If by this time you still don’t know that Friday, 14 February, sees the 2025 edition of Valentine’s Day – you probably don’t have the slightest idea of romanticism in you – or you’re simply past the “sell-by” date if you could still appreciate a little humor?
Treating us to an idyllic romantic dinner this week the absolutely gifted Lunél Klopper of the Professional Cooking Academy shows us how to prepare a romantic dinner with pan-fried salmon if you’re hoping to “catch” that special one and of course we are not referring to the fish? Lunél prepared her Honey Garlic Salmon this way:
Honey Garlic Salmon
Ingredients:
4 Salmon fillets (skin on or off – your choice)
Salt and pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
4 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 garlic cloves, crushed
4 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons water
2 teaspoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Garnish: Lemon wedges or sesame seeds
Method:
Step 1: Season the salmon.
First – give your salmon fillets a generous sprinkle of salt and pepper. A little paprika adds a smoky flavour, but it’s optional
Step 2: Sauté the garlic.
Heat up your skillet over medium-high heat. Add the butter and olive oil and once that’s all melty and good to go, toss in the crushed garlic. Cook for about a minute – just long enough for the garlic to release its mouthwatering aroma
Step 3: Make the magic sauce
Next, pour in the honey, water, soy sauce and lemon juice. Stir it all together and watch your sauce come together in this glossy, gorgeous glaze. When it starts bubbling, you know you’re on the right track.
Step 4: Cook the salmon
Now, carefully place your salmon fillet in the skillet, skin side down if they have skin. Let them cook in that sweet garlicky goodness for 3 to 4 minutes basting the tops with the sauce as you go. You want the bottoms to get nice and golden brown.
Serve your Garlic Salmon with a mixed green salad and compliment your main course with something similarly romantic such as freshly baked chocolate brownies such as these that Lunél has made. Well, perhaps all that remains is for you to pop the question or if you have already done so months or years ago, well-well, how about a romantic movie in front of the tv?
