Easy Salmon Recipe, and the Secret is in the sauce
A meal that is simple for any night of the week, but fancy enough for special occasions? So few recipes can satisfy these two requirements at once, but I have to say, this easy baked salmon recipe absolutely does it. There is a reason it’s a fan-favorite! I’m of the opinion that baked salmon is super delicious even with just a little pinch of salt and pepper and a generous drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil. But, the secret to this good lookin’ baked salmon recipe is in the garlic cilantro sauce. This flavor-packed sauce is made by blending loads of fresh cilantro with a little lemon juice and Private Reserve Greek extra virgin olive oil. All you need is a small food processor or blender. The sauce coats the salmon well and imparts great flavor in just the few minutes of baking. So good! Not a fan of cilantro? Try your favorite herb…basil or mint will work well here! We’ve got the flavor covered, but probably the trickier thing, and the thing that most people struggle with, is achieving perfectly baked salmon. Many–and I used to be one– tend to over-cook salmon in the oven. These few tips below are worth considering.
Tips for How to Bake Salmon Perfectly
Succulent, perfectly baked salmon that is moist, tender, and flaky is not too hard to achieve. The one important thing to remember is to avoid overcooking it. Here are a few tips to help with that:
- Bring salmon to room temperature. Simply set it on the counter for 15 to 20 minutes or so (depending on the size of your salmon). This will help it cook more evenly.
- Even thicker salmon fillets will cook quickly. Heat your oven to 425 degrees F and set the salmon pan in the top half of the oven. Allow about 4 to 6 minutes of time per half inch of thickness (so if your salmon fillet is about 1-inch thick, allow 8 minutes of cooking time.) Salmon is ready when it turns a nice opaque pink. Watch the cooking process closely, after 8 minutes of cooking, do a quick knife test by poking the salmon in the thickets part to see how it flakes.
- Take the guess work out, invest in an instant read thermometer like this one. Internal temperature of baked salmon should be anywhere between 125 degrees F to 140 degrees F, depending on how well-done you like it. Personally, I’ll take my salmon out of the oven at 125 degrees F or 130 degrees F, and then I let it rest for 5 minutes or so as it will continue to finish cooking at that point.
- One last thing to remember, wild salmon has less fat than farmed salmon, so it could dry out even more quickly.
What to serve with this Baked Salmon Recipe
This baked salmon recipe is super easy to pair with many Mediterranean sides and salads! I’ve mentioned grilled vegetables and Greek lemon rice at the top of this post, but this salmon works great next to Greek potatoes, Lebanese rice, or this barley and roasted vegetables. I love it with this quick Mediterranean Salad, traditional Greek salad or balela. If you want something fresh to start, Gazpacho soup is your ticket. And if you like, add a dip or a dollop of something special, Greek Tztaziki sauce or classic hummus!
Watch the Video for How to Make this Baked Salmon Recipe:
More salmon recipes to try:
Craving more? Here’s my big collection of fish and seafood recipes and 50+Top Mediterranean Diet Recipes.
Easy Baked Salmon with Vegetables and Feta
Easy Salmon Soup
Mediterranean-Style Oven Baked Salmon in Foil (Video)
Easy Citrus Salmon
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2 lb skinless salmon fillet Salt and pepper 1 large tomato, sliced into rounds 1/2 lime, sliced into rounds
