Marinated Salmon with Garlic, Herbs, and Lemon Zest
By Emma Collins
Prep
10 min
Cook
10 min
Total
20 min
Servings
4
Level
Easy
Serve this marinated salmon recipe as a quick meal for families during the week. Marinate salmon fillets in olive oil, honey, soy sauce, garlic, lemon zest, and herbs. Cook the fillets until opaque. The cooked fillets will be sweet and savory with lemon and herb flavors.
Olive oil is used to season the salmon with honey, soy sauce, lemon zest, fresh parsley, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper. Garlic is added after removing one tablespoon of the marinade mixture to serve with the salmon. Lemon zest, not lemon juice, is added for lemon flavor without marinating the salmon in an acidic liquid. Fresh herbs used in the dish include parsley and thyme. Other herbs to consider include chives, oregano, dill, or Italian seasoning.
Before grilling marinated salmon after 30 minutes to 6 hours of marinating, discard herbs and garlic chunks to avoid burning them on the grill. Salmon fillets are cooked after grilling for 5 to 6 minutes per side or baking at 425 degrees Fahrenheit for 15 minutes. Leaving the skin on salmon fillets helps prevent them from falling apart.
Spoon the reserved marinade over cooked salmon fillets and offer lemon wedges on the side, if desired. Good side dishes include rice, mashed potatoes, and pasta. Other options are grilled asparagus and zucchini, and corn on the cob. This recipe serves four and is simple enough to make for family dinners or parties.
Why this recipe works
- Good choice for family dinners, you can serve four fillets per meal, and the sweet and salty flavor combination of honey, soy, garlic, and other herbs appeals to kids as well as adults.
- Season and grill or roast salmon during different seasons to have a marinade that you can serve at summer outdoor events and other times throughout the year without changing the recipe.
- Fresh lemon zest provides the lemon flavor without the juice, following the recipe's advice to avoid altering the texture of the salmon during marination.
- A tablespoon of marinade reserved before cooking is brushed onto fillets before serving. This complements the side dishes of rice, potatoes, or pasta.
- Parsley and thyme replacements for picky herb consumers include chives, oregano, dill, and a dried Italian seasoning blend.
- Leftover portions can be anticipated with recipes for four servings, as these recipes call for whole fillets. This same recipe can be prepared in one-, two-, or three-times amounts.
Ingredients
- •4 salmon fillets (4-6 ounces each)
- •4 tablespoons olive oil
- •1 ½ tablespoons honey
- •1 ½ tablespoons soy sauce
- •1 teaspoon lemon zest
- •2 teaspoons fresh parsley (chopped)
- •2 teaspoons fresh thyme leaves
- •½ teaspoon salt
- •¼ teaspoon pepper
- •½ teaspoon garlic (minced)
- •lemon wedges (for serving)
- •cooking spray (for lining the sheet pan when baking)
Instructions
- 1
Place the olive oil, honey, soy sauce, lemon zest, parsley, thyme, salt, and pepper in a bowl and whisk to combine.
- 2
Reserve 1 tablespoon of the marinade for later use, then add the garlic to the bowl.
- 3
Add the salmon and marinade to a resealable freezer bag, seal, and shake to coat the salmon.
- 4
Marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or up to 6 hours.
- 5
Remove the salmon from the marinade and scrape off any excess bits of herbs or garlic.
- 6
For grilling, preheat an outdoor grill or indoor grill pan over medium-high heat. Add the salmon fillets and cook for 5-6 minutes on each side, or until opaque throughout.
- 7
For baking, preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Place the salmon fillets on a sheet pan lined with cooking spray and bake for 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
- 8
Brush the reserved marinade over the salmon fillets, then serve with lemon wedges if desired.
FAQ
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories
274
Protein
23g
Fat
17g
Carbs
4g
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