Learn how to make oven baked salmon that is moist and delicious.
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Here is how to make oven baked salmon that is moist and tender, a perfectly easy weeknight dinner recipe that can also be used for dinner parties.
In this post, I’ll describe how to make oven baked salmon that is moist and delicious.
This recipe makes the best baked salmon that we love to eat. For us, baked salmon is an easy, healthy weeknight dinner when paired with sautéed greens or steamed broccoli and brown rice.
The recipe is simple: salmon is cut into fillets, and seasoned with herbs and a tangy lemon and white wine sauce. The salmon fillets are then wrapped in parchment paper and foil pouches and baked until the salmon is tender and done.
To make a complete meal, you can serve the salmon with a vegetable side dish or salad and brown rice. It’s an easy weeknight dinner that tastes delicious.
How to Make Moist Salmon in the Oven
A secret to making amazingly moist salmon is to bake the salmon in foil pouches. A pouch helps to lock in moisture as the salmon bakes.
To make a foil pouch, line a sheet of aluminum foil with a sheet of parchment paper. The size of each sheet will depend on the size of the cut of salmon. Leave enough parchment paper and aluminum foil around each side of the fish to fold over the fish and cover it completely.
Single sheets work perfectly for smaller cuts of salmon. If you have a large piece of salmon, then you can cut it into smaller pieces that fit comfortably into the foil and parchment paper pouches. In this recipe, 1-½ pounds (24-ounces) of boneless salmon is cut into four 6-ounce fillets for baking.
To make a pouch, bring the edges of the aluminum foil together over the fish. Fold together the longest edges first, then fold the side edges. Make sure the edges are facing upwards, to help hold the juices in the pouch. Leave some space between the top of the fish and the top folds of the pouch.
Place the salmon foil pouches on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes. Measure the salmon for doneness by inserting an instant-read meat thermometer into the thickest part of the fish. The temperature should read 145 degrees Fahrenheit when the fish is done.
When the salmon is done, it should be easy to use a fork to break the salmon fillet into large, flaky chunks. Drizzle any remaining juices from the pouch over the salmon before serving.
Tips for Making Moist Baked Salmon
Oven baked salmon is a simple dish to make, but it tastes like you spent a long time making it. Garnish the salmon with fresh herbs for an impressive finish.
If you can, use center-cut salmon to make oven baked salmon. You may find that farm-raised salmon tends to be fattier than wild-caught salmon, giving you more flavor. If using wild-caught salmon, be careful not to overcook it.
Be sure to remove any bones from the salmon, before preparing the fillets for cooking.
Here are a few more tips for making baked salmon in the oven:
- Leave the skin on. Much like chicken, leaving the skin on while salmon grills or bakes helps to lock in some of the moisture.
- Wild-caught salmon varieties, like Coho and Sockeye, tend to have less fat than farm-raised salmon. Be careful not to overcook them.
- The salmon will continue to cook briefly for a short time after removing it from the oven. Let the salmon rest for a few minutes before serving it.
- Use an instant-read meat thermometer to measure the salmon’s temperature for doneness. Cook the fish to a temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit for well-done salmon.
Good salmon fillets are full of flavor, making it less necessary to overload the fish with other flavors. The best way to make salmon is to use simple seasonings and preparation that lets the flavor of the salmon shine through.
But salmon is hearty enough to match with other flavors. Adding different sauces and seasonings to salmon changes up the flavor just enough to make salmon a versatile fish.
Fresh herbs and lemon juice make excellent seasonings for salmon. This recipe uses a glaze made with lemon juice, white wine, Dijon mustard, and honey to add moisture and to flavor the salmon.
Other good seasonings for salmon include: garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, rosemary, and thyme. Salmon rubs can be a great way to flavor salmon without having to mix your own ingredients together.
What to Eat with Salmon
Perfectly baked salmon needs the right side dishes to make a great meal. Below are some ideas on what to eat with salmon.
Vegetables that go well with salmon include sautéed spinach, sautéed mixed greens, steamed broccoli, and roasted asparagus. Roasted carrots are also a good choice.
Fruit also tastes great with salmon. Pineapple salsa is a fantastic fruit salsa to make and serve with salsa, as is mango salsa. Fruit salsa makes a great summer dinner side dish for salmon.
Grains can be used to round off a salmon dinner. Brown rice makes a nutty, hearty, and tasty side dish for salmon. Other great grains include quinoa, quinoa and rice, or a whole grain blend.
A rice cooker makes it easier to cook rice while preparing dinner. Simply add rice and water to the rice cooker, and let the machine do the work of cooking the rice. Some rice cookers even have settings for cooking white rice and brown rice, which makes things easier when you have two kinds of rice to choose from.
A Salmon Dinner Party Menu
This salmon dish is also perfect for special occasions, like dinner parties. Here are some simple ideas for a menu for a salmon dinner party. For an easy and elegant dinner party menu, choose a dish from each category.
- Appetizers: Cucumber Appetizer or Whole Grain Crackers with Dip
- Main Dish: Baked Salmon with Lemon and Fresh Herbs (recipe below)
- Vegetable Side Dish: Sautéed Spinach, Steamed Broccoli, or Roasted Asparagus
- Grain Side Dish: Cooked Brown Rice, Quinoa, or Whole Grain Blend
- Salad: Mixed Greens Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette Dressing or Marinated Zucchini Salad
- Dessert: Cheesecake or Citrus-Based Dessert; or Fresh Strawberries and Chocolates
- Beverages: Chardonnay, White Rioja, or Sauvignon Blanc; Iced Tea, Infused Water, or Sparkling Water
When it comes to making a grain side dish, you could also make whole grain salad using ingredients like farro, quinoa, or rice. Cold grain salad makes a refreshing side dish in summer, while warm grain salad makes a wholesome side dish in fall or winter.
Tangy cheesecake and citrus-based sweets make the best desserts to go with salmon. Fresh strawberries and chocolates also make an easy and delicious dessert.
Easy Baked Salmon Recipe
Here is a printable recipe for making delicious and moist baked salmon in the oven. Serve oven baked salmon with steamed broccoli or sautéed greens and brown rice for a quick and easy dinner.
Easy Oven Baked Salmon with Lemon and Fresh Herbs
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lbs. fresh boneless salmon* cut into 4 6-oz. salmon fillets
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp dried tarragon or dried dill
- 1 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 1 tsp sea salt
- ¼ cup white cooking wine
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tsp honey
- 1 tsp diced shallot
- 1 lemon
- 4 sprigs fresh thyme
- 4 sprigs fresh rosemary
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Arrange four pieces of aluminum foil on a flat surface, then place a sheet of parchment paper over each piece of foil. This will be used to make a foil pouch for each salmon fillet.
- Place one salmon fillet at the center of each foil pouch. Pour ½ tsp olive oil over each fillet, and massage the oil into the salmon.
- Wash and dry hands, then sprinkle dried tarragon or dried dill, cracked black pepper, and salt over the fish, dividing the herbs and spices equally between each fillet.
- In a small bowl, whisk together white wine, Dijon mustard, honey, shallot, and juice of half a lemon. Pour the mixture over the salmon, dividing it equally among the four salmon fillets. Arrange 1 sprig each of rosemary and thyme over each fillet.
- Bring the corners of the foil and parchment paper together over the salmon, leaving some space between the top of the fish and the pouch. Fold the longest edges first, then fold the sides. Make sure the edges are facing upwards, to help hold the juices in the pouch as the salmon bakes.
- Bake the salmon for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the salmon is fully cooked and flakes easily when pierced with a fork. When it’s done, the salmon temperature should read 145 degrees Fahrenheit, when measured in the thickest part of the salmon fillet, using an instant-read thermometer.
Notes
- You can also use frozen salmon to make this recipe. Place the frozen salmon in the refrigerator to thaw overnight before baking.
- Thicker salmon fillets may require longer baking times, while thinner salmon fillets may need less baking time.
- Use an instant-read meat thermometer to measure the temperature of cooked salmon for doneness. The salmon should read at 145 degrees Fahrenheit on the thermometer when it’s done.
This post was all about how to make the best oven baked salmon that is moist and delicious.
Credits
- Photo by gbh007 / Canva
- Photos are for illustrative purposes only.