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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.
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.
So good, I forgot last time and used a bag of baby spinach and some shredded carrots, I ended up liking it better that way lol. I also usually add some Thai chilis or Serranos to the sauce. Excellent recipe! Love that you can pack it with whatever veg you have on hand
Thank you so so much for giving this recipe a try! I’m so glad you loved it! xT
Love this recipe ! Have you tried it with any other fish? Want to make it for a family dinner but my father hates salmon -_-
Thanks so much Ari, love to hear that you enjoyed this dish! You could use something like cod or halibut in place of the salmon, I think both would work well for you! xx
Soooo good!!!! Made it last night, my family loved it!
Hi Krissy,
Fantastic!! I love to hear that this dish turned out well for you and appreciate you making it:) xT
5 stars!! My family loved this recipe and I loved how easily it came together. I didn’t have red curry paste on hand, however green curry paste made for a great substitute. I appreciate that you had notes how to make curry so that the recipe doesn’t require a pantry full of specialty items. This recipe is going to be on repeat!
Hi Kristen,
Amazing!! Love to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks for making it and Happy Monday! xT
Hi Tieghan!
Quick question- for the broiler step, what rack do you place the salmon on? Is it supposed to be as close to the top as possible?
So excited to make this recipe this week!
Hi Shirlene,
Yes, I put mine on the top rack:) Let me know if you give this recipe a try, I hope it turns out well for you! xT
I sent a comment earlier and forgot to give it the 5 star rating. Oops!
Thanks again Pam:)
Super good! The curry paste posted to use isn’t very spicy in my opinion, I’d use something more spicy next time. But overall super delicious and it’ll be in my regular rotation. I omitted the butter garlic oil topping as personally I can’t do a ton of garlic in my diet, and it was still great. I paired with a steamable bag of veggies.
Hi Sam,
Awesome!!😎 Thanks so much for giving this recipe a try and sharing your feedback, so glad to hear it turned out well for you! xT
Our daughter introduced us to this recipe and it is now my favorite way to cook salmon. Sooo good! I have made it with the spicy garlic butter and without. Delicious either way. The last time I was too lazy to make it separately and just added the butter, garlic, and red pepper flakes to the sauce in the skillet. That tasted great, too. I am looking forward to trying more of your recipes.
Hi Pam,
Love to hear this! Thanks for making this recipe so often, I’m so glad it is always enjoyed:) xT
The spicy curry powder recipe doesn’t have any curry in it at all. Instead it had cumin. Was this a typo?
Hi Andrea,
Nope, no typo, that’s how you make curry powder:) Please let me know if you have any other questions! xx
Delicious! Will def be on repeat
Hi Michelle,
Happy Monday!! Thanks so much for trying this recipe out, I love to hear that it turned out well for you! Have a great week! xT
Ok YUM. These flavors are delicious and it’s an easy meal to whip up. I’ve never had peanut curry but assuming it’s close to that. The mango lime salsa was good for additional flavor but I wouldn’t say necessary! Will definitely make again soon!
Hi Katie,
Wonderful!! I’m so glad to hear that this recipe turned out well for you, thanks so much for making it! xT
What kind of red curry paste are you using? The one I used made the dish unbelievably spicy. It was so spicy none of us could eat it.
Hi Kerri,
Thanks for giving this recipe a try, so sorry to hear it was so spicy for you. I like to use the Thai Kitchen brand of red curry paste. For future reference, you can always click on an ingredient to see what was used:) I hope this helps! xT
This was delicious! I used cauliflower instead of broccoli but otherwise kept it the same! Will make again for sure 🙂
Hi Em,
Wonderful!! I appreciate you making this recipe and sharing your comment, so glad it was a hit! Happy Memorial Day weekend!🇺🇸
What’s a good side dish for this entree?
Hi Heather,
I serve this dish over white rice and call it a day:) You could totally add some extra veggies to make it more of a complete meal. I hope this helps! xT
“Mommy this is so good!” Straight from my 9 year old’s mouth to you Tieghan; we are officially obsessed with this recipe and i can’t thank you enough for helping my little one love seafood!
Hi Nancy,
Happy Friday!!🥑🍑 I love to hear that this recipe was a hit, thanks a lot for making it and sharing your review! xT
This was amazing. I did not do the butter at the end, still turned out great.
Hey there,
Happy Sunday!! So glad to hear that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a bunch for making it! xT