Description
This Christmas Salmon Recipe offers a deliciously festive and healthy main course featuring a tender, oven-baked salmon fillet coated in a flavorful honey Dijon mustard glaze infused with fresh herbs and garlic. Perfect for holiday dinners, this recipe promises moist and flaky salmon topped with zesty lemon slices and aromatic rosemary sprigs for an elegant presentation.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon
- 2 pounds salmon fillet, skin on
Glaze and Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons honey
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
Garnish
- Lemon slices for garnish
- Fresh rosemary sprigs for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper to prepare for baking the salmon evenly without sticking.
- Prepare Salmon: Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring it’s laid flat for uniform cooking.
- Make Glaze: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, Dijon mustard, honey, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, finely chopped rosemary, thyme leaves, salt, and black pepper until fully combined.
- Apply Glaze: Spoon and brush the prepared glaze mixture evenly over the top of the salmon fillet, coating it completely to infuse flavor as it bakes.
- Add Lemon Slices: Arrange lemon slices on top of the glazed salmon for added citrusy aroma and taste.
- Bake Salmon: Bake in the preheated oven for 15 to 20 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillet, until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and reaches desired doneness.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove the salmon from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow juices to redistribute. Garnish with fresh rosemary sprigs before serving.
Notes
- This salmon pairs exceptionally well with roasted potatoes or green beans for a complete festive holiday meal.
- You can substitute maple syrup for honey to achieve a slightly deeper, caramel-like flavor in the glaze.
- Avoid overbaking to keep the salmon moist, tender, and flaky rather than dry.
