Description
This flavorful salmon marinade offers a perfect balance of savory, sweet, and tangy notes, enhancing the natural richness of the fish. Made with olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, garlic, honey, and herbs, it’s ideal for grilling or baking salmon fillets to juicy, tender perfection.
Ingredients
Salmon
- 2 pounds salmon fillet, either a whole fillet or cut into 6-oz fillets
Marinade
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ⅓ cup soy sauce (regular or reduced sodium)
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon mild honey
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar (optional)
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
- 4 cloves garlic, minced (or less to taste)
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (from about 1 medium lemon)
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Prep fish: Pat the salmon dry with paper towels. Check carefully for any remaining bones and remove them to ensure a pleasant eating experience.
- Make marinade: In a medium measuring jug, combine olive oil, soy sauce, lemon juice, honey, brown sugar, chopped parsley, minced garlic, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Whisk the mixture thoroughly until all ingredients are well blended.
- Marinate fish: Place the salmon fillets in a large zip-top bag (at least 3-quart size). Pour the marinade over the fish, remove excess air from the bag, seal it, and then place the bag in a shallow dish. Refrigerate for 30 to 60 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate.
- Cook: When ready to cook, remove the salmon from the marinade, discarding both the bag and any leftover marinade. Proceed to cook the salmon using your preferred method—grilling or oven baking—until the fish is opaque throughout and flakes easily with a fork.
- Grill: Preheat your grill to 400-450°F. Oil the grates well to prevent sticking. Place the salmon skin-side down on the grill. Grill for approximately 10-12 minutes per inch of fillet thickness; for example, a 2-inch thick fillet will take about 20 minutes. Individual fillets generally take around 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, let the salmon rest on a plate for 5 minutes before serving.
- Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F. Lightly oil a shallow baking dish and place the salmon inside. Bake for 15-22 minutes depending on thickness and size of the fillets. Individual fillets typically take 12-15 minutes. After baking, allow the salmon to rest for 5 minutes before serving to retain juices.
Notes
- If fresh garlic is unavailable, substitute with ½ to 1 teaspoon of dried garlic powder.
- For a different flavor profile, replace lemon juice and zest with orange juice and zest, reducing honey and sugar quantities by half due to the natural sweetness of orange.
- Optional additions include freshly minced ginger and red pepper flakes for a spicy kick; however, avoid these for children or those sensitive to spice.
- While 30-60 minutes of marinating is ideal, the salmon can be marinated up to 4-6 hours if necessary without compromising flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15-22 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Grilling
- Cuisine: American
