Cooking with Salmon
Salmon not only tastes delicious, but it's also a good source of heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins A and B. Nearly any time of year, you can find at least one variety of this flavorful fish that's in season. Pacific varieties are best from early summer through fall, while Atlantic salmon sees a slightly longer season from summer through early winter. No matter which variety you prefer, you'll be cooking it up in style with this extensive collection of healthy salmon recipes.
First up, Cedar Plank-Grilled Salmon with Mango Kiwi Salsa. Since the skin won't be in direct contact with the grill to get nice and crisp, go with skinless fillets. The smoky fish can stand up to the spicy sweetness of a tropical fruit salsa. Prepare it before the fish so the flavors have time to meld.
Plank-Grilled Salmon with Grape Relish
Serve this dish with pinot noir. Briny olives, sweet grapes, and rich salmon match well with the balance of earthiness and acidity found in a pinot noir. Substitute picholine or other green olives, if necessary.
Salmon with Spinach Salad and Miso Vinaigrette
The gingery vinaigrette in this dish is also delicious with a steak salad. Wild Alaskan salmon is a sure sustainable choice. Avoid farmed salmon.
Hoisin-Glazed Salmon Burgers with Pickled Cucumber
Quick-pickled cukes give these burgers tart crunch. Panko and egg white hold the patties together. Use cilantro leaves on the burgers as you would lettuce for herby freshness.
Grilled King Salmon with Tomato-Peach Salsa
Use a peach that’s just ripe so it’s juicy but still holds its shape. King (also called chinook) salmon is the best quality and works well in this dish, though sockeye works too.
Smoked Salmon in Cucumber Boats
You can make the salmon mixture up to a day in advance. Sprinkle with chopped parsley for a more finished look.
Barbecue Salmon and Snap Pea Slaw
Salmon is low in calories and rich in healthy fats. It goes beautifully with a sweet, salty, spicy glaze and this ingenious crunchy slaw.
Pan-Grilled Salmon with Red Pepper Salsa
This vibrant salmon recipe is pretty when plated and delicious when devoured. It might just be your new go-to salmon recipe.
Crispy Salmon and Arugula Salad with Carrot-Ginger Vinaigrette
This dressing is so fresh, so addictive, you might want to spoon it over everything. Simply made from a base of carrots and orange juice, it has Asian overtones, as does the salad, with its droplets of roasted sesame oil and rice vinegar. This sophisticated dish comes together quickly and is a great, healthy option for the family..
Salmon and Bok Choy
Light, sweet, and salty flavors come to play in this delicious meal. Vibrant bok choy is the perfect bed for broiled salmon, but the best part is how quickly this recipe comes together.
Grilled Salmon and Brown Butter Couscous
Flavorful grilled salmon is served alongside fluffy couscous and fresh summer squash. For a simple substitution, use thick slices of yellow squash and zucchini in place of baby squash.
Wasabi Salmon Burgers with Edamame-Cilantro Pesto
Tofu binds the ingredients together in this salmon dish. Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs) yields a crisp crust on these juicy burgers.
Seared Salmon with Wilted Spinach
A thicker center-cut salmon fillet will yield best results in this preparation. Sautéed grape tomatoes add a hint of sweetness.
Salmon Sandwiches
Not only delicious, but sustainable too, Alaskan salmon tastes divine when nestled between two slices of bread and topped with a yogurt sauce made with fresh mint.
Salmon with Red Pepper Pesto
If you don't like the bite of raw garlic, drop the clove in boiling water for 1 minute to blanch, then proceed with the pesto.
Smoked Salmon Dip
We cut the calories and sat fat typically found in this dish in half by using light cream cheese and sour cream.
Grilled Salmon with Chorizo and Fingerlings
Smoked paprika emphasizes the grilled flavor of the fish, while Spanish chorizo adds a smokiness to the dish.
Smoked Salmon and Egg Sandwich
This decadent sandwich would be perfect for brunch. Look for salmon that's labeled "wild Alaskan," and you can be sure you're getting sustainable seafood. You can also use soft-boiled eggs in place of the poached eggs.
Maple-Glazed Salmon
Put together a big batch of the spice rub, and keep it in an airtight container; use it to add flavor to meat and fish on weeknights. Serve with Tomato-Dill Couscous.
Seared Salmon with Jalapeño Ponzu
Simply prepared, with just a little heat, this is a quick and easy recipe that plays up everything salmon has to offer.
Smoked Salmon Sandwiches with Ginger Relish
You'll love everything about this sandwich. From the crunchy whole-wheat baguette to the sweet and tangy relish—not to mention the flavorful smoked salmon—you'll be raving about this one.
Grilled Salmon with Smoky Tomato Salsa
The salsa brings the heat as a topping to the salmon, but if you prefer a milder relish, remove seeds from the jalapeño before grilling. Serve with lime wedges for a pretty presentation.
Smoked Salmon Thin-Crust Pizza
The crisp cracker crust of this pizza makes a pleasing contrast to the velvety soft salmon.
Pineapple Teriyaki Salmon
For a delicious teriyaki salmon dinner, check out this Asian-inspired salmon recipe featuring a glaze made from pineapple juice, brown sugar, soy sauce, and orange zest.
Broiled Salmon Fillets with Curried Chutney Sauce
This quick sweet-and-sour sauce puts chutney to good use, while cider vinegar and curry powder add tang and deepen the flavor. The sauce also pairs well with grilled chicken breasts.
Open-Faced Smoked Salmon Sandwich
This sandwich is basically a riff on Hawaii's beloved lomi-lomi salmon, a salad of salted fish and tomatoes.
Tomato-Citrus Salmon
Tangy tomatoes, sweet oranges, and briny olives bring lively color and bold flavor to this simple dish.
Indian-Spiced Salmon with Basmati Rice
"The Indian-Spiced Salmon and Nutty Basmati Rice were both great!" said reader Connie Hendon. "They were easy to prepare and did not require a lot of time. I simply cooked some fresh green beans to go with these two dishes, and we had an easy, complete meal. My family loved them. Oh, and of course no one noticed that it did not have gluten."
Marinated Salmon with Mango-Kiwi Relish
Marinate salmon fillets in a homemade mixture of honey, soy sauce, and olive oil, cook in a grill pan or skillet, and serve with a homemade fruit relish for an easy salmon entrée with a tropical twist. Pair with mixed greens and steamed couscous for a complete meal.
Smoked Salmon with Tangy Horseradish Sauce
Although smoked Irish salmon is traditional, any smoked salmon will work in this dish―just make sure to purchase smoked wild salmon because it’s a sustainable choice.
Broiled Salmon with Marmalade-Dijon Glaze
Although quick enough for a hectic weeknight, this broiled salmon dish will impress guests. Serve with salad and roasted potatoes.
Sweet Orange Salmon
Eight ingredients combine in a spice rub that would also be good on pork tenderloin medallions. Serve this flavorful salmon dish with orange wedges.
Grilled Salmon and Spinach Salad
The citrus vinaigrette blends well with the smoky salmon, sweet orange slices, and crisp spinach in this super fast, super healthy recipe.
Cedar Plank-Grilled Salmon with Avocado-Orange Salsa
Serve this smoky, flavorful salmon with Roasted Asparagus with Dijon-Lemon Sauce to round out the meal.
Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon
Use any combination of herbs you like for this easy and tasty starter. We chose the trio of chives, tarragon, and dill, but feel free to use your culinary imagination for this one.
Salmon with Spicy Cucumber Salad and Peanuts
The spicy-sweet vinegar dressing in the salad complements the salmon seasoned with just salt and pepper. To easily seed the cucumber, peel, cut in half lengthwise, and scrape the seeds out with a spoon.
Five-Spice Salmon with Leeks in Parchment
Cooking this fish in a parchment pouch uses both the radiant heat of the oven and steam inside the packet to produce moist, succulent results. Toasting and grinding the spices takes a little extra time but pays off with vivid flavor.
Slow-Roasted Brown Sugar and Dill Cured Salmon
Slow roasting the cured fish gives the salmon a velvety, silken texture.
Salmon Croquettes
By pairing this quick recipe with a light salad, you can impress guests and have time to enjoy the meal.
Smoked Salmon Crostini
You can prepare the salmon topping earlier in the day and keep it refrigerated until ready to assemble. These appetizers look great assembled like canapés. Serve these immediately after toasting and assembling since gluten-free bread can toughen quickly if left out after heating or toasting.
Herb-Crusted Salmon with Mixed Greens Salad
Chopped fresh herbs dress up salmon fillets in this light recipe. The homemade vinaigrette brightens salad greens while keeping calories and fat in check. Serve salmon with lemon wedges.
Salmon with Satsuma-Soy Glaze
Sweet citrus like oranges, tangerines, or clementines can stand in for the brilliant gold satsumas. But keep in mind that satsuma rind is milder than orange rind.
Salmon Skewers with Lemon-Parsley Pesto
Prepare this dish just before grilling so the pesto maintains its color.
Crispy Skin Salmon with Fiery Asian Slaw
Skin-on salmon fillets provide the best flavor and texture for this recipe.
Fresh Corn Blinis with Smoked Salmon and Chive Cream
Traditional blinis consist of flour pancakes topped with sour cream and caviar, but our version features sweet corn pancakes topped with cold-smoked salmon and homemade chive cream. These easy apps are a great way to use up extra corn-on-the-cob you might have picked up at the market.
Sweet Corn Chowder with Hot-Smoked Salmon
The fish, used in place of the bacon often found in traditional chowder recipes, adds heart-healthy fats and protein. Great made ahead, this soup gets better with time.
Fresh Salmon-Cilantro Burgers
Skip the beef and serve a Mexican-inspired salmon burger topped with a fresh lime-cilantro mayonnaise sauce. A spinach salad with a sweet, slightly spicy Asian-influenced dressing makes a tasty accompaniment.
Cajun Salmon Cakes with Lemon-Garlic Aioli
This recipe uses canned salmon to make things quicker and easier. The crisp pan-fried patties get flavor from spicy Cajun seasoning and pungent Dijon mustard, as well as the garlicky, creamy aioli for dipping.
Mini Smoked Salmon Pizzas
Gyoza skins are the Japanese equivalent of wonton wrappers; you'll likely find both in the refrigerated section of the supermarket. If you can't find gyoza skins, substitute round wonton wrappers.
Grilled Orange-and-Bourbon Salmon
To make a complete meal, serve the salmon over a bed of brown rice, with green beans and a salad on the side. Save some orange-and-bourbon marinade and drizzle over the salmon and rice to impart complementing flavors of bourbon and citrus throughout.
Smoked Salmon and Cheese Mini Twice-Baked Potatoes
This scrumptious low-cal finger food was developed by reader Abigail McMahon who was inspired by Ireland. "I love Ireland and the country's wonderful food. When I think of Irish food, the first items that come to mind are potatoes, salmon, and cheese." Luckily, this recipe has all three.
Chipotle Salmon Burgers
Shape the patties up to eight hours in advance, and cook just before serving. Use a grill pan or nonstick skillet to cook them since they may not hold up on a standard grill. If you have a mini food processor, use it to prepare the mayonnaise mixture. You can use regular hamburger buns instead of English muffins.
Grilled Salmon with Apricot-Mustard Glaze
Friends and family will beg for the recipe when you serve this sophisticated take on salmon. Brush the fruit reduction on the fish at the last minute to prevent sugars from burning on the grill.
Salmon with Maple-Lemon Glaze
Finish the salmon under the broiler to caramelize the glaze into a tasty browned crust. Serve with roasted potato wedges and peas.
Almond-Chive Salmon
In this simple entrée, almonds supply vitamin E, while salmon delivers a good amount of niacin. Vary the herbs according to your preference; try dill, thyme, or basil.
Grilled Salmon with Roasted Corn Relish
Just about every ingredient here is a seasonal specialty, from the corn, tomato, and chile peppers to fresh cilantro and salmon. Charring the chiles, corn, and salmon on the grill infuses everything with a light smoky flavor that brings the whole dish together.
Salmon Croquettes with Rémoulade
A secret herb was the key to this recipe for croquette conoisseur klasshen, who also offers a tip. "Delicious! I've made dozens of different salmon croquette recipes, but never with tarragon. The tarragon adds such a unique taste. I highly recommend chilling the mixture according to the directions. I skipped the chilling and had a hard time getting the patties to stay together."
Slow-Roasted Salmon with Bok Choy and Coconut Rice
This Asian-flavored fish dish is extra tender from long, low-temperature cooking and is matched perfectly by the creamy rice and crisp stir-fried bok choy.
Grilled Salmon with Tangy Cucumber Sauce
This recipe showcases the classic combination of salmon, cucumber, and horseradish. Use two spatulas to make handling the salmon easier. Garnish with lemon wedges, if desired.
Bourbon-Glazed Salmon
Brown sugar and bourbon combine to create the perfect sweet and smoky flavor that infuses this already-flavorful fish. Cooking time can vary, depending on the thickness of salmon. As a general rule, cook 10 minutes for each inch of thickness. Then check the center and make sure it’s light pink and opaque.
Miso-Glazed Salmon with Wilted Spinach
This Asian-inspired fish is a great weeknight meal, and you can save more time by purchasing pretoasted sesame seeds. Look for them in the spice aisle.
Salmon with Cucumber Salad and Dill Sauce
Prepare the sauce up to one day ahead, and refrigerate. Wild salmon is preferable if it's in season. Its rich, vivid flavor will only make the dish better.
Salmon with Hoisin Glaze
This five-ingredient salmon marinates for eight minutes then cooks for eight minutes and is guaranteed to please.
Grilled Wild Salmon and Vegetables
You often can find different varieties of locally grown onions at farmers' markets and occasionally at supermarkets. This recipe calls for more readily available varieties that you shouldn’t have any trouble finding. Use a grill basket to cook the fish and vegetables.
Smoked Salmon Dip
The trick to this easy recipe is blending some of the salmon in the food processor, so its taste gets spread throughout, but also folding in some larger bits for textural contrast.
Harissa Salmon
Harissa is a spicy Tunisian condiment that also pairs well with chicken. Our homemade version, which you can prepare a day or two ahead and refrigerate, is a bit milder than the fiery canned harissa you'd find in Middle Eastern markets. Add more chile paste if you want to turn up the heat.
Coconut-Crusted Salmon with Tamarind Barbecue Sauce
Make your own barbecue sauce using sour-sweet tamarind instead of vinegar for a lower-sodium, Southeast Asian twist on a familiar condiment. Store leftover sauce for up to one week in an airtight container in the fridge. Use it on shrimp, roasted pork, or chicken. Serve with jasmine rice and lime wedges.
Moroccan Salmon
Sweet peppers, tangy lemon slices, and heady spices come together in this simple dish that yields tender fish and vegetables in a flavorful sauce. Serve in bowls over couscous or basmati rice to soak up the tasty juices.
Hot-Smoked Salmon Quesadillas
Cotija is a salty aged Mexican cheese. Shredded Monterey Jack helps hold the quesadillas together. Jalapeño brings an added kick of heat to the hot-smoked salmon.
Indian-Spiced Roast Salmon
Serve with sliced cucumbers drizzled with low-fat bottled vinaigrette to round out the meal.
Lemon-Dill Salmon Croquettes with Horseradish Sauce
These salmon croquettes are perfection when plated with a dollop of tangy horseradish sauce. Serve with green beans and your favorite brown rice recipe for a complete meal.
Grilled Salmon and Grapefruit Salad with Blood Orange Vinaigrette
The tart-and-sweet flavor combination in grapefruit matches the tender salmon's sweetness and elevates its flavor. Blood orange juice gives the dressing intense orange flavor, but any citrusy vinaigrette will do.
Maple Grilled Salmon
The sweet-sour marinade is cooked down to a syrupy glaze that's brushed on the salmon as it cooks. The citrus and maple flavors would also be tasty with pork. Garnish fillets with orange slices, if desired.
Spice-Rubbed Roasted Salmon with Lemon-Garlic Spinach
The spice rub lends an earthy, exotic taste. Lemon-Garlic Spinach is a light side that complements the fish nicely.
Mediterranean Salmon Salad
Shorter pastas like orzo generally cook faster than the longer varieties. In a pinch, use canned drained wild sockeye salmon—and flake with two forks—in place of the sautéed fillets.
Broiled Salmon with Roasted Tomato Sauce
You can store salmon, loosely wrapped, on your refrigerator's bottom shelf for no more than two days before cooking. Roasting the tomatoes imbues them with flavor that's a delicious match for the rich broiled salmon. Garnish fish with a sprig of oregano.
Smoked Salmon-Cardamom Spread
This easy, no-cook spread is terrific with any kind of cracker or crisp bread. Prepare it up to a day ahead, and refrigerate.
Orange-Glazed Salmon Fillets with Rosemary
Fresh rosemary and a little maple syrup infuse aromatic and faintly sweet flavor into this speedy salmon dish.
Chili-Garlic Glazed Salmon
The sweet, salty, and spicy flavors of this colorful glaze permeate the salmon as it cooks, creating a succulent dish that tantalizes the taste buds.
Honey-Ginger Glazed Salmon with Arugula Salad
Serve an elegant, company-worthy dinner in just 40 minutes. A mixture of lemon juice, honey, ginger, and garlic acts as both a marinade and a glaze for the salmon.
Smoked Salmon Puffs
Bread flour lends these savory pastries height and structure.
Pan-Seared Salmon with Pineapple-Jalapeño Relish
Tangy, spicy, and fruity, this inviting recipe belies its simple preparation. Seed the jalapeño pepper if you prefer a milder dish, and serve over coconut rice.
Smoked Salmon and Dill Tortilla
"I always request authentic bagels and lox when my sister visits from New York City," said reader recipe developer KKD. "In this recipe, I used smoked salmon to create a Spanish tortilla with buttery potatoes, onions, and dill. Serve with fresh fruit. Make this the night before, refrigerate, and serve at room temperature."
Almond-Crusted Salmon
In this quick and easy recipe, rich salmon, coated in almond meal, acquires a toasted flavor reminiscent of browned butter. Serve with broccoli rabe, orzo pasta, and pinot noir.
Potato and Double-Horseradish Salmon
Horseradish is used in two forms in this preparation—prepared and wasabi powder (Japanese horseradish). Prepare the salmon, through Step 3, up to one day ahead. Bake just before serving.
Quick-Cured Sake Salmon with Quinoa
Sake's nutty flavor complements the quinoa and helps tenderize the salmon. This method is a quick way to cure the fish.
Spiced Salmon with Mustard Sauce
A basic honey mustard adds the unexpected ginger and pepper notes of turmeric to make this dish different. Broiling leaves the salmon moist and tender and caramelizes the sauce slightly for additional flavor. Greens make a great side―try kale cooked with hoisin sauce; chard sautéed with garlic, lemon juice, and pepper; or a spinach salad with red onions and vinaigrette.
Roasted Salmon with Fresh Vegetables
Bagged fresh green beans and fuss-free grape tomatoes, along with potato wedges, make up the vegetables and starch for this dish, all prepared in one pan. Because they take longest, the potatoes cook alone for the first 10 minutes.
Classic Gravlax
Serve this buttery-soft cured salmon as an appetizer on brown bread with fresh dill, Dijon mustard, thinly sliced cucumbers, and grated lemon rind. We found that high-quality wild salmon yields the best results.
Roasted Wild Salmon and Dill
If wild salmon isn't in season just yet, look for fresh-frozen (labeled "fish frozen at sea" or FAS) fish in stores, or order online from SeaBear Wild Salmon.
Salmon, Asparagus, and Orzo Salad with Lemon-Dill Vinaigrette
This savory salad epitomizes the concept of fresh food fast. It's quick and easy and loaded with flavorful ingredients such as crisp-tender asparagus, perfectly cooked pink salmon, red onion, and a refreshing lemon juice–based vinaigrette. It received our highest Test Kitchens rating.
Grilled Salmon Caesar Salad
Prepare the dressing up to a day ahead. Coho salmon is especially good in this salad.
Salmon en Papillote with Dill-Yogurt Sauce
Use a dry white wine if you don't have vermouth on hand. Serve with a salad to round out the meal.
Seared Salmon on Herbed Mashed Peas
Simply seasoned salmon shows off its flaky texture atop a unique side―mashed green peas with basil, tarragon, and lemon. The color is gorgeous, the flavor fresh, and the texture creamy, but the best part is the peas are much more healthful than starchy mashed potatoes loaded down with butter, cream, and salt.
Broiled Salmon with Peppercorn-Lime Rub
Spice up fish night by giving salmon a delectable 4-ingredient rub before cooking. A quick quinoa-vegetable salad rounds out the meal.
Smoked Salmon Buckwheat Pinwheels
Look for packaged sliced smoked salmon. Conveniently, each slice should be one ounce.
Twice-Baked Salmon Potatoes
Pair these spuds with a green salad. We tested this recipe with hot-smoked salmon fillets, but the canned variety will work fine.
Wasabi Salmon
A combination of a five-minute soy-wasabi marinade and high-heat searing gives the salmon a tasty brown crust.
Broiled Salmon Over Parmesan Grits
Flavorful salmon fillets are delicious over creamy Parmesan grits. This dish is special enough for company but comforting enough for a quiet, weeknight dinner.
Salmon Burgers
Give beef a break and try quick, simple salmon burgers. Combine salmon with red onion and fresh basil to make a hearty burger with less than 200 calories. Enjoy on toasted focaccia bread for a gourmet meal that’s ready in 10 minutes.
