Description
This Christmas Salmon recipe is perfect for the holidays, featuring a flavorful combination of maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and fresh herbs, all baked to perfection on a bed of citrus slices. It’s a simple, yet elegant dish that will impress your guests and bring festive flavor to your holiday table. Serve it with roasted vegetables or a fresh salad for a healthy, delicious meal.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each, skin on or off)
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 tsp lemon zest
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme, chopped (or 1 tsp dried thyme)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 1 orange, thinly sliced (for bed)
- 1 lemon, thinly sliced (for bed)
Instructions
Preheat the oven:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
2. Prepare the citrus bed:
- Arrange the thin slices of orange and lemon in a single layer on a baking sheet or in a baking dish. This will act as the base for your salmon.
3. Make the glaze:
- In a small bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, Dijon mustard, olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, fresh thyme, salt, and pepper.
4. Prepare the salmon:
- Place the salmon fillets on top of the citrus slices. Spoon the maple-Dijon glaze over the salmon fillets, making sure to coat them evenly.
5. Bake the salmon:
- Roast the salmon in the preheated oven for 12-15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork (internal temperature of 145°F/63°C).
6. Garnish and serve:
- Once the salmon is cooked, remove it from the oven. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve with the roasted citrus slices for added flavor.
Notes
- You can substitute fresh thyme with rosemary for a different flavor profile.
- If you like your salmon a little crispier, you can broil it for the last 1-2 minutes of cooking.
- Serve this salmon with roasted vegetables like Brussels sprouts, carrots, or potatoes for a complete festive meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 fillet (approx. 6 oz)
- Calories: 300 kcal
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 150mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 15g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 70mg