Anyone can make perfect, super-delicious Southern baked salmon. This recipe uses just a few spices more than the traditional lemon, garlic and parsley you might be used to. The dish won’t require huge lemon wedges as a garnish, because slicing into the skin and allowing the fish to marinate a bit in the spice mixture means it’s just bursting with flavor all the way through.
As a bonus, it’s ready in just 35 minutes, and most of the ingredients are already in your spice cabinet, making this healthy recipe the ideal weeknight one to have in your back pocket.
Southern baked salmon
4
5 minutes
15 minutes
35 minutes
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
½ tablespoon onion powder
½ teaspoon dried basil
½ teaspoon dried parsley
½ tablespoon paprika
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Salt and pepper
Juice of one lemon
2 pounds salmon fillets
Preheat the oven to 400 F.
Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil, and lightly spray with nonstick spray.
In a small pan over a medium-low heat, combine the butter, olive oil, garlic, onion powder, dried basil, dried parsley, paprika, cayenne and salt and pepper to taste.
Stir the mixture until the butter has melted and everything is well-combined, then remove from the heat and add the lemon juice.
Make 4-5 diagonal slits into the salmon fillet on the skin side.
Place the salmon and the seasoning mixture into a large plastic bag, and allow to marinate at room temperature for about 15 minutes.
Transfer the salmon and the seasoning mixture to the prepared baking sheet, and bake 10-15 minutes, or until crisp around the edges and perfectly flaky in the center.
Allow to cool at least 2 minutes before serving.
