Cook Salmon in the Oven

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Salmon is a flavorful pink fish that contains numerous beneficial nutrients, such as omega-3 fatty acids. The fish absorbs flavor quite well and many flavors taste great with it. There are many ways that you can cook salmon, including baking it in the oven. When using a dry heat like the oven, however, you should take a few extra precautions to prevent the fish from drying out as it bakes.

Ingredients

Servings: About 4

Open Baking

  • 1 lb. (450 g) salmon fillet, with or without skin, cut in four pieces
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 1 cup (250 ml) plain yogurt (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) honey (optional)
  • 1/2 tsp (2.5 ml) prepared mustard (optional)
  • 1/4 tsp (1.25 ml) dill (optional)

Baking in Packets

  • 1 lb. (450 g) skinless salmon fillet, cut in four pieces
  • Olive oil
  • Salt and pepper, to taste
  • 14-oz (435 ml) can chopped tomatoes, drained (optional)
  • 2 shallots, chopped (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp. (60 ml) lemon juice (optional)
  • 1 tsp. (5 ml) dried oregano (optional)
  • 1 tsp. (5 ml) dried thyme (optional)

Steps

Open Baking[1]

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (177 degrees Celsius). Line a baking sheet with nonstick aluminum foil or parchment paper.
  2. Place the salmon fillets on the baking sheet. If the fillets still have skin on them, lay them on the sheet with the skin facing down. If the fillets do not have skin on them, it does not matter which side faces down.
  3. Season the salmon. Brush the fillets with just enough olive oil to coat them. The oil helps the fish to stay moist inside the dry heat of the oven. Add salt and pepper to taste, over the olive oil.
  4. Create a sauce. Salmon can be baked without a sauce, but it absorbs flavor well and a sauce can help the salmon stay even more moist. You can create a basic sauce by whisking together the yogurt, honey, mustard, and dill in a small bowl.
  5. Spread the sauce over the fish. The salmon does not need to soak in the sauce, but you should try to spread the sauce evenly over the top of each fillet.
  6. Bake the fillets inside the preheated oven. Like all fish, salmon cooks quickly. It should be ready within about 20 minutes. Test the fish with a fork when you pull it out of the oven. If the salmon flakes easily in looks opaque, it should be ready.

Baking in Packets[2]

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (204 degrees Celsius). Prepare four large sheets of nonstick aluminum foil. Each sheet should be about four times as wide as the width of each salmon fillet.
  2. Season the salmon. Brush the one side of each fillet using a total of 2 tsp. (10 ml) olive oil, spreading the oil over the fillets until thinly coated. Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
  3. Create a topping. The foil packet method is ideal for cooking salmon with a topping, like seasoned vegetables or chunky salsas. The packet causes the salmon to retain more moisture, and the topping soaks into the salmon, giving it even more improved moisture and flavor. For a simple topping, combine 2 Tbsp. (60 ml) olive oil with the chopped tomatoes, chopped shallots, lemon juice, oregano, and thyme.
  4. Sit one salmon fillet on one sheet of aluminum foil. Place the fillet as close to the center as possible. The fish should be placed with the oiled side facing down.
  5. Twist two ends of the foil together. Situation the fillet with the shorter edges at the top and bottom, so that the fillet seems taller rather than wider. Loosely twist the top and bottom edges of the foil together into a slight spiral shape.
  6. Top the salmon fillets with your topping. Divide the tomato topping equally into four parts, and top each fillet with one part.
  7. Fold and seal the sides of the foil. Bring the non-twisted sides of the foil up and over the salmon and tomatoes, covering them completely. Bring the edges together and fold, creasing them together securely. Allow some air to remain inside the packet so that the salmon can cook properly, but avoid letting out extra air through the foil packet.
  8. Bake the salmon packets. The packets should bake for about 25 minutes in the preheated oven.
  9. Serve the packets whole. Instead of opening up each packet before serving it, give the packets to your family or guests and allow them to open the packets themselves.

Tips

  • You can also marinate your salmon fillets to keep them moist and flavorful. Allow the fish to sit in a marinade made of oil, acid (such as vinegar or lemon juice), and desired seasonings for 30 minutes before open baking it.

Warnings

  • Eating undercooked fish can be hazardous to your health. Salmon is done when the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit (62.8 degrees Celsius). For best results, you should check the internal temperature of your fillets by sticking a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the fish.

Things You’ll Need

  • Baking sheet
  • Nonstick aluminum foil
  • Basting brush
  • Whisk
  • Spoon
  • Small bowl

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Sources and Citations

  1. ↑ http://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-bake-salmon-fillets-53065
  2. ↑ http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/salmon-baked-in-foil-recipe/index.html

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