Description
Succulent baked salmon with lemon and dill emerges as a Mediterranean-inspired dish packed with fresh herbal notes. Delicate fish fillets combine zesty citrus and aromatic herbs for a quick, elegant dinner that welcomes you to savor coastal flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 (6 oz/170 g) wild salmon fillets OR 1 wild Alaskan salmon fillet
- 2 tbsps olive oil
- 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- ½ cup Greek yogurt (nonfat)
- 2 tbsps mayonnaise (nonfat)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp lemon pepper
- ½ tsp dried oregano
- ½ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tsp sugar
- 1 tbsp chopped dill
- 1 minced garlic clove OR ¼ tsp garlic powder
- ½ tbsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp red wine vinegar
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp dried parsley
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup chopped cucumber
- 3 tbsps kalamata olives (or regular), halved
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
- 2–3 tbsps crumbled feta
- ½–1 jalapeno, seeded, deveined, minced OR pinch of red pepper flakes
- ½ tbsp chopped dill
Instructions
- Marinade Creation: Craft a zesty fusion by blending extra virgin olive oil, aged balsamic vinegar, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and selected seasonings in a spacious baking dish.
- Salmon Preparation: Immerse salmon fillets into the marinade, ensuring complete coating by thoroughly dragging each piece through the liquid mixture. Let rest at room temperature for 30 minutes to maximize flavor absorption.
- Oven Preparation: Ignite the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius), positioning the rack in the central position for even heat distribution.
- Sauce Development: Whisk together dill sauce ingredients in a mixing bowl, calibrating seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Simultaneously, construct the fresh salsa in a separate bowl, allowing both condiments to chill and meld flavors.
- Salmon Roasting: Arrange marinated salmon in a single layer within the baking dish, ensuring fillets are not overcrowded. Roast for 12-15 minutes until fish flakes delicately with a fork and achieves desired doneness.
- Plating and Garnishing: Transfer salmon to serving plates, lavishly adorning with prepared dill sauce and salsa. Elevate the dish’s vibrancy by drizzling additional freshly squeezed lemon juice as a final flourish.
Notes
- Optimize Marination Time: Let salmon sit at room temperature for 30 minutes to absorb maximum flavor and ensure even cooking throughout the fillet.
- Temperature Control Matters: Use precise 400°F oven temperature to achieve perfectly flaked salmon without overcooking or drying out the delicate fish.
- Check Doneness Carefully: Test salmon’s readiness by gently prodding with a fork – it should easily separate and appear opaque in the center, indicating ideal cooking.
- Sauce Preparation Tip: Refrigerate dill sauce and salsa beforehand to allow ingredients to meld, creating more complex and harmonious flavor profiles.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 20 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg