Butter Basted Salmon With Mint Pea Purée & Carrots

Less is more in my date night-ready One-Pan Salmon with Minty Pea Purée and Carrot Medallions. Between the perfectly flaky butter-basted pan-seared salmon, satisfyingly al dente caramelized carrots, creamy-smooth mint and pea purée and crunchy, salty pistachios, nobody would ever guess this easy recipe is made with just 8 simple ingredients! 

Are you one of those people that treats “less” like a four letter word? I mean, I know it is technically a four letter word. But it shouldn't be in the category of the four letter words you shout when you accidentally slice your fingertip off with a mandoline. (Yep. I've done that. I'm missing part of my fingerprint now. What can ya do?)

But as Antoine St. Exupery once said, “Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” Seriously, y’all—he could've been talking about this dreamy one-pan salmon dinner with minty pea purée. It’s as titillating as some of the most expensive dishes I've had at fancy restaurants!

Love simple, speedy dinner recipes with minimal ingredients? Try my 7-ingredient salmon sweet potato cakes, 8-ingredient lemon zucchini linguini with feta, or 9-ingredient linguini & clams next!

Jump to:

• Why You’ll Love This At-Home Date Night Dinner Recipe
• Ingredients & Substitutions
• How to Make One Pan Salmon With Pea Purée
• Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations
• Expert Tips
• Storage Instructions
• Serving Suggestions
• FAQs
• More Easy, Elegant Dinner Recipes
• One Pan Salmon with Mint Pea Puree & Caramelized Carrot Medallions
• 💬 Reviews

Why You’ll Love This At-Home Date Night Dinner Recipe

• Budget-Friendly - It should come as no surprise to anyone that eating out is one of the biggest budget-busters around—especially when inflation hits. Rather than shelling out your hard-earned cash for a night with your sweetie, make this restaurant-quality meal at home for a fraction of the price! I personally paid just $3 per serving (in 2025 prices), leaving plenty left over for a nice bottle of wine to wash it all down.
• Fancy & Fuss-Free - Despite looking and tasting like a $30+ per plate meal, pan-fried salmon with pea purée is easy enough to make on a random Tuesday. All it takes is one pan, a blender, about 25 minutes, and 8 easy-to-find ingredients! 
• Beautiful & Balanced - This easy dinner looks as pretty as it tastes. The bright green pea purée and caramelized carrot medallions bring bold color and mild, crowd-pleasing flavors to the table—perfect for pairing with buttery salmon. 

Ingredients & Substitutions

As promised, you only need a handful of ingredients to make this restaurant-worthy at-home date night dinner! Here's what to grab:

• Skin-On Salmon Fillets - Generally speaking, I can find better deals on frozen fish than fresh, but feel free to use whichever you prefer! Just make sure to defrost them first. 
• Green Peas - Again, feel free to use fresh or frozen. No need to defrost these!
• Yellow Onion - I love the sweetness of yellow onion here. Red onion or shallots would be great substitutes.
• Full-Fat Cottage Cheese - Either small- or large-curd works here. Since we’re blending it into a purée, it doesn’t matter! You can also sub in ricotta, crème fraîche or sour cream, but you'll lose some protein and add some fat if you do.
• Fresh Mint Leaves - If given the option, I always recommend grabbing a live herb plant rather than the little clamshells—they’re usually close to the same price, but a live plant will keep giving! Just make sure to plant mint in a pot rather than in the ground—it’s an enthusiastic grower that can take over your whole garden if you’re not careful!
• Chicken Stock or Vegetable Broth - I like to make my own from kitchen scraps, but any store-bought variety will do. You can also use shortcuts like Better Than Bouillon or Marmite mixed with water!
• Large Carrots - While you’re welcome to use any color you like, I think classic orange carrots look best against the vibrant green pea purée.
• Butter - If it’s in your budget, opt for organic grass-fed butter for a far more nutritious meal. If you have the choice, cultured butter adds a nice, almost cheesy complexity.
• Roasted Salted Pistachios - These green little beauties add a lovely buttery crunch to contrast with the tender salmon and creamy pea purée.

How to Make One Pan Salmon With Pea Purée

Step 1: Cook Peas & Onions. Melt 3 tablespoon (a quarter of the total) butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add onions and sauté until beginning to soften. Add peas, then stock/water. Bring to a simmer, then cook for about 90 seconds.

Step 2: Make Mint Pea Purée. Add the cooked peas, onions, and their liquid to a blender with the cottage cheese. Blend until light and creamy, adding more liquid if needed. Finally, add mint and process again. Taste and adjust the seasoning with kosher salt and black pepper as needed.

Step 3: Pan-Roast Carrots. Melt another 3 tablespoons of butter (a quarter of the total) in the same pan. Add carrots, seasoning with salt and pepper to taste. Cook until al dente and slightly golden. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Step 4: Butter Baste Salmon. Turn the broiler on high to preheat and use paper towels to dab off any excess moisture from the raw pieces of salmon. Melt the remaining 6 tablespoons of butter (half of the total) in the same large skillet over medium heat, then place the salmon skin side down. Season with salt and pepper, but don’t move it! When the butter is bubbling, spoon-baste as the salmon cooks. Repeat every couple of minutes until the bottom half of the salmon fillet looks cooked when you look at it from the side—about 3-5 minutes.

Step 5: Broil Basted Salmon. Place the sauté pan under the broiler and complete cooking the fish until a light golden crust forms—about 4-6 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.

Step 6: Serve & Enjoy. To plate, evenly divide pea puree between pasta bowls. Top with a piece of salmon, then evenly divide carrots between plates. Sprinkle with chopped pistachios and garnish with a mint sprig. Voila! Dinner is served!

Optional Variations & Dietary Adaptations

This elegant salmon with pea purée is easy to tweak to suit your taste buds or dietary needs. Here are a few ways to switch it up:

• Dairy-Free - Use plant-based butter and a non-dairy cottage cheese alternative in the purée. You could also substitute silken tofu for a similar creamy effect, though you may need to add a bit extra salt.
• Nut-Free - If pistachios are a no-no, feel free to swap in crispy shallots instead.
• No Mint? No Problem - If you’re not a fan of mint, try fresh dill, basil, tarragon, or even a touch of lemon zest to brighten the pea purée instead.
• Swap Fish - Salmon isn’t the only fish that plays nicely with this mint pea purée—try swapping in arctic char, steelhead trout, or sea scallops instead!

Expert Tips

• Invest in a high-powered blender. The real hero here was my beloved Vitamix blender, which turned the peas and cottage cheese into a sumptuously frothy, pillowy canvas for the buttery salmon. I have to be honest here—I never believed a piece of kitchen equipment could be as powerful as this bad boy ended up being. If you’re not ready for such a splurge, I was perfectly happy with my previous Ninja blender—after all, they can turn ice into snow and they're wonderfully affordable! You can also use a hand-held blender or food processor, but the consistency won't be as creamy.
• Baste like a pro. Once you put the salmon in (skin-side down!), leave it be. I mean it. Don't fuss with trying to move it around, or you'll risk the skin sticking to the pan and tearing your fillet. Now, tilt the pan towards yourself and let the butter pool together. Grab a pasta-twirling spoon and scoop up that barely browning, nutty elixir and bathe your fish with it. Repeat a few times over the next few minutes, before popping the pan under the broiler to finish. I'm serious. This will change your fish-cooking life. You'll look like a pro. People will ask you for the recipe, and you'll shrug and say "it's just butter, salt and pepper” like the boss you are.
• Use skin-on salmon fillets. The skin helps hold the fish together during cooking and adds a crispy texture if you sear it properly. Plus, it protects the flesh while broiling.
• Room temperature fish = even cooking. Let your salmon sit out for 15–20 minutes before cooking for the best results.
• Don’t skimp on seasoning. Butter and peas are naturally sweet, so make sure to season your salmon and veggies generously with salt and pepper to balance the flavors.
• Blend in stages. Blend the peas and onions first, then add the mint last to preserve its fresh, vibrant flavor. Over-blending mint can turn it bitter.
• Broil with care. Keep an eye on the salmon under the broiler—it can go from perfect to overcooked in seconds. It’s ready when the top is golden and the center is just opaque.

Storage Instructions

• Transfer any leftover carrots, salmon and pea purée to separate airtight containers. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Keeping the components separate helps preserve their texture and flavor. Freezing is NOT recommended.
• Gently reheat the salmon in a large skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or broth and a lid on top. This helps retain moisture. You can also reheat it in a 275ºF oven for about 10–12 minutes. Avoid the microwave if possible—it can dry the fish out quickly.
• Toss the carrots back into the skillet with the salmon as it reheats. You can also microwave them separately.
• Warm the pea purée in short bursts in the microwave or in a saucepan over low heat, stirring frequently. If it has thickened in the fridge, loosen it up with a splash of stock, water, or milk. Taste and re-season if needed before serving.

Serving Suggestions

Next time you’re looking for a 25-minute dinner that’ll knock your partner’s socks off, this easy one-pan salmon and pea purée recipe deserves a try. For drinks, try a chilled glass of Sauvignon Blanc, a citrusy glass of no-waste infused water, or even a crisp cucumber gin martini to complement the fresh mint and peas. A crusty sourdough ciabatta roll on the side wouldn’t hurt either.

While you're at it, you should probably consider dessert—make my cake mix banana upside down cake or 5-minute lemon blueberry parfaits for an equally speedy, simple, and satisfying finish. To round out the romantic vibes, consider lighting unscented candles and putting on your favorite playlist. I don’t wanna jinx it, but I have a feeling someone’s getting lucky tonight! 😉

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