Description
This oven-baked salmon recipe is easy to prepare and delivers tender, flavorful fish that’s perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 1/2 pounds or 4 (6-ounce) salmon fillets, wild caught if possible
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/4 teaspoon cumin
- 4 cups room temperature water (for brining, optional)
- 3 tablespoons kosher salt (for brining, optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F. Allow the salmon to come to room temperature (or brine it in Step 2).
- Brine the salmon (optional): While the oven preheats, in a shallow dish mix together 4 cups room temperature water and 3 tablespoons kosher salt. Place the salmon in the water and wait for 15 minutes.
- Place a large sheet of aluminum foil on a baking sheet and brush it with olive oil. Pat each piece of salmon dry and place it on the foil skin side down. Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with kosher salt evenly divided among the fillets.
- In a medium bowl, mix together the brown sugar, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, and cumin. Sprinkle the mixture evenly on top of the fillets.
- Bake the salmon for 10 to 16 minutes, until just tender and pink at the center (the internal temperature should be between 125 to 130°F in the center). For a crispy top, when the salmon is at 115°F, broil for about 2 minutes.
Notes
- This recipe is versatile; you can adjust the seasoning to your taste.
- Salmon’s cooking time will vary based on its thickness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: main dish
- Method: baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 0g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 0g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 35g
- Cholesterol: 100mg