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This elegant salmon with white wine sauce brings restaurant-quality flavor to your home kitchen with ease. Tender salmon is pan-seared and paired with vibrant asparagus and peas, all brought together in a creamy white wine and lemon sauce. Parmesan, garlic and thyme add layers of rich flavor, while fresh herbs and lemon zest brighten the dish. It’s a simple yet impressive meal that works beautifully for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.
Salmon with white wine sauce is a flavorful, creamy and elegant dish with tender salmon, fresh vegetables and a bright, flavorful white wine lemon sauce.
You might also enjoy salmon rice bowls, Mediterranean chicken orzo bowls or these mouthwatering TikTok-famous salmon sushi muffins.
Why You’ll Love It
Elegant yet easy: This dish looks fancy but comes together quickly.
Balanced flavor: Cream, wine, lemon, and herbs create rich but fresh flavor.
Healthy and hearty: Salmon and vegetables make it light but satisfying.
Perfect for guests: It’s impressive enough for entertaining.
Salmon with Vegetables in White Wine Sauce Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Olive oil: Used for searing the salmon and cooking the vegetables.
Asparagus: Adds crisp texture and spring flavor.
Sweet peas: A pop of color and mild sweetness.
Garlic: Adds depth and aroma to the vegetables.
Salmon: Rich in flavor and omega-3s, cut into portions for even cooking.
Butter: Adds richness and helps caramelize the vegetables.
White wine: A dry wine brings acidity and complexity to the sauce. I used Pinot Grigio.
Chicken broth: Combines with wine for the sauce base.
Cornstarch: Thickens the sauce to a silky consistency.
Lemon juice and zest: Add brightness and tang. I recommend using fresh lemon juice, not bottled, for the best flavor.
Thyme: Provides a subtle herbal note.
Heavy cream: Creates a rich, velvety sauce.
Parmesan cheese: Adds salty, nutty flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
Parsley and green onion: For a fresh, colorful garnish.
How to Make Salmon with White Wine Sauce
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Sear the salmon: Season and cook salmon in a hot skillet until golden.
Cook the vegetables: Sauté asparagus and peas with garlic in butter.
Make the sauce: Deglaze with wine, add broth and cornstarch, then whisk in lemon juice and thyme.
Finish the sauce: Stir in cream and parmesan until smooth.
Combine and serve: Return salmon and vegetables to the pan and garnish with herbs and lemon zest.
Substitutions and Variations
Use another protein: Try shrimp or chicken in place of salmon.
Make it dairy-free: Use coconut cream and skip the parmesan.
Change the veggies: Try fava beans, baby leeks or broccolini.
Change the cheese: Gruyere cheese would work in place of the parmesan. Whatever you choose, I recommend grating it yourself for better melting (the pre-shredded kind is coated in starch can interfere with the melting).
Gluten-free version: Check your chicken broth doesn’t have any gluten in the ingredients if you need to make a gluten-free dish.
Serving Suggestions
With potatoes: Pair your white wine salmon dinner with garlic mashed potatoes or garlic butter fondant potatoes.
With another carb: Homemade soda bread, garlic bread, rice, couscous, or pasta would work too.
With polenta: Enjoy a roasted tomato and polenta side dish or polenta fries.
Wine pairing: Serve dry or medium-dry white wine with this dish. Whatever you added to the sauce will work. Pinot Grigio or a dry Riesling would be good.
How to Store Salmon with White Wine Sauce
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 3 days.
Freeze: You can freeze it in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost it in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in a pan on the stove or in the microwave.
Top Tips
Use fresh lemon juice: Bottled juice won’t deliver the same brightness.
Don’t overcook the salmon: It should be just cooked through and still tender.
Whisk the sauce constantly: This ensures a smooth, lump-free finish.
Salmon in Creamy White Wine Sauce FAQs
Yes, just thaw it fully and pat it dry before cooking.
You can, but the sauce will be thinner and less rich.
The exact cooking time depends on the thickness of the salmon. Mine took about 5 minutes in total. When the fish is no longer opaque in the center and it flakes easily, it’s done. Cooking it beyond this point will make it dry.
Salmon and Fresh Vegetables with a Creamy White Wine Sauce Recipe
Salmon with White Wine Sauce
Equipment
- Skillet Large
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Bunch asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 2 Cups peas, fresh or frozen
- 1 Tablespoon garlic, minced
- 6 Ounces salmon filet, cut into 4 pieces
- ½ Teaspoon salt
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
- 2 Tablespoons butter
For the White Wine Cream Sauce
- ½ Cup white wine, dry
- ½ Cup chicken broth
- 2 Teaspoons cornstarch
- 3 Tablespoons lemon juice, fresh
- ¾ Teaspoon thyme, dried
- ¾ Cup heavy cream
- ⅓ Cup parmesan cheese
- lemon zest, from 1 whole lemon
For Garnish
- 1 Tablespoon parsley, freshly chopped
- 1 green onion, sliced
Instructions
Cook the Salmon and Veggies
- In a large skillet, heat the olive oil. Season the salmon with salt and pepper and place skin side up in the hot pan.
- Cook for 2 minutes or slightly browned, then flip over (skin side down).
- Cook for another 3 to 4 minutes until done, then remove the fish and keep in a warm place.
- Melt the butter in the same skillet. Cook the asparagus for 3 minutes, then add the peas and cook for another 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook 1 more minute. Remove the vegetables from the pan and keep them warm.
Make the White Wine Cream Sauce
- Add the white wine to the same pan.
- In a small dish, stir the corn starch into the chicken broth and pour into the pan with the white wine. Add the fresh lemon juice and thyme, then whisk until thickened.
- Add the cream and heat through, then add the parmesan and melt.
Add the Fish, Veggies and Garnishes
- Add the salmon and veggies back into the pan.
- Stir in the green onions.
- Serve garnished with the fresh parsley and lemon zest sprinkled on top.
Notes
Don’t overcook the salmon: It should be just cooked through and still tender.
Whisk the sauce constantly: This ensures a smooth, lump-free finish.
Nutrition
Salmon with white wine sauce is the kind of dish that feels special without requiring complicated steps. The creamy sauce is balanced with lemon and wine, while the seared salmon and tender veggies add texture and richness to the plate. Whether served at a dinner party or enjoyed on a quiet evening at home, this recipe is one of the best salmon recipes with sauce. It’s a cozy yet sophisticated option that’s sure to become a favorite. It’s a nice blend of freshness, flavor and simplicity.
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Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
We’re big salmon fans at home. The kids especially loved this one!
This recipe is a 5-star indeed! So creamy and flavorful. I love this! 👌
Love salmon! And this recipe was one of the best I’ve tried.
This looks so good! Love that it has asparagus