Salmon Florentine Recipe

There are so many ways to cook salmon; it's almost overwhelming. You can keep it simple and grill it on the stovetop, or you could pop it in the oven and bake it. You could even eat salmon raw. This can make it pretty hard to settle on the perfect recipe. If you're looking for a simple yet elegant approach, however, you may be inspired by this salmon Florentine recipe. Recipe developer Christina Musgrave has crafted this bright and refined preparation, and she especially loves how easy it is to make yet how impressive it is when serving. "I love the flavors," she explains. "It tastes like a fancy restaurant dish, but in reality it's so easy to make."

This recipe incorporates a spinach cream sauce, providing extra color, flavor, and even nutrition. You'll bake the salmon in the oven and build the sauce on the stovetop, then bring both elements together at the end; the whole process only takes 20 minutes. This dish is easy to make, full of flavor, and visually appealing — need we say more?

There are no fussy ingredients in this recipe; in fact, this ingredients list is quite short. To make this salmon Florentine recipe, you'll need two salmon fillets, olive oil, salt, pepper, butter, minced garlic, fresh spinach, red pepper flakes, and heavy whipping cream. While this recipe only calls for ½ teaspoon of red pepper flakes, you can absolutely increase that amount; just go ahead and "add more if you like it spicy," Musgrave advises. 

Many great recipes start out the exact same way: preheating your oven. Set yours to 425 F, then line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. Drizzle 1 teaspoon of olive oil onto the foil, then place both fillets on there, skin-side down. Season the salmon with a teaspoon each of salt and pepper. Once the oven is preheated, pop in the baking sheet and allow the fillets to cook for 12 minutes. 

As the salmon bakes, you can turn your attention to the sauce. Place a large skillet on the stovetop over medium heat, then add 2 tablespoons of butter. Next, add the minced garlic,and allow it to cook and become fragrant; this should take about 3 minutes. Be sure to stir the garlic frequently so it doesn't burn. Add the spinach to the pan along with the red pepper flakes, and continue to cook until the spinach wilts, about 5 minutes. Finally, pour the heavy whipping cream into the pan and mix thoroughly. 

By the time the cream sauce comes together, the salmon fillets should be finishing up. Remove them from the oven, then transfer them directly into the pan with the sauce. Use a spoon to drizzle the creamy mixture over each fillet, then you're ready to serve up this salmon Florentine. "A crisp white wine is delicious with this," Musgrave suggests. As for side dishes, it's pretty hard to go wrong here; mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, or a side salad are all great options. 

This dish is best served right away, though there is hope for leftovers: Just reheat the salmon in a pan with some more olive oil, Musgrave suggests. In a world of endless salmon recipes, nothing beats keeping it simple but elegant, and this salmon Florentine definitely checks those boxes.