Baked Honey Lime Garlic Butter Salmon recipe is a perfect sweet, tangy and savory sauce that will bring out the salmon’s natural flavors. The honey and lime add a different kind of depth to the dish, and the garlic butter sauce gives each fillet aromatic notes.
For a full meal, serve this with roasted asparagus, steamed rice, or a crunchy salad on the side. The lime wedges provide a bright pop, key for a person who likes an extra touch of citrus in every bite. Savor this simple, tasty, and colorful salmon dish!
Why You’re Going to Love This Baked Salmon Recipe:
Pantry Friendly: With only a few pantry staples, this recipe packs a surprisingly delicious flavor profile, with absolutely no fuss.
Quick and Easy: It takes under 30 minutes to make this salmon, so it’s totally a weeknight meal, but fancy enough to serve for a special occasion.
Balanced Taste: Each bite is both sweet and tangy with a touch of garlic butter – the balance of all three flavors is unmatched!
Nutritious: Loaded with protein and omega-3 fatty acids; good for heart and brain health. With simple, wholesome ingredients, this recipe keeps those health benefits intact.
Let’s get into the ingredients and how-to that make this dish a winner!
Key Ingredients:
Here, a closer look at the ingredients, along with tips and possible substitutions to get the most out of this delicious recipe.
Salmon Fillets: Opt for fresh center-cut fillets for even cooking. Wild-caught salmon has more flavor; farm-raised has a milder flavor. For your best results, look for fillets that are around 1 inch thick.
Butter: Unsalted butter is best so you can regulate the saltiness. If using salted butter, use less or no additional salt.
Garlic: Fresh-minced garlic offers aromatic, savory depth to the sauce. You can set the quantity as per your requirements.
1 tbsp honey: Honey brings sweetness to the mix to balance out the tartness of the lime. If you’d rather use another sweetener, maple syrup’s lovely.
Lime Juice and Zest: You need the lime juice for an acidic tang that balances the butter and honey; the zest provides fragrant, bright notes. Zest intensifies the lime flavor, so don’t omit it!
Fresh Parsley: The parsley adds a little color, as well as some freshness. You might instead try cilantro, for a sharper, more herbaceous note.
Lime Wedges: Since lime juice is used to taste, serving with the wedges gives people the option of adding more lime juice for flavor.
Instructions
Step 1: Preheat and Prepare
If using fresh spinach, preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C!). To prevent sticking and for easy cleanup, line a baking sheet with foil or parchment.
Step 2: Season the Salmon
Pat the salmon fish fillets dry with paper towels to help seasonings adhere and to get a good sear.
Salt and pepper both sides of each fillet, to taste.
Step 3: Make the Sauce
In a small bowl, mix and whisk together:
3 tablespoons melted butter
2 cloves minced garlic
2 tablespoons honey
Juice and zest of 1 lime
Whisk until well combined; the butter adds a luscious base, and the honey and lime add both sweetness and acidity.
Step 4: Add Flavor
Spoon the honey lime garlic butter sauce evenly over top of each salmon fillet, coating each piece well.
Step 5: Bake
Put the baking tray in an oven at the hot end of 15 to 18 minutes. The salmon is ready when it flakes easily when poked with a fork.
For a more golden, slightly crisped top, broil the fillets for the final 2 to 3 minutes of baking, watching closely to avoid burning.
Step 6: Garnish and Serve
Take it out of the oven, and sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley on top for a fresh, herbal hit.
Serve hot, with lime wedges on the side, for an extra burst of citrus. Serve up a beautifully balanced dish with this delicious salmon dinner!
Serving Suggestions:
This salmon is flexible and works with a lot of sides. Here are a couple of ideas for turning it into a proper meal:
Rice or quinoa: Fluffy rice or nutty quinoa goes well to soak up the honey lime sauce.
Steamed or Roasted Vegetables: Go for asparagus, green beans or broccoli — all good options as sides that add some color and good nutrition to the plate.
Mixed Green Salad: a bright and fresh accompaniment would be a simple salad of arugula, spinach and cucumbers, tossed in a citrus vinaigrette.
Garlic Mashed Potatoes: Creamy garlic mashed potatoes are a hearty side that will fill you up and make a great match with the salmon if you’re looking for something a little more substantial.
