How to Bake Salmon

There are just so many reasons to love salmon, one of the nation's favorite fish.

It pairs up perfectly with a wide variety of seasonings and sauces, so there's a salmon dish to suit every palate (this Barefoot Contessa Asian Salmon recipe is amazing)!

It's packed with omega fatty acids, so it's highly nutritious and has a delicious, rich flavor. Unlike some types of fish, it has a skin that's easy to remove and the filets tend to be thick and fairly robust, making them easy to work with.

And best of all, salmon cooks quickly with minimal effort - meaning that you can have a gourmet quality meal on the table in under half an hour!

Tips for perfect baked salmon

• Always buy skin-on fillets. The skin stops the fish drying out as it cooks. Just slip it off afterwards if you prefer not to eat it.
• To help cook salmon evenly, allow it to come to room temperature for about 20 minutes before cooking.
• Salmon fillets often taper at one end. To prevent the thin end from becoming overcooked, fold it under the fillet before cooking.
• As a rule of thumb, salmon needs to cook for around 4 to 6 minutes per half inch of thickness. Take extra care with wild salmon - it tends to overcook easily because it has a lower fat content than farmed salmon.

Simple serving ideas

Cooked salmon needs little adornment - it tastes so good anyway! But we also love serving it with

• chopped fresh dill
• a sprinkle of lemon juice and slices of fresh lemon
• homemade pesto
• a simple sauce of warmed Dijon mustard and maple syrup

How to bake salmon

Baking is one of our favorite ways of cooking salmon. It's a simple method that produces great results, with little clean up required afterwards!

You can either bake salmon in a baking dish or on a baking sheet, or you can wrap it in foil which 'steams' it. Here are both methods...

How to bake salmon in a baking dish

4 salmon fillets

1 tbsp olive oil

Handful of your favorite chopped, fresh herbs

Salt and pepper

1. Heat oven to 450F.
2. Brush each salmon fillet with the olive oil and season well. Sprinkle with herbs.
3. Place the salmon fillets in an ovenproof dish and cook for around 10-15 mins, until the fish looks opaque and flakes easily.

Foil-wrapped baked salmon

4 salmon fillets

2 tablespoons butter

4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

2 tablespoons dry white wine

1 tablespoon freshly-squeezed lemon juice

salt and pepper

handful of your favorite chopped, fresh herbs

1. Heat oven to 450F.
2. Melt the butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
3. Add the garlic and cook gently, stirring for 1 minute. Don't allow the garlic to brown.
4. Remove the saucepan from the heat and add the lemon juice and wine.
5. Season the salmon fillets and place them on a large piece of foil. Pull up the edges, creating an open 'parcel'.
6. Pour the butter mixture over the fillets, then fold the foil over them completely, sealing the parcel.
7. Place in the oven and bake for 10 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets.
8. Remove the parcel from the oven and carefully pull back the foil (watch out for the escaping steam).
9. Return the uncovered salmon to the oven and bake for a few more minutes.

Your cooked salmon will keep in the fridge for 2 days in a sealed container and is just as delicious served cold for lunch the next day!