Garlic Baked Salmon

baked salmon and vegetables

One of the tastiest seafood dinners you can prepare for your family and friends is garlic baked salmon. It is easy and fast to make this recipe since it only requires a handful of ingredients. It takes less than thirty minutes to prepare.   

Salmon is rich in protein and it is an excellent source of omega 3 which is vital for cognitive development. This dish is literally as it says, salmon, herb (parsley), and garlic roasted in an oven. It’s a perfect recipe for winter or fall season and the easiest you can attempt to make.

fresh salmon on plate

It’s fuss-free and you don’t have to marinate anything. Once you have fresh salmon, you will not need lots of seasonings or ingredients since the natural flavors of the seafood will shine.

Not only do fresh salmon perfect for weeknight dinners, but also, they are special for party dinners.

It has a fantastic flavor from chopped fresh parsley, olive oil, and minced garlic. A sprinkle of lemon juice adds the perfect finishing. If you wish to add a little bit of tang to this dish, you can add some fresh herbs such as tarragon, dill, fennel, or mint since they complement nicely with salmon.

How to make Garlic Baked Salmon?

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets, about four to six ounces each
  • 4 cloves of garlic, minced
  • 3 lemons, divided
  • 1 tbsp chopped Italian parsley leaves
  • 4 tbsp olive oil, extra-virgin
  • Kosher salt to taste
  • Black pepper to taste

Instructions to prepare garlic baked salmon

Start by preheating your oven to 375 F.

Lightly oil a 9x13 baking dish while your oven preheats. Alternatively, you can line the dish with foil and then lightly coat the foil with oil.

Combine the parsley, olive oil, and minced garlic in a small bowl. Make sure you mix the ingredients thoroughly.

salmon in bake container

Place the salmon fillets in the baking dish prepared and then evenly spread the parsley and garlic mixture on top. Sprinkle the salmon with salt and black pepper as desired.

Transfer the baking dish and its content to the preheated oven. Bake the fillets for approximately twenty minutes or until they easily flake with a fork or the fillets reach a temperature of 145 F.

In the meantime, pick one lemon and squeeze to extra its juice.

Sprinkle two tablespoons of lemon juice atop the baked salmon.

Take the remaining lemon and slice into wedges. Serve the lemon wedges with the baked fillets. Enjoy!

Garlic Baked Salmon Cooking Tips 

  • If cooking salmon fillets with skin on them, then place the fillets into the baking dish skin side down. You can easily remove the skin from the fish after cooking if you don’t like it.
  • The fillets are done if they are opaque and they flake easily with a fork. Take care not to overcook the salmon since they’ll dry out. If you want to be sure that the salmon is cooked perfectly, look for an instant-read thermometer to measure the internal temperature. The temperature should reach 145 F.
  • Besides, you can also use a fork to check if the fillets are done. Pick a fork and insert it into a fillet and then twist a little bit. The center should flake and should be opaque.
salmon
  • To slice a lemon into wedges, you just need to cut off the bottom and top of the lemon. Then let the lemon stand on the cut end and chop it into two halves. Lastly, slice each half into four wedges.  
  • When it comes to serving, you can place the baked fillets atop a layer of sautéed kale or spinach. Alternatively, you can place them on top of pureed peas. For a wholesome dinner, add a tossed salad and some roasted potatoes or baked potatoes.

Garlic Baked Salmon FAQ

Recipe variation

You can easily adapt this garlic baked salmon recipe by incorporating some herbs if desired. Add 1 teaspoon minced rosemary and 2 teaspoons minced thyme to the garlic and parsley mixture.

mince garlic

Besides, if you are missing one or two ingredients in your kitchen, no need to worry. This simple dish is versatile and easily adaptable. If you don’t have olive oil in the kitchen, feel free to use butter.

How can you store cooked salmon?

If you happen to cook salmon for your guests and probably there are leftovers, there is a way you can avoid food wastage. Storing leftovers is one of the best alternatives to avoid wastage.

Cooked salmon fillets can last for about three to four days in your fridge when properly stored. Let the fish cool completely before placing in an airtight corner. Cover with a lid and then transfer to your refrigerator.

Alternatively, you can freeze the cooked salmon. Put completely cooled fillets in heavy-duty freezer bags or airtight containers and then store in your freezer for up to four months.   

What to look for when buying a large side of salmon?

It’s important to know that there are various varieties of salmon available in grocery stores. For example, there is king, coho, sockeye, chum, and pink.

Following these tips, buying salmon should be easy for everyone.

fillet salmon on plate

The best indicators of quality you should look out for are smell and color. Salmon fillets should smell fresh but not fishy. They should be slightly briny, glossy, and firm to the touch. Don’t buy those that are dry, chalky, and sticky to the touch.

Another tip is to go for fillets that are bright and saturated in color. Avoid those with cracks or breaks in the muscle since this indicates degradation and mishandling. Another sign of degradation is those packages with pooling of water.

If possible choose wild salmon from the stores. If not available, go for frozen or sustainably raised salmon. The best place to buy salmon fillets is your local fish market or fishmonger. The reason for this is that you will find the freshest and best quality.  

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Tammy Kennedy
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