Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon
User Reviews
4.9
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Prep Time
10 mins
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Cook Time
18 mins
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Total Time
28 mins
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Servings
6
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Calories
2991 kcal
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Course
Main Course
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Cuisine
Mediterranean
Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon
Description
Baked Lemon Garlic Salmon begins with patting a salmon fillet dry and seasoning it with kosher salt. A sauce made from lemon juice and zest, olive oil, chopped garlic, dried oregano, sweet paprika, and black pepper is whisked together and spread evenly over the fish. Thin lemon rounds are placed on top before the salmon is wrapped in foil to contain the sauce during baking.
The foil wrap technique steams and bakes the salmon simultaneously, keeping the fish moist and allowing the lemon and garlic flavors to infuse without drying. The resulting salmon flakes easily with a fork, with a balance of citrus brightness and savory spices from the garlic and paprika.
This preparation works well for a healthy main course served alongside steamed vegetables, rice, or potatoes. The recipe notes emphasize checking doneness carefully, as thinner or tail-end fillets cook more quickly, with recommended internal temperatures provided to ensure the fish is cooked through but still tender.
If the salmon is slightly undercooked when removed from the oven, resting it in the foil allows residual heat to finish cooking gently. The recipe recommends medium-rare through medium doneness based on personal preference.
Ingredients
For the Salmon
- 2 pounds salmon fillet
- kosher salt
- 1 lemon large
- parsley for garnish, chopped
For the Lemon Garlic Sauce
- 2 lemon large
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 5 garlic chopped, cloves
- 2 teaspoon oregano dried
- 1 teaspoon paprika sweet
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Get ready. Position one oven rack in the center and one rack about 6 inches from the broiler. Preheat your oven to 375°F. Line a sheet pan longways with a large piece of foil, large enough to fold over the salmon. Brush the foil with extra virgin olive oil.
- Make the lemon-garlic sauce. Zest one of the lemons into a small bowl or measuring cup, then add the juice from both lemons. Add the extra virgin olive oil, garlic, oregano, paprika, and black pepper and whisk to combine.
- Prepare the salmon. Pat the salmon dry and season well on both sides with salt. Place it on the foil, skin side down. Carefully pour the lemon garlic sauce on top, bending the foil upwards around the fish to contain the liquid. Use a spoon or a pastry brush to spread the sauce evenly across the surface of the fish. Slice half of the remaining lemon into rounds and the other half into wedges, and place the rounds on top of the salmon.
- Wrap the salmon in foil. Fold the loose end of the foil up and over the salmon, tenting it high enough so there’s an air pocket between the foil and the lemons on top of the salmon. Crimp the foil closed at the top and sides to encase the fish and trap the steam. If you didn’t leave quite a long enough piece of foil, simply tear off another sheet and crimp the two together.
- Bake the salmon. Bake in the hot oven until the salmon is almost cooked through at the thickest part (see note),15 to 20 minutes.
- Broil the salmon. Carefully remove the pan from the oven and open the foil, folding it out to reveal the top of the salmon. Turn your broiler to high and place the salmon under the broiler briefly, until the top is lightly browned and the salmon is cooked through, about 3 minutes. Watch closely as it broils to make sure it doesn’t overcook and the lemons and garlic do not burn. Remove the salmon from the oven (see note).
- Serve. Sprinkle the salmon with the parsley and serve with the lemon wedges on the side.
Notes
- Check salmon thickness to adjust cooking time; thinner pieces cook faster and thicker may need more time.
- Proper doneness is indicated by flaky flesh that pulls away easily or an internal temperature near 135-145°F.
- Rest under foil if slightly underdone to finish cooking with residual heat without drying out.
- Use quality Mediterranean ingredients such as olive oil, oregano, and paprika to enhance flavor.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 6Serving
Amount Per Serving
Calories 2991 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 299.1kcal | 15% |
| Carbohydrates | 6.6g | 2% |
| Protein | 30.9g | 62% |
| Fat | 16.8g | 26% |
| Saturated Fat | 2.5g | 13% |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 4.7g | 28% |
| Monounsaturated Fat | 8.3g | 42% |
| Cholesterol | 83.2mg | 28% |
| Sodium | 68.6mg | 3% |
| Potassium | 843.7mg | 18% |
| Fiber | 2g | 8% |
| Sugar | 1.4g | 3% |
| Vitamin A | 249IU | 5% |
| Vitamin C | 29.4mg | 33% |
| Calcium | 48.9mg | 5% |
| Iron | 1.9mg | 11% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
4.9
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