Easy Oven Baked Salmon

Brine:

1. If you have a bit of extra time (about 15-20 minutes), give the brine a go. In a small bowl, mix your salmon fillets with the water and salt. Let them sit for 15-20 minutes. Be careful not to leave them in longer, as your salmon can become overly salty if you do. No need to rinse afterward; simply pat dry with a paper towel.
2. If you are using frozen salmon I recommend using warm water to speed the defrosting process. That way, when your 20 min are up your salmon will have thawed.

Pesto Butter:

1. Creating the pesto butter is a breeze – simply mix all the ingredients together. If you have any extra freeze the leftovers for later. I usually make extra just so I can freeze it. I have a more detailed recipe post about this if you are interested.

Salmon:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F (200°C).
2. Place salmon fillets in an oven-proof baking dish. Make sure it's just the right size to fit the two fillets without overlapping too much; we want to keep that flavorful sauce.
3. Drop a tablespoon of pesto butter on each fillet.
4. Add two tablespoons of wine to the bottom of the pan.
5. Bake your salmon for about 10 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C) according to USDA guidelines. You might want to check a bit earlier just to be safe. Overcooked salmon is a no-go; it turns dry, tough, and flavorless, and we definitely don't want that.
6. And that's it! Dinner is served, and you can pat yourself on the back for whipping up an amazing meal without breaking a sweat. Enjoy your salmon, and let's celebrate simplicity in the kitchen! 🍽️