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This Coconut Curry Salmon with Garlic Butter is full of Thai flavors and so simple. Made with flavorful Thai curry paste, creamy coconut milk, and a quick homemade curry powder. The salmon is seasoned, broiled until crispy, and then served in a creamy curry sauce with spicy chili garlic butter. A side of rice soaks up all that yummy curry sauce, so delicious.
Looking back at all the years of recipes, there is so much variety, flavor, and color. When I started HBH just after turning 19, I had no idea what I was doing, or really how to cook for that matter. I truly was learning by doing and having a lot of fun experimenting with new flavors.
When I look back at the first year of recipes, I cringe at the photos, but you know what’s kind of funny? While the recipes are written poorly for sure, the ideas are honestly pretty solid and so creative.
My mind must have been so full of brand new ideas back then. I wasn’t afraid to try anything!
The other week I was reminded about an old Thai salmon burger that I had made. The flavors sounded so interesting and really delicious. I decided then that I wanted to do some kind of Thai curry with salmon.
Originally, this recipe looked a little different. But as I was cooking, I just kind of did what I often do, I winged it.
Somehow I ended up with caramelized curried salmon in the creamiest red curry sauce. The chili garlic butter was an afterthought, but it ended up MAKING the curry. Everything together is so delicious and flavorful.
Details – the salmon
Since I wanted to customize the flavors, I made my own curry powder for the salmon. I added lots of cumin and ginger with a touch of paprika, cayenne, and cinnamon. I think it’s the perfect blend.
I shared the recipe in the notes. Of course, you can also just use store-bought curry powder.
Once the salmon is seasoned up, drizzle over the honey, then broil until crispy. This is my favorite easy, mess free, way to get salmon crispy on top.
The sauce
I kept the sauce really simple, butter, ginger, and lots of Thai red curry paste. Coconut milk keeps it creamy, and soy sauce adds a little salty flavor.
Finish cooking the salmon in the curry sauce so it stays really tender and flavorful.
Finish it up
Honestly, this chili garlic butter completes the dish. Is it needed, no, but it makes the salmon really, really delicious.
Simply brown butter, golden garlic, and chili flakes and drizzle over the salmon just before serving. It really makes every bite melt in your mouth.
Add rice to complete the meal…it’s essential for soaking up all that yummy curry sauce.
This is such a simple, wholesome, and delicious meal. The perfect (non-boring) recipe to really keep things fun during the week. Oh and lastly, while it’s not traditional to Thai cooking, a side of fresh warm naan is especially delicious with this creamy curry sauce. Just an idea!
Looking for other dinner recipes? Here are my favorites:
Thai Black Pepper Chicken and Garlic Noodles
One Pot Stove-Top Mac and Cheese
Honey Garlic Salmon Soba Noodle Bowls
Coconut Milk Braised Black Pepper Chicken
Lastly, if you make this Coconut Curry Salmon with Garlic Butter, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
Coconut Curry Salmon with Garlic Butter
Servings: 4
Calories Per Serving: 791 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 4 (4-6 ounce) salmon filets
- 2-3 tablespoons spicy curry powder (homemade in notes)
- kosher salt and black pepper
- chili flakes
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 6 tablespoons salted butter
- 1/4 cup Thai red curry paste
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1 1/2 cups chopped broccoli
- 2 cups canned full-fat coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons tamari or soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce (or soy sauce)
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
Instructions
- 1. Preheat the broiler. 2. Place the salmon on a baking sheet and rub with olive oil, curry powder, and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the honey over the salmon. Broil until crisping on top, 3-5 minutes, watch closely. 3. In a large skillet over medium heat, melt together 1 tablespoon butter, the curry paste, and ginger. Cook, 2-3 minutes until very fragrant. Add the broccoli, coconut milk, tamari or soy sauce, and fish sauce. Slide the salmon into the sauce and simmer for 3-5 minutes, or until cooked to your liking.4. Meanwhile, melt together 5 tablespoons butter, the garlic, and a pinch of chili flakes. Cook until the butter is browning and the garlic crisps. 5. Serve the salmon and sauce over bowls of rice. Drizzle the butter over the salmon and top with basil or cilantro.
Notes
Spicy Curry Powder:
2 teaspoons ground cumin
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
kosher salt and black pepper Mix everything to combine. Makes 2-3 tablespoons.Â
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon paprika
1/2-1 teaspoon cayenne
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
kosher salt and black pepper Mix everything to combine. Makes 2-3 tablespoons.Â
Loved this recipe! It was so flavorful and easy. Definitely making it again and adding more veggies because my four year old ate this enthusiastically.
Hi Bethany,
Awesome!! I love to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! xx
I’m not a big salmon fan, but am trying to incorporate more of it into my diet for health reasons. This turned out so good and was very easy to make. I added kimchi and seaweed sheets which both work quite well. I would definitely make this again!
Hi Lindsay,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear that it was a hit!! xTieghan
Made it on a whim today but I was so impressed! So easy and yummy, highly recomend!
Hi Sara,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear that it was a hit!! xTieghan
This was so incredibly good and easy!!! Loved by the whole family! I didn’t have any fresh ginger, so just used half a teaspoon of ginger powder, and it was still delicious! Thank you for another winner!
Hi Lynn,
Thanks a bunch for giving this recipe a try, I am so glad to hear that it was a hit!! xTieghan
My family was licking their plates! Delicious and easy…
Hey Jennifer,
Fantastic! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I love to hear that it was enjoyed! Have a great week:) xx
So good and flavorful. Make sure you make the brown butter drizzle too. I used yellow curry paste and it was fantastic. Made it for guests and they were impressed. Thanks for the great recipe!
Hi Marlene,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan
This is such an easy and quick dinner. Highly recommend
Hi Maire,
Happy Sunday!! I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks so much for trying it out!! xTieghan
Do you cook the broccoli before hand??? Can’t wait to try
Hi Anna,
Nope, the broccoli will cook in step 3. Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love the recipe! xx
Def one of my favorites now and I have MANY! So easy and quick and it’s going in to the rotation. I used my air fryer for the salmon then popped it in to the pan 🙂
Hi Julie,
Happy Friday!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for giving it a go:) xTieghan
This is a super easy quick weeknight dinner that you probably have all the ingredients on hand for. Super delicious, don’t skip on the garlic topping! Only note, get yourself a good quality salmon.
Hi Janet,
Happy Friday!! I am so glad to hear this recipe was a winner, thanks for giving it a go:) xTieghan
So amazing! I made it for my boyfriend (who can be a picky eater) and we finished all of it. Definitely going to make again and also make the sauce for other recipes.
Hi Savannah,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! xx
This was delish…definitely a keeper
Hi there,
Happy Wednesday!! Thanks a lot for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear it was enjoyed!! xT
Made this for dinner tonight only I used halibut. It was out of the world, DELISH! Restaurant quality dinner. Thank you for the recipe!!
Hi Julie,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
SO GOOD. So easy. Don’t skip the butter sauce. Everything I try of yours is good. Thank you for sharing.
Hi Michele,
Wonderful!! Love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for giving it a go:) xTieghan
Made this for family dinner last night… amazing flavors and a bit hit all around! My husband keeps saying I need to make your dishes “for company” (last week I made the sage brown butter chicken piccata with mushroom tagliatelle), but I think we deserve something special for just us, too! Note on salt to others: I tasted the sauce after putting in 1T fish sauce and only 1T soy and I only added a little more… I think it depends on the relatively saltiness of your particular sauces.
Hey Kerry,
Awesome!! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Have a great week:) xx
Delicious!!! I somehow butchered the butter sauce… any tips??
Hey Liz,
Awesome!! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am so glad to hear that it was enjoyed!! Sorry to hear this, what happened? xx