How do you cook salmon? Hopefully this post will help! And provide you with a simple great recipe!
This is an updated post from 2015.
How do you cook salmon? Let’s explore a few simple ways as a good salmon recipe is something everyone should have in their repertoire. We usually eat salmon once a week and right now I happen to have a lot of salmon in my freezer.
I was supposed to be giving a cooking class about entertaining and salmon was on my menu. Unfortunately this pandemic changed things so I am left with a lot of salmon. That’s OK.
How to Cook Salmon in the oven:
Roasted Salmon, such as this recipe, cooks low and slow in the oven at 250. This recipe with jam could stick to a grill so I prepare it inside. An amazing texture is also created cooking it this way.
HOWEVER! You could still grill or bake it with the other techniques I’ve mentioned. Just watch that the glaze doesn’t drip too much!
Salmon is good for you and it is easy to prepare. In the winter I merely preheat the oven to 400 on bake. I then season my salmon and place it in the oven for 8 – 12 minutes. Fish will continue to cook after it is removed from the oven. Take it out when it is flaky and still looking rare inside. Then tent it with foil and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.
Grilling salmon is also easy. Preheat the grill to medium high and let it get hot before placing the salmon on. BUT FIRST! Always spray the grill grates with cooking spray or brush with oil so the fish does not stick.
Place skin side down on the grates. There is no need for flipping. Grill approximately 8 minutes for each inch of thickness. The skin may still stick to the grill but you will have a perfect fillet. And FYI. Many folks love the skin and so do my dogs!
What kind of salmon should you buy?
Truthfully it is up to you. I think most salmon is pretty good. I tend to buy fillets and then slice it into pieces.
Varieties of salmon?
Atlantic salmon is generally farmed salmon. I love the Norwegian farmed salmon which is virtually free of antibiotics and raised in uncrowded conditions.
Pacific salmon is generally wild caught salmon. There are 6 types of salmon in the Pacific, five of which may sound familiar to you. King, sockeye, silver, pink and chum. To make it even harder each is known by another name.
King salmon is a chinook salmon, the largest of all Pacific salmon. Well, king fits this guy to the T; this is one spectacular piece of fish. Very rich and luscious and a great way to spoil yourself.
Coho salmon is a silver salmon with a very red flesh and a more tender texture but still tastes great!
Pink salmon is the humpbacked salmon and is usually canned.
Sockeye salmon is red and oily and also good, but a bit oiler than other salmon.
And that Copper River Salmon that only shows up once a year? Well, Copper River salmon is King, sockeye or Coho!
I love quick and easy dinners on the weekend. Salmon checks both those boxes. The slow roasting means you have time to throw a salad together, make some rice and bingo, the salmon is ready and it is time to eat!
There isn’t a way to overcook this fish, unless you forget about it and leave it in the oven too long. Slow roasting means this salmon is moist, with a soft, not dry texture.
The spicy sweet flavors of this salmon match well with rice. I fried mine, but steamed is also OK.
To create a spicy flavor I used a Gochujang garlic sauce to make this, but a chili garlic Chinese sauce would be a good substitute. I used apricot jam for the glaze but other jams taste great, too. Because it wasn’t the sweetest of jams, I added a touch of honey. You may or may not want too. Peach or raspberry jam would also be superb.
So there you have it. Several ways to cook salmon and a really great way to eat it!
Please Pin and Share:
Roasted Spicy Sweet Salmon
- Prep Time: 5 Minutes
- Cook Time: 30 Minutes
- Total Time: 35 Minutes
- Yield: About 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Bake
- Cuisine: American
Description
Knowing how to cook salmon should be in everyone’s repertoire. This simple recipe explores several techniques.
Ingredients
1 lb salmon
1/4 c apricot or peach jam
2 1/2 T Gochujang garlic sauce
1/4 t smoked paprika
1 t honey (optional)
Chopped Green Onions and Sesame Seed for garnish
Instructions
Preheat oven to 250. Line a baking pan with foil.
Mix the jam, Gochujang sauce, smoked paprika and honey together. Spread over the salmon on all sides, except the bottom.
Place in oven for 30 minutes. Test if fish is cooked to your liking. Garnish with green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy!
Keywords: how cook salmon in oven, bake salmon, cook salmon oven, how to grill salmon, salmon recipe, baked salmon, roasted salmon
Other great fish recipes:
Moroccan Fish with Saffron Lime Aioli
White Fish with Mushrooms and Browned Butter
Orange Cacao Rub Roasted Paiche
Roasted Salmon with Roasted Fennel
Cajun Fish with Browned Butter and Pecans
Lindsey C.
June 25, 2020 at 6:26 amThis was a hit in my house! My kids love sweet and spicy chicken, but it’s almost always fried (and full of weird preservatives I don’t like). We got a box of wild salmon in the other day (I like to use this place: https://lummiislandwild.com/product-category/wild-salmon/) and I tried this. They loved it!
Reena Bansal
May 22, 2020 at 5:28 amI’ve never thought of using Apricot preserves in a recipe before! Genius! My family loved this recipe and have asked for it so many times after. 5 stars!
★★★★★
2pots2cook
May 14, 2020 at 5:40 amWe both love sweet and spicy ! Absolutely beautiful combination of flavours !
★★★★★
Juliana
May 13, 2020 at 6:59 pmI love the idea of sweet and spicy…and yes, peach jam sounds great. Thanks for re-posting the recipe Abbe. Have a wonderful rest of the week and stay safe!
Healthy World Cuisine
May 13, 2020 at 12:57 pmWe love salmon and as a matter of fact had that last night. However, can’t wait to try your super easy sweet, spicy and savory glaze. That is one delicious bite!
★★★★★
mimi rippee
May 13, 2020 at 9:52 amYum! I”ve never mixed gochujang with anything sweet, but it makes total sense!
Pam
May 12, 2020 at 2:07 pmThis looks delicious, Abbe! Never would’ve thought of either jam with it. I love all varieties of salmon, but especially miss the smoked salmon my father-in-law used to make with fresh Coho salmon, later Chinook – King, he caught from Lake Michigan all the time, awesome smoked or fresh! We eat salmon once a week, sometimes straight from the can and can’t wait till we can start grilling it when it warms up! Thanks for the recipe!
John / Kitchen Riffs
May 12, 2020 at 9:16 amI LOVE this time of the year — wild Pacific salmon is available, and that’s my favorite. I need to get some so I can make this terrific dish. Haven’t had any yet this season — I’ve been deprived! 🙂
Lea Ann (Cooking On The Ranch)
May 12, 2020 at 6:55 amI love peach jam on salmon. One of my favorite ways to prepare it. I really like your addition of the garlic sauce and the paprika. I’ll add that next time.
ZazaCook
September 24, 2015 at 2:50 pmLooks delicious! I love healthy meals!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 25, 2015 at 2:12 amThanks Zaza! Very healthy and good!
Anu-My Ginger Garlic Kitchen
September 24, 2015 at 2:37 pmOh wow! This is perfectly cooked salmon looks so delish, Abbe. I love sweet and spicy flavors. They are just YUM!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 25, 2015 at 2:12 amThis is the way to perfectly cook salmon, that's for sure! Thanks Anu!
Bam's Kitchen
September 24, 2015 at 8:37 amYour salmon is just perfectly cooked and that whole sweet, sour, salty and spicy combo wins me over each and every time. Pinning! Hey I also just found you on goodle plus…
Abbe Odenwalder
September 25, 2015 at 2:11 amThanks Bobbi! I try google plus, but am never sure it really does anything!
Maureen | Orgasmic Chef
September 23, 2015 at 2:09 amNo Whole Foods in Australia. Makes me sad. This salmon sounds so good and that garlic sauce should be at my house. 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder
September 25, 2015 at 2:11 amThe garlic sauce should be at your house! But I have no doubt that you have beautiful markets there. I seem to remember you posted about one!
Rebecca Subbiah
September 22, 2015 at 9:29 pmlooks wonderful love salmon
Abbe Odenwalder
September 25, 2015 at 2:10 amThanks Rebecca!
La Table De Nana
September 22, 2015 at 2:13 pmI would have a looong trek;) no WF in QC..I had my WF bag yesterday to do errands here and made believe..we got the bag in Fl..Was it WF that had the Downton Abby bags? Or World Market?
This dsh looks perfect.The garlic sauce is new to me too..will check out my asian store next time..I say mine..it's 40 minutes away..
such a conundrum as to why I don't get your posts..
Abbe Odenwalder
September 25, 2015 at 2:10 amYou may be able to find something similar at a regular grocery. I guess I should pay for a feed service! Anyway, try this salmon!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
September 21, 2015 at 10:13 pmIsn't it wonderful? King salmon is my all-time favorite variety of salmon. Whenever it's in the fish case, I buy it. We love it grilled but this is another great preparation, Abbe.
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:31 amI love it grilled also, Susan. But I needed a change and this was perfect!
Chris Scheuer
September 21, 2015 at 8:53 pmSounds delish! I love slow roasting salmon for a dinner party as there's no last minute fuss!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:30 amSo true, Chris. This is perfect for a dinner party!
mimi rippee
September 21, 2015 at 7:56 pmBeautiful! I've never heard of garlic sauce – I need to look into this!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:30 amIt is a Korean one, Mimi. And something that is showing up everywhere! You will find it I know!
Tricia Buice
September 21, 2015 at 12:23 amWow this salmon looks so flaky and moist – delicious! I just love a good sale especially on something like this – good one!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:29 amIt saved like $10/lb! Definitely worth it! This was a great preparation!
Beth
September 21, 2015 at 12:03 amYour salmon looks gorgeous! What a perfect meal.
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:28 amIt is a perfect meal-and a healthy one!
Carol at Wild Goose Mama
September 20, 2015 at 10:27 pmWhat simply spectacular salmon recipe. I had to pin this baby. Since I live in the Pacific NW, I am a salmon cheer leader. Albeit thankfully we don't have to wear a short skirt of ultra short shorts to be a cheer leader.
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:28 amThanks Carol! I can always use a cheerleader, even if they wear short skirts. But yoga pants work pretty well for me!
Cathleen
September 20, 2015 at 7:37 pmI need to make salmon more often! This sounds amazing!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:27 amWhen it is this simple, you really do Cathleen!
Angie Schneider
September 20, 2015 at 4:29 amThis is so delicious and good for you, Abbe. Sweet and hot are definitely my favourite combo.
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:27 amIt is a great combo, isn't it Angie? Salmon is s good for you! Thanks!
Adam J. Holland
September 20, 2015 at 12:45 amI love salmon and my wife doesn't. My daughter isn't sure whether or not she likes it. The point in me telling you this is that this will be my go-to preparation. (Don't be surprised if you see something similar to this being cooked in the Jimmy Rockford real soon.) Delicious!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:26 amThis is so easy and maybe will change their minds! Even the Jimmy Rockford can handle this!
Liz Berg
September 20, 2015 at 12:35 amI just may get myself over to Whole Foods tomorrow! Your salmon looks spectacular!
Abbe Odenwalder
September 22, 2015 at 3:25 amThanks Liz! So easy and good!