Take all of the flavours of the Mediterranean and sprinkle them over some salmon fillets for a quick and easy Mediterranean Salmon meal that is ready in under 20 minutes. Flake and add to salads or sandwiches, or have with a side of roasted garlic potatoes.
The light and fresh flavours of the mediterranean are always a favourite of ours in the summer months and this Mediterranean salmon has it all. Olives, capers, fresh lemon, garlic, tomatoes, feta and fresh herbs all go in to making this wonderfully light meal that can be served with all of your favourite sides.
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What you will need
- Salmon - We used salmon fillets, but you could use a whole side of salmon. This recipe works well with other fish too - cod, tilapia, pollack, hake or halibut would all be great for this recipe.
- Olives and capers - Makes a nice salty topping - we used mixed olives, but any will do. Not everyone likes capers, so feel free to omit them.
- Cherry tomatoes - Fresh is best - try to use vine ripened tomatoes.
- Sun-dried tomatoes - We wanted this topping to be tomato heavy, so we added some sun-dried tomatoes too.
- Garlic - Mediterranean dishes have to contain garlic!
- Lemon - Freshens the topping up.
- Feta - Adds a lovely creaminess to the topping.
- Parsley - The perfect herb for fish. Dill and chives also compliment salmon extremely well.
Step by step
One: Mix all the topping ingredients in a bowl.
Two: Top the salmon fillets with the olive mixture and bake for 20 minutes.
Why should you try it?
- A delicious way to enjoy salmon
- Great for feeding a crowd
- Easy to adapt
- Great with roasted potatoes or a big green salad
Health benefits of salmon
- It is one of the best sources of long chain omega-3 fatty acids, which have been proven to reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure. Children who regularly consume foods rich in Omega-3 have been shown in studies to have increased concentration levels and improved learning abilities.
- Salmon is an excellent source of high quality protein - a 100g (3.5oz) portion contains 25g of protein.
- Contains high amounts of B vitamins. These are good for repairing DNA and reducing the causes that can lead to heart disease. B vitamins also help maintain optimal brain and nervous system functioning.
- Scientists are investigating the role fish consumption may have in protecting people from some cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, asthma, diabetes, macular degeneration, high blood pressure and multiple sclerosis.
- Contains antioxidants.
How to choose salmon
When it comes to salmon, try to choose the best quality possible. Look out for fillets that look fresh and have a vibrant colour. Dull looking salmon will not be at its best. Also, if it smells overly fishy, that it is probably not very fresh.
What to serve with Mediterranean salmon?
If you want to save some time, then you can add some vegetables to the baking tray at the same time as the salmon and cook them all together. Make sure that they are softer vegetables that will cook at the same time as the salmon. If not, here are some delicious side dishes that will go well with:
- Mediterranean Potato Salad
- Cucumber Dill Salad
- Cilantro Lime Rice
- Greek Potatoes
- Roasted Lemon Asparagus
- Instand Pot Mashed Potatoes
- No Mayo Coleslaw
- Baked Carrot Fries
- Easy Spanish Rice
- Baked Polenta Fries
- Mustard Potato Salad
We served ours with some roasted potato slices, broccoli and salad. However, plain couscous or rice works well, as the salmon itself has a lot of flavour.
FAQs
You can make the topping in advance and mix it all together and then it will keep in the fridge for a day. But it is best to cook the salmon in advance and then add the topping just before serving.
The cooked salmon should flake easily with a fork when it is cooked and to look at the salmon should be cooked all the way through. The fillet should still be a slightly translucent pink in the centre. If the centre is opaque, then it is probably overcooked. However, if the centre is completely translucent, it will need to be cooked longer. The best way to tell if it is fully cooked is to use a meat thermometer. Salmon should be cooked to 62°C.
This is all best made fresh (apart from the topping which can be made in advance and kept in the fridge). However, if you do have leftovers, then you can flake it all up and put in an air tight container and keep it in the fridge for 2 days. It goes nicely on a salad or in a sandwich/wrap.
Whilst this is a salmon recipe, if you want to change things up a bit then you can use a different fish. Cod, tilapia, pollack, hake or halibut are a good substitution for salmon and go really well with the Mediterranean topping.
Extra tips
- You can use frozen salmon fillets (that have been defrosted) and that will save some money as they are generally cheaper than buying fresh.
- If you like your meals with a kick of spice, then add a sprinkling of red chilli flakes before serving.
- You can swap the feta for stilton.
- There is no need to remove the skin of the salmon. It has loads of nutritional benefits and leaving it on for cooking will keep the salmon moist too.
More salmon recipes
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Recipe
Mediterranean Salmon
Ingredients
- 480 g salmon fillets
- 12 g capers - chopped
- 40 g sun-dried tomatoes - chopped
- 90 g cherry tomatoes - chopped
- 75 g mixed olives - sliced
- 10 g fresh parsley - chopped
- 1 lemon - juice only
- 2 garlic cloves - crushed
- 65 g feta - crumbled
Instructions
- Preheat you oven to 220°C/425°F/Gas 7.
- Mix all of the topping ingredients together.
- Top the salmon fillets with the topping mixture.
- Bake in for 20 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through.
Notes
- You can use frozen salmon fillets (that have been defrosted) and that will save some money as they are generally cheaper than buying fresh.
- If you like your meals with a kick of spice, then add a sprinkling of red chilli flakes before serving.
- You can swap the feta for stilton.
- There is no need to remove the skin of the salmon. It has loads of nutritional benefits and leaving it on for cooking will keep the salmon moist too.
Donna
Just tried this. SO good! I served it on some baby greens. Had to swap feta for shaved parmesan as I was out of feta but it still tastes fabulous! Yay, another recipe to add to the que.
Dannii
so happy that you enjoyed it. Using parmesan sounds delicious too.
Annie @ The Garlic Diaries
This salmon looks SO amazing and flavorful, Dannii! I love stuff like this, so I'll definitely have to try it out!
Dannii
It's so easy to make too.
Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom
oh my goodness, how did I miss this one?! I LOVE salmon and can't wait to try this olive and sundried tomato topping! looks delicious!!!
Dannii
I hope you enjoy it :D
cheri
This looks heavenly Dannii, can never have enough salmon recipes.
Dannii
Us too! Salmon is so simple to cook.
shobha
This is very nice recipe.. hubby dear loves salmon. I will make it for him.
Dannii
I hope he enjoys it :)