Lemon Herb Roasted Salmon (Printable Version)

Tender salmon infused with lemon and fresh herbs, roasted to juicy perfection for a flavorful dish.

# What You'll Need:

01 - 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each), skin-on or skinless

02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil

03 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about 1 lemon)

04 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

06 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)

07 - 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

08 - 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme)

09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

10 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

11 - Lemon slices

12 - Extra fresh herbs

01 - Heat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.

02 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, dill, parsley, thyme, salt, and black pepper.

03 - Place salmon fillets on the prepared baking sheet, skin-side down if using skin-on fillets.

04 - Brush or spoon the herb and lemon mixture evenly over each fillet.

05 - Optionally, arrange lemon slices on top of the salmon.

06 - Bake in the oven for 12 to 15 minutes, until salmon flakes easily with a fork and is opaque at the center.

07 - Remove from oven, garnish with extra fresh herbs if desired, and serve immediately.

01 -

It comes together in under 30 minutes, which means weeknight dinner doesn't have to feel like a compromise
The combination of bright lemon and fresh herbs makes salmon taste like you're dining at a restaurant, but you're in your own kitchen
Salmon is naturally beautiful to look at and packed with omega-3s, so you feel good about what you're eating

02 -

The thickness of your salmon fillets matters more than you'd think. Thinner fillets (about 1 inch) will cook in 12 minutes, while thicker ones might need closer to 15. It's worth asking your fishmonger for even-sized fillets so they cook at the same rate.
Don't skip the lemon zest. The zest carries concentrated lemon oil that juice alone cannot provide. This is the secret ingredient that makes people ask for the recipe.

03 -

If you want to marinate the salmon, do it for no more than 30 minutes. The acid in the lemon juice will start to cure the salmon, which is wonderful if that's what you want, but not if you're going for the tender roasted texture.
Pat your salmon dry with paper towels before adding the herb mixture. Any excess moisture on the surface will steam the fish instead of letting it roast gently. This one small step makes the difference between good salmon and restaurant-quality salmon.