Mediterranean Baked Salmon is a simple yet impressive and delicious dish, whether you serve it as the centerpiece of a holiday dinner table for special occasions or as a quick weeknight dinner.
It is the perfect combination of fresh salmon fillet marinated with Mediterranean flavors such as lemon juice, olive oil, and garlic.
Ready in just 25 minutes, this tender, and perfectly flaky baked salmon will be your new favorite seafood recipe!
Jump to:
- Why This Recipe Works
- Healthy Mediterranean Style Baked Salmon
- Guide for Buying the Right Salmon
- Ingredients You'll Need
- How to Bake Marinated Salmon?
- Top Tips From the Chef
- What to Serve with Marinated Baked Salmon?
- Mediterranean Salmon Recipe Variations
- Storage and Reheating Instructions
- Recipe FAQs
- Related Recipes
- Mediterranean Baked Salmon
We love salmon as they are easy to make, delicious, and packed with nutrition.
I often make Individual Salmon en Croute, Salmon and Spinach Quiche, or this flavorsome marinated Baked Mediterranean Salmon for dinner.
This simple recipe combines Mediterranean flavors with fresh salmon filet to make the most succulent, and mouth-watering salmon!
Why This Recipe Works
- A whole side of baked salmon is a great alternative to Oven Roasted Turkey or Slow Cooked Lamb Shoulder for a holiday dinner if you’re cooking for a smaller group.
- This sheet pan Salmon recipe is extremely easy to make, even if you are new to cooking.
- Mediterranean Baked Salmon is made with a few simple ingredients and is ready in just 25 minutes with minimal hands-on preparation—a perfect meal for busy weeknights that the whole family will love.
- This healthy recipe is full of nutrition, as well as being gluten-free, and dairy free.
Healthy Mediterranean Style Baked Salmon
Salmon is extremely rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and a great source of protein, vitamins, and potassium.
Having salmon in your diet can help reduce inflammation, lower blood pressure, and decrease risk factors for diseases.
So I try to have salmon or any other fish such as Baked Sea Bass in Foil - Firinda Levrek (another delicious Mediterranean-style recipe) at least twice a week.
This Baked Salmon is probably the easiest way to put together a healthy meal on the table.
The simple Mediterranean marinade of garlic, olive oil, and lemon juice provides you with the most flavorsome, flaky, and juicy piece of salmon.
Simply serve it with a side of Frozen Sweet Potato Fries in Air Fryer or Ratatouille Nicoise for an easy and healthy family dinner that the whole family will enjoy.
Guide for Buying the Right Salmon
There are many options when it comes to buying salmon, and it can be confusing to decide which one to get.
This recipe calls for a large fillet of salmon, approximately 500 grams (1.1 lbs) equivalent to half of a side salmon.
However, you can buy smaller fillets and reduce the cooking time if you prefer.
Look out for the freshest salmon filets, and if possible, wild-caught ones from a fishmonger.
Although they are pricier than the farmed ones, wild salmon tastes so much better and are nutrient-rich.
If you are in doubt, you can ask the fishmonger to help you with choosing high-quality and fresh salmon.
If you prefer your salmon skinless, ask your fishmonger to remove it for you.
Also, make sure there are no bones left in the salmon fillets. You can use fish bone pliers to remove the bones from salmon fillets.
Ingredients You'll Need
Please scroll down to the recipe card below for the full ingredients list with measurements, complete recipe method, recipe notes, and nutritional information.
- Salmon - I use a large salmon fillet but you can buy individual salmon fillets if you prefer. Make sure you reduce the cooking time by a few minutes if you want to use small fillets!
- Lemon juice - It brightens and enriches the fish flavor and creates a pleasant contrast between the slightly salty fish meat and mildly sweet citrus. Add the zest of half of a lemon for a stronger citrusy flavor.
- Olive oil - I use extra virgin olive oil for the marinade. You can use any other olive oil or vegetable oil instead.
- Garlic - Fresh garlic is a great flavoring that adds sweetness and nuttiness to fish. You can adjust the amount to your taste.
- Other flavorings - A simple combination of thyme (dry or fresh), paprika, sea salt, and freshly ground black pepper is my go-to seasoning for this recipe. You can also incorporate your favorite Mediterranean flavors and customize them to suit your taste
How to Bake Marinated Salmon?
This is a very easy recipe with just a few simple ingredients.
However, you need to follow a few simple steps to achieve the best results:
Take your salmon fillet(s) out of the fridge and let them sit on the counter for about 15 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
To make the marinade, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, paprika, thyme, garlic, and freshly ground pepper.
Place the salmon fillet(s) into a lightly greased or parchment paper-lined baking dish skin side down.
Pour over the marinade on top of the fish and spread it evenly using a silicon brush.
At this stage, you can let the salmon marinate for 30 minutes (in this case, skip bringing the salmon to room temperature) before baking it.
If you are in a hurry, skip the marinating time and preheat your oven to 190° C (375° F).
When the oven is hot, place the baking dish and cook the salmon for 18 to 20 minutes, until its color turned opaque and it flakes easily with a fork.
The thickest point of the salmon fillet should reach 52º C (125º F).
Top Tips From the Chef
- If you don’t want to use a large salmon filet, you can make this recipe with 4 individual salmon fillets by reducing the cooking time to 12 to 14 minutes.
- Do not marinate your salmon fillet for more than 4 hours as the fish will get mushy from the acid breaking down the proteins.
- Take your salmon fillet(s) out of the fridge and let them sit on the counter for about 15 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
- Cook your salmon fillet until the thickest point reaches 52º C (125º F). You can also check for doneness using a fork. The salmon should be easily flaked by a fork and the color should turn opaque.
- The cooking time might vary depending on the thickness of your salmon and the desired doneness of the fish.
- Do not freeze the leftovers if you cooked your dish from frozen salmon fillet(s)!
What to Serve with Marinated Baked Salmon?
This delicious Mediterranean-flavored salmon dish pairs beautifully with a side of simple salad like Orzo Pasta Salad, Watermelon Feta Salad with Nasil and Cucumber, Easy Chicken Macaroni Salad, Potatoes au Gratin - Dauphinoise Potatoes, or Lebanese Fattoush Salad.
Other great side dishes to serve with baked salmon are Potato Boulangere, Zeytinyagli Pirasa Yemegi (Turkish Braised Leeks), Air Fryer Brussel Sprouts, and Barbunya (Turkish Style Borlotti Beans).
You can have a look at my 16 Best Side Dishes for Salmon round-up post for more ideas about what to serve with Mediterranean Baked Salmon.
Mediterranean Salmon Recipe Variations
- Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, and sun-dried tomatoes on top of the salmon before baking. The creamy and tangy feta complements the Mediterranean flavors beautifully.
- Cut the salmon into chunks, marinate, and thread onto skewers with colorful bell peppers and red onion. Grill or broil for a delightful skewer dish.
- Replace salmon with sea bass fillets or tuna steaks if salmon is not your preferred fish option.
Storage and Reheating Instructions
Storage
You can keep the leftovers for up to 2 days when refrigerated in an airtight container.
Alternatively, you can freeze the leftovers for up to 2 months If you want to keep them longer.
Do not freeze the leftovers if you cooked your dish from frozen salmon fillet(s)!
To reheat the Baked Mediterranean Salmon, preheat your oven to a low temperature, around 275°F (135°C).
Reheating
To reheat the Baked Mediterranean Salmon, preheat your oven to a low temperature, around 275°F (135°C).
Place the salmon on an ovenproof dish or a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
Cover the salmon loosely with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out during reheating.
Heat the salmon in the preheated oven for about 10-15 minutes, or until it reaches your desired serving temperature.
Recipe FAQs
You can use the leftover salmon for mixing into your salad, pasta, quiche, fish cakes, or even scrambled eggs!
Cook your salmon fillet until the thickest point reaches 52º C (125º F). You can also check for doneness using a fork.
The salmon should be easily flaked by a fork and the color should turn opaque.
Yes, you can use frozen salmon fillets, but ensure they are properly thawed before marinating and baking.
Pat them dry to remove excess moisture.
If you want to use frozen salmon for this dish, it's best not to freeze the leftovers.
Related Recipes
For more delicious salmon recipes why not try:
Did you make this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out! Leave a comment below and tag @cookingorgeous on Instagram and hashtag it #cookingorgeous.
I hope you enjoy the process of making this delicious and impressive Mediterranean-style Marinated Baked Salmon as much as you enjoy eating it! 🙂
Bon appétit! / Afiyet olsun!
Mediterranean Baked Salmon
Equipment
Ingredients
- 500 g salmon (½ side)
- 1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon good quality olive oil
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon fresh thyme (chopped)
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon paprika
Instructions
- Take your salmon fillet(s) out of the fridge and let them sit on the counter for about 15 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
- To make the marinade, combine the olive oil, lemon juice, salt, paprika, thyme, garlic, and freshly ground pepper.
- Place the salmon fillet(s) into a lightly greased or parchment paper-lined baking dish skin side down.
- Pour over the marinade on the salmon fillet(s) and spread it evenly using a silicon brush.
- At this stage, you can let the salmon marinate for 30 minutes (in this case, skip bringing the salmon to room temperature) before baking it.
- If you are in hurry, skip the marinating time and preheat your oven to 190° C (375° F).
- When the oven is hot, place the baking dish and cook the salmon for 18 to 20 minutes, until its color turned opaque and it flakes easily with a fork.
Notes
- If you don’t want to use a large salmon filet, you can make this recipe with 4 individual salmon fillets by reducing the cooking time to 12 to 14 minutes.
- Do not marinate your salmon fillet for more than 4 hours as the fish will get mushy from the acid breaking down the proteins.
- Take your salmon fillet(s) out of the fridge and let them sit on the counter for about 15 minutes to bring them to room temperature.
- Cook your salmon fillet until the thickest point reaches 52º C (125º F). You can also check for doneness using a fork. The salmon should be easily flaked by a fork and the color should turn opaque.
- The cooking time might vary depending on the thickness of your particular piece of salmon and the desired doneness of the fish.
- Do not freeze the leftovers if you cooked your dish from frozen salmon fillet(s)!
Nutrition
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Helen
This is definitely a keeper, flavoursome and so easy to make! The leftovers were delicious with some bulgur salad. Thank you for the recipe.
Ayla Clulee
I am so pleased to hear that, and thank you for sharing your experience, Helen!
Ayla x