Christmas Baked Salmon: Easy & Make-Ahead Recipe
This Christmas Baked Salmon recipe is a festive and flavorful dish that’s perfect for holiday gatherings. With a delicious blend of Dijon mustard, maple syrup, and fresh herbs, this salmon is easy to prepare ahead of time, allowing you to spend more time with your guests.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 18 minutes
- Total Time: 28 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 side of salmon (about 2–2.5 pounds)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup or honey
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish:
- pomegranate seeds
- fresh herbs
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C) and line a large baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Prepare the salmon: Place the salmon skin-side down on the prepared sheet.
- Make the marinade: In a small bowl, combine olive oil, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, garlic, lemon zest, lemon juice, rosemary, thyme, salt, and pepper. Brush over the salmon.
- Marinate: Let the salmon sit for 10–15 minutes.
- Bake: Bake for 15–18 minutes until cooked through.
- Rest and serve: Let the salmon rest for 5 minutes. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and herbs before serving.
Notes
- This dish can be made ahead by preparing and marinating the salmon up to a day in advance.
- Delicious served warm or at room temperature with roasted vegetables or a festive grain salad.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 310
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 6g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 80mg
