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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 coconut 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 fillet is seasoned up on a pan, 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 this salmon recipe 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. A squeeze of lime juice is also delicious!
Add jasmine rice to complete the thai salmon curry…it’s essential for soaking up all that yummy curry sauce.
This is such a simple, wholesome, and Pinterest worthy 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.
Watch the How-To Reel
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.
This post was originally published on February 2, 2022
This was super delicious. Hubby loved it.
Hey Julie,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
This was so so good! And my husband loved it as well. So quick and easy too. Definitely going to make again!
Hey Shelby,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
Hey, I would love to make this! My baby is almost 1 and eats what we eat. Would this recipe still taste good if I don’t add the spices? I love spicy, but worried it might be too spicy for my baby. Thanks!:)
Hey Clara,
Yes, you can totally skip the heat! Let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan
Is two cups of coconut milk just one can of coconut milk or two?
Hi Emily,
You will want to use 2 cups of coconut milk:) Please let me know if you have any other questions, I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
My husband picked this recipe for me to make for his birthday dinner and we were both blown away by how flavorful and delicious it was. Thank you for creating it and sharing with the rest of us!!
Hey Ali,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
So delicious and easy to make! I realized I only had light coconut milk but still tasted so great!
Every part of this recipe is delicious! The salmon right out of the broiler is spectacular. The coconut red curry mixture is excellent. I cooked the broccoli a little too long, so I’ll be more careful next time. Loved the red pepper flakes added at the end with the browned butter. Thank you for another great recipe.
Hey Christy,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
Hey Amanda,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
So delicious! My husband had seconds! We are putting this on the weekly rotation for sure!
Hey Jessica,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
This was absolutely incredible. Definitely has some heat but I love that . I will definitely be making this many more times.
Hey Francine,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
Another winner! Debated the garlic butter but glad I went for it. Really wonderful flavors!
Hey Ashlee,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
We make your recipes nearly every night for supper….but this one…OMG! So very good!
Hey Polly,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
Made this today and was pretty good! But the sauce had a lot of spice and not a ton of richness or flavor like a typical curry sauce, even tho I followed the recipe to a tee. Thanks!
Hi Caitlin,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
OMG! the salmon was sooo good. I was surprise at how quickly it came together. Made the salmon in the air fryer and made extra sauce for veggies the next night!
thank Tiegan
Good luck to Hailey and Red 😉
Hey Jane,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
This was delicious! Even my husband liked it and he’s not much of a fish eater. I omitted the garlic butter at the end and it was still really good. Will definitely make this again.
Hi Stacey,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
I generally try out a recipe before I make it for guests, but this time I threw fate two the wind and prepared this recipe for friends in honor of my dear friend’s birthday. We all loved it. My husband was skeptical due to the fact it had “curry” in it. It was pretty to look at and delicious, east to prepare too. That works well for me.
Thank you Tieghan for saving the party.
Hey Eileen,
Awesome!! I am thrilled to hear that this recipe was a winner, thanks a bunch for making it! xTieghan
Is 3-5 min broiled all it takes to cook salmon? I feel like I leave mine in for 15min! But this sounds delicious and I want to try it!
Hey Lauren,
The salmon will also cook for an additional 5 minutes in step 3. Please let me know if you give the recipe a try, I hope you love it! xTieghan