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Air Fried Lemon Butter Salmon

This dish features crispy-skinned salmon cooked in an air fryer, infused with bright lemon juice and rich butter. The process involves searing the skin to crispy perfection, then flipping and basting with lemon butter until flaky and tender, resulting in a visually appealing, crispy-on-the-outside, juicy-on-the-inside fillet.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 12 minutes
Total Time 22 minutes
Servings: 2
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method

Ingredients
  

  • 2 fillets salmon fillets preferably skin-on
  • 1 lemon lemon freshly squeezed juice
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil for brushing
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley or dill chopped, optional garnish
  • to taste salt
  • to taste pepper

Equipment

  • Air fryer
  • Brush or spoon
  • Tongs or spatula

Method
 

  1. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture, ensuring the skin crisps up nicely.
  2. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C) for about 3 minutes so it’s hot and ready to go.
  3. Brush the salmon skin lightly with olive oil to help it crisp and season with salt and pepper on both sides.
  4. Place the salmon fillets skin-side down in the air fryer basket, laying them flat and ensuring they don’t touch each other.
  5. Cook for 8-10 minutes, until the skin is golden and crispy, and the flesh starts to flake when gently pressed.
  6. While the salmon cooks, melt the butter in a small saucepan over low heat, then add the minced garlic and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
  7. Stir in the freshly squeezed lemon juice into the melted butter, creating a bright lemon-butter sauce.
  8. Carefully flip the salmon using tongs or a spatula, being gentle to prevent tearing the skin, then baste the top with the lemon butter sauce.
  9. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily, and the lemon butter has pooled around the fish.
  10. Transfer the salmon to a serving plate, spoon the remaining lemon butter over the top, and garnish with chopped parsley or dill if desired.
  11. Serve immediately, enjoying the crispy skin, tender flesh, and flavorful lemon butter drizzle with your favorite sides.