Baked Salmon with Herbs & Lemon Butter

This recipe delivers tender, flaky salmon infused with bright lemon, aromatic fresh herbs, and rich butter. It's an elegant yet incredibly easy dish perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a special occasion.

Servings: 2 Prep time: 10 minutes Cook time: 15 minutes Total time: 25 minutes Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients

For the Salmon:

1. 2 salmon fillets (each ~180-200 g / 6-7 oz), skin on or off

2. 1 tbsp / 15 ml olive oil (for baking sheet)

For the Herb & Lemon Butter:

1. 60 g / 4 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

2. 15 g / 2 tbsp fresh dill, finely chopped

3. 15 g / 2 tbsp fresh parsley, finely chopped

4. 1 medium lemon (~100 g), half juiced (for ~2 tbsp / 30 ml juice), half thinly sliced

5. 2 cloves garlic (~10 g), minced

6. 1 tsp / 5 g sea salt

7. ½ tsp / 2.5 g black pepper, freshly ground

Equipment

• Baking sheet

• Parchment paper (optional, for easy cleanup)

• Small mixing bowl

• Whisk or fork

• Cutting board

• Sharp knife

• Measuring spoons

Instructions

1. Preheat Oven & Prepare Sheet (2 minutes): Preheat your oven to 200°C / 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper for easy cleanup, then lightly brush or spray with 1 tablespoon of olive oil.

2. Prepare Salmon (1 minute): Pat the salmon fillets dry thoroughly with paper towels. This helps the seasoning stick and promotes a better texture.

3. Make Herb & Lemon Butter (3 minutes): In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, chopped dill, chopped parsley, fresh lemon juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Whisk everything together until well combined.

4. Season Salmon (2 minutes): Place the dried salmon fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Evenly spoon the herb and lemon butter mixture over the top of each salmon fillet, ensuring they are well coated.

5. Add Lemon Slices (1 minute): Arrange the thin lemon slices directly on top of the buttered salmon fillets.

6. Bake the Salmon (12-15 minutes): Transfer the baking sheet to the preheated oven. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork. Cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of your fillets.

7. Serve (1 minute): Carefully remove the salmon from the oven. You can serve it immediately, perhaps with a side of roasted vegetables or rice.

Tips & Variations

• Don't Overcook: Salmon cooks quickly! Watch it closely and remove it from the oven as soon as it flakes easily. Overcooked salmon can become dry.

• Fresh Herbs are Key: While dried herbs can be used in a pinch, fresh dill and parsley make a significant difference in the flavor and aroma of this dish.

• Rest Briefly: For juicier salmon, let it rest on the baking sheet for 2-3 minutes after removing it from the oven before serving.

• Dairy-Free Variation: For a dairy-free version, simply swap the butter for an equal amount of olive oil or a plant-based butter alternative.

• Spicy Kick: Add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the herb butter mixture for a subtle spicy warmth.

• Herb Swap: Feel free to experiment with other fresh herbs like chives, thyme, or oregano to customize the flavor profile.

Estimated Nutrition Per Serving (approximate)

• Calories: 380 kcal

• Protein: 36 g

• Carbohydrates: 6 g

• Fat: 24 g

Shopping List

• Salmon fillets

• Unsalted butter

• Fresh dill

• Fresh parsley

• Lemon

• Garlic

• Sea salt

• Black pepper

• Olive oil

Allergen Tags

contains: fish, dairy

Quick summary: Baked Salmon with Herbs & Lemon Butter. Easy, flavorful, quick weeknight meal.