This Lemon and Rosemary Salmon is a really simple and easy salmon recipe, but that doesn't mean it's lacking in flavour. Just a few key ingredients mixed together and rubbed on to salmon fillets before putting them in the oven, and they are transformed. Zesty lemon and fragrant rosemary are mixed with some garlic for a really flavour packed salmon dish that can be prepared in minutes.
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The great thing about salmon, like chicken breasts, is that you can add some many different herbs and spices to it to liven it up without adding loads of extra calories. There are creamy sauces that you can add to salmon, but I like the simplicity of lemon, garlic and rosemary - 3 things that go really well together.
This is such a perfect quick and easy meal to throw together on a summer evening. Even better if you can eat it outside in the early evening sunshine with a glass on wine. This rosemary salmon recipe takes just 15 minutes, so that's more time for relaxing outside.
If you are looking for other ways to use rosemary, then why not try our Garlic and Rosemary Focaccia, Lemon and Rosemary Chicken or Garlic and Rosemary Roast Potatoes.
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Why You Will Love It
- Quick and easy - Just a couple of minutes of prep time goes into making this rosemary salmon, and then you can just let it cook to perfection.
- Minimal ingredients - Only 4 ingredients (plus seasoning) are needed to make this.
- All done in one pan - Less washing up is good with us.
- A great way to use rosemary - If you have some leftover rosemary that you don't know what to do with, then this is a good way to use it up.
Ingredients and Substitutions
A full ingredients list, along with US Customary and Metric measurements, can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post.
- Salmon - We used boneless, skin on salmon.
- Garlic - Freshly crushed is best. Make sure you crunch is almost into a fine paste, so there is even distribution across the salmon. You can save some time by using ready crushed garlic in a jar if you prefer.
- Lemon - This adds some freshness to the sauce. You could use lime juice instead if you prefer.
- Rosemary - Use fresh rather than dried in this recipe.
- Salt and pepper - Generously season.
More ingredient substitutions and variations can be found in the recipe card.
How to Make Lemon Rosemary Salmon
- Preheat your oven to 200°C/180°C(fan)/400°F/Gas 7.
- Mix together the lemon, garlic, rosemary and salt and pepper.
- Put the salmon fillets on a baking tray and rub the mixture on top.
- Put into the preheated oven for 15 minutes.
Serving Suggestions
For a light and fresh meal, serve it with some greens on the side. But we have so many more options for you. We love serving this with our Air Fryer Potato Wedges, however it also goes well with our Cheesy Potato Bake which is one of our favourites for total comfort food. Here are some of our favourite side dishes that go perfectly with this oven baked salmon:
- Parmesan Truffle Fries
- Hasselback Potatoes
- Garlic Smashed Potatoes
- Greek Rice
- Garlic Spring Greens
- Easy Roast Potatoes
- Buttered Leeks
- Mustard Potato Salad
- Cheesy Garlic Bread
- Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
- No Mayo Coleslaw
- The BEST Air Fryer Chips
- Greek Potatoes
- Mediterranean Potato Salad
You could also keep it simple with a big green salad. The key to an epic green salad is to use a variety of greens, like romaine, spinach, kale and rocket. You want leafy greens, but crunch too.
Then you need the perfect dressing. Why not try our Lemon Vinaigrette, Honey and Mustard Dressing or Tomato and Basil Vinaigrette.
Dannii's Top Tips
- To add a bit of sweetness to this, mix a tablespoon of honey into the rosemary, lemon and garlic.
- This salmon can be cooked on the BBQ - just wrap it in foil and put on the BBQ grill for around 20 minutes, until cooked through.
- If you don't like rosemary, you can swap it for thyme or dill.
- Take this rosemary salmon to the next level by sprinkling some Parmesan on top before it goes in the oven.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled, depending on how many people you are serving.
- You could make this recipe using a side of salmon too.
Storage
Store: If you have leftovers of this, you can store it in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. We then flake up the salmon and serve it on a salad with the vegetables.
Freeze: You can freeze this in freezer containers for up to a month.
Defrost: Make sure it has been defrosted in the fridge - this might need to be done overnight. Once the salmon has thawed fully, reheat as mentioned below.
Reheat: You can reheat it in the oven on a low heat. Don't reheat it on a high heat, otherwise it will dry out.
Frequently Asked Questions
No, we wouldn't recommend making this in advance because of the lemon juice in the marinade. The acid in the lemon juice chemically denatures the proteins in the salmon, similar to the way that the proteins are denatured when heated. So, by adding lemon juice and leaving it to rest, it starts to "cook" the salmon. Therefore, this is best cooked straight after adding marinade.
Every BBQ this summer needs some salmon cooking on it, and this grilled salmon recipe will definitely wow your guests. Simply wrap these fillets in foil and put on the BBQ grill for about 20 minutes, making sure they are cooked through before serving.
You can follow this recipe with skin on or off. We find that keeping the skin on helps to lock in the moisture though. Once the salmon is cooked the skin comes off easily anyway.
This salmon takes about 15 minutes to cook in the oven, and it should reach 63°C/145°F - use a meat thermometer for accuracy. For a more visual cue, you want to look out for the salmon flesh to be a little opaque and a knife should easily slide through it.
Salmon, like other fish, develops a grey-ish, brown layer of insulating fat between its skin and flesh. Yes, you can eat it, although it does have a stronger salmon flavour that some people don't like. This grey layer contains omega-3 fatty acids too.
Yes, this can be cooked in the air fryer? Once the salmon is glazed, put it in the air fryer skin side down and cook at 180°C/350°F for 10 minutes.
More Salmon Recipes
If you've tried this rosemary salmon recipe, let us know how you got on in the comments below.
Tag us in your creations on Instagram @hungryhealthyhappy - Use the hashtag #hungryhealthyhappy too.
Recipe
Lemon and Rosemary Salmon
Ingredients
- 240 g (8.5 oz) Salmon fillet
- 2 Garlic clove - crushed
- 1 Lemon - (juice and zest only)
- 2 teaspoon Fresh rosemary - finely chopped
- 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 200℃/180°C(fan)/400℉/Gas 6.
- Place 240 g Salmon fillet fillets on a baking sheet.
- Mix together 2 Garlic clove, juice of 1 Lemon, 2 teaspoon Fresh rosemary and 1 pinch Sea salt and ground black pepper and rub over the salmon.
- Put into the oven and bake for around 15 minutes.
Recipe Tips
- To add a bit of sweetness to this, mix a tablespoon of honey in to the rosemary, lemon and garlic.
- This salmon can be cooked on the BBQ - just wrap it in foil and put on the BBQ grill for around 20 minutes, until cooked through.
- If you don't like rosemary, you can swap it for thyme or dill.
- Take this rosemary salmon to the next level by sprinkling some Parmesan on top before it goes in the oven.
- This recipe can easily be doubled or tripled, depending on how many people you are serving.
- You could make this recipe using a side of salmon too.
Nutritional Information
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The nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
As all appliances vary, cooking times are a guide. Please note that by changing the serving size, the cooking time may also need to be altered.
Erin says
I just put this in the oven and it smells amazing already. Thanks for the recipe!
Mandy says
This looks really tempting. I do enjoy a salmon salad, so perhaps I should get a bit more creative with how I cook salmon.
Elizabeth says
I do love baked salmon. We really ought to eat it more than we do. Your recipe sounds fantastic!
Hayley says
I just got out of work and I was wondering what to make for dinner and then I saw this. So i am stopping off at Tesco and picking up some salmon and rosemary. Thanks for the idea. Love your blog!
Anna @AnnaTheApple says
This just reminds me how I haven't had any asparagus yet!! (or as my grandad calls it, sparrow's grass).
I do love a lemon roasted salmon...heavenly.
Lucy says
I can't stand fish, but I have going to make this with chicken instead, as I think the flavours sound really nice.
Vicky says
I like this idea. We usually just have a squeeze of lemon juice and some white pepper on ours, but I will try adding the garlic and rosemary.
Hannah Wilson says
I am not overly keen on salmon fillets, but I do really like smoked salmon. I usually have it with some cream cheese on toast. Do you have any other suggestions on how to use it?
Selena says
Beautiful photos Dannii. This looks really appetising.
Helen The good life mum says
what a nice recipe i do love salmon and this perks things up yum
Lilla Goatcher (@LillaJade) says
This looks gorgeous! It's so healthy and low fat too! I can see Hubs liking it (he is very particular about eating fish), so perfect summer fish dish! Thank you for sharing!
Kathy says
This sounds lovely and garlicy. Definitely one for next weeks meal plan.
Heather Haigh says
I like mine with a pesto crust. But I will give this a go. Maybe tonight - I have some salmon in the fridge and was just pondering how to cook it this week.
Brandi says
We tried your salmon tacos the other day and we really enjoyed them. We are not usually fans of fish, but it was nice to eat it in a different way.
Paula says
Rosemary is my favourite herb, although they don't seem to have taken in my garden this year for some reason. I have lots of fresh thyme growing though, do you think that would work instead?