruhlman's Tarragon-Garlic Pickles
    La Tartine Gourmande's Wild Blueberry and Tarragon Tartlets
    Salmon with Tarragon & Shallot Butter Sauce

    4 (5-6 oz each) fillets of salmon
    Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
    ¼ cup olive oil
    4 tablespoon unsalted butter
    3 tablespoon chopped shallots
    Juice of ½ large lemon
    3 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon
    Season the fillets of salmon with salt and pepper.   Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil and then add the salmon, skin side down.  Cook until the salmon is cooked almost all the way through, about 4-5 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook for about 2 more minutes, or until the salmon is just cooked through. Place the salmon on a plate and set aside.
    Pour the excess oil out of the pan and place the pan back on the stove, over medium heat. Add 4 tablespoons of butter to the pan. Once the butter melts, add the chopped shallots and squeeze in the lemon juice.  Add the chopped fresh tarragon, season the sauce with salt and pepper, and cook for 1 minute.
    Plate the salmon, spoon the sauce over each piece, and serve immediately.
    Serves 4.
    Printable recipe
    77Shares
    « Mixed Mushroom, Gorgonzola, & Prosciutto Crostini Recipe
    Sage & Gorgonzola Gougères (Cheese Puffs) Recipe »

    Want more easy, healthy recipes?

    Subscribe to get the recipes sent straight to your inbox.

      We won't send you spam. Unsubscribe at any time.

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Anita

        October 26, 2018 at 12:13 pm

        My husband and I were just in Maine where we had lunch at a restaurant in Acadia national park near Jordan's pond (don't remember the name of restaurant) . I ordered the salmon in tarragon shallot butter sauce and it was Devine. My husband doesn't like salmon but I begged him to take a taste. He loved it and asked me if I could make it at home. I just found this recipe and am looking forward to making it tonight. I'll let you know if it tastes the same.

        Reply
      2. Michelle

        October 04, 2009 at 6:13 pm

        I was looking for a new way to do salmon tonight and this looks wonderful! Thanks for sharing here and at Tasty Kitchen!

        Reply
      3. Crystal

        August 28, 2009 at 11:56 am

        We're having salmon for supper tonight so I think I'll try this one. Thanks!

        Reply
      4. Anonymous

        August 13, 2009 at 2:28 am

        When I read the article and see a variety, it makes me happy.

        Your site very useful.
        Permission to offer my website,
        A site about recipe for salmon patties

        thank you very much to owner site 🙂

        Reply
      5. Rebecca

        August 12, 2009 at 2:32 pm

        yum! i love salmon and i love tarragon...sounds like a perfect pair:)

        Reply
      6. Arabic Bites

        August 12, 2009 at 11:53 am

        This looks yummy and easy!
        Great recipe..

        Reply
      7. Divina Pe, RHN

        August 12, 2009 at 8:32 am

        Those salmon looks so fresh and I know, I just know it's really good. Thanks for posting.

        Reply
      « Older Comments

      Leave a Reply Cancel reply

      Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

      Recipe Rating




      Primary Sidebar

      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • Pinterest
      • Twitter
      Photo of Dara Michalski.

      Hi there! Welcome to Cookin' Canuck.

      I'm Dara, a Canadian living in the U.S. and sharing my favorite healthy recipes. My cooking motto is that healthy eating never needs to be boring!

      More about me →

      Popular

      • Strawberry Nice Cream
      • Lemon Orzo Salad
      • Sautéed Corn, Zucchini & Blistered Tomatoes Recipe
      • Grilled Halloumi Cheese Recipe

      Footer

      ↑ back to top

      About

      • Meet Dara
      • Contact
      • Work With Me
      • FAQ
      • Privacy Policy

      Newsletter

      • Sign Up! for emails and updates

      Recipes

      • All Recipes
      • Main Dishes
      • Instant Pot Recipes
      • 30-Minute Meals

      I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

      Copyright © 2022 Cookin' Canuck