Ingredients
- Salmon Fillets: Fresh or frozen (thawed), skin on or off, about 1.5-2 pounds. Salmon is the star, providing rich flavor and healthy fats.
- Butter: Unsalted butter, adds richness and helps create the luscious sauce.
- Garlic: Fresh garlic cloves, minced. Essential for that pungent, savory garlic flavor.
- Lemon: Fresh lemon, both juice and zest. Provides bright, citrusy notes that balance the richness.
- Fresh Parsley: Chopped fresh parsley. Adds a pop of fresh, herbaceous flavor and visual appeal.
- Dried Oregano: Dried oregano. Lends a subtle earthy and slightly peppery background note.
- Salt: Sea salt or kosher salt. Enhances all the flavors in the dish.
- Black Pepper: Freshly ground black pepper. Adds a touch of spice and depth of flavor.
- Optional: White Wine: Dry white wine (like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc). Adds complexity and moisture to the sauce (can be substituted with chicken broth or more lemon juice).
- Optional: Red Pepper Flakes: For a touch of heat, red pepper flakes can be added.
Instructions
- Preheat Your Oven and Prepare Baking Dish: Begin by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). This ensures the oven is at the right temperature for even baking. While the oven is preheating, lightly grease a baking dish. A 9×13 inch baking dish or a similar size that can comfortably hold your salmon fillets in a single layer works perfectly. Greasing the dish prevents the salmon from sticking and makes cleanup easier later.
- Prepare the Lemon Garlic Butter Sauce: In a small saucepan or microwave-safe bowl, melt the butter. You can melt it gently over low heat on the stovetop or in short intervals in the microwave, being careful not to let it splatter. Once melted, add the minced garlic to the butter. If using the stovetop, sauté the garlic in the melted butter over low heat for about 1-2 minutes, until fragrant but not browned. Be careful not to burn the garlic, as it will become bitter. If using the microwave, simply stir the minced garlic into the melted butter. Next, stir in the fresh lemon juice, lemon zest, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper. If you’re using white wine, add it at this stage as well. Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly to create a well-combined and aromatic lemon garlic butter sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed, adding more salt, pepper, or lemon juice to your preference.
- Prepare the Salmon Fillets: Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. This helps to remove excess moisture, which will allow the sauce to adhere better and the salmon to bake properly rather than steam. Place the salmon fillets in the prepared baking dish in a single layer. Ensure they are not overcrowded, as this can lead to uneven cooking. If you have skin-on salmon, you can place them skin-side down or up, depending on your preference. Skin-side down will result in crispier skin if you intend to eat it, while skin-side up will keep the salmon more moist.
- Pour Sauce Over Salmon: Evenly pour the prepared lemon garlic butter sauce over the salmon fillets, ensuring each fillet is generously coated. Use a spoon to distribute the garlic and herbs evenly over the salmon. The sauce will seep into the salmon as it bakes, infusing it with flavor and keeping it moist. If desired, you can gently rub the sauce into the salmon fillets to ensure they are well covered.
- Bake the Salmon: Place the baking dish in the preheated oven and bake for approximately 12-15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. The exact baking time will depend on the thickness of your salmon fillets and your oven. To check for doneness, gently flake the salmon with a fork at the thickest part. If it flakes easily and is no longer translucent, it is cooked. Be careful not to overbake the salmon, as it can become dry. For thicker fillets, you may need to bake for a few minutes longer. You can also use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of the salmon; it should reach 145°F (63°C).
- Garnish and Serve: Once the salmon is baked and cooked through, remove the baking dish from the oven. Sprinkle the chopped fresh parsley over the baked salmon. The fresh parsley adds a bright, fresh flavor and a beautiful green garnish. Let the salmon rest for a minute or two in the baking dish before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute, resulting in more moist and flavorful salmon. Serve immediately while hot, spooning any extra lemon garlic butter sauce from the baking dish over the salmon when serving. This ensures each serving is extra flavorful and moist.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: one normal portion
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 30g
- Protein: 40g