Description
This Christmas Baked Salmon recipe is a festive and flavorful dish that will impress your holiday guests. The salmon is seasoned with aromatic herbs and citrus zest, then baked to perfection. Garnished with fresh parsley and pomegranate arils, it makes a stunning main course for your holiday table.
Ingredients
Scale
Salmon:
- 1 side of salmon (about 2 to 2.5 pounds)
Seasoning:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
- 1 orange, zested and sliced
- 1 lemon, zested and sliced
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Garnish:
- 1/4 cup pomegranate arils
- Fresh herbs and citrus slices for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
- Prepare the Salmon: Place the salmon skin-side down on the prepared sheet.
- Season the Salmon: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, orange zest, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Rub the mixture evenly over the top of the salmon.
- Add Citrus Slices: Layer orange and lemon slices on top of the seasoned salmon.
- Bake the Salmon: Bake for 18–22 minutes, or until the salmon flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F.
- Rest and Garnish: Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a serving platter and sprinkle with chopped parsley and pomegranate arils. Garnish with additional fresh herbs and citrus slices if desired.
Notes
- To keep the salmon extra moist, tent it with foil during the first 10 minutes of baking.
- This dish pairs beautifully with roasted vegetables or herbed rice for a festive dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 330
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 4g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
