Baked Salmon Honey Glaze (Printable)

Tender salmon fillets baked with a sticky, sweet-savory honey garlic glaze for an elegant main dish.

# What You Need:

→ Fish

01 - 4 skinless salmon fillets (6 oz each)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - Salt, to taste
04 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Honey Garlic Glaze

05 - 1/4 cup honey
06 - 3 tablespoons soy sauce (gluten-free if needed)
07 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
09 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard (optional)
10 - 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)

→ Garnish

11 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley or chives
12 - Lemon wedges, for serving

# Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or lightly grease it.
02 - Pat salmon fillets dry, place on baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
03 - Combine honey, soy sauce, minced garlic, lemon juice, and Dijon mustard if using in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth.
04 - Pour half of the glaze evenly over the salmon fillets, reserving the remainder.
05 - Bake salmon for 12 to 15 minutes until it flakes easily with a fork and is just cooked through.
06 - While salmon bakes, gently simmer the reserved glaze in a small saucepan over low heat for 2 to 3 minutes until slightly thickened.
07 - Remove salmon from oven, brush or drizzle with thickened glaze, garnish with chopped herbs, and serve with lemon wedges.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • The glaze caramelizes into a sticky, lacquered coating that makes plain salmon taste like something from a restaurant.
  • Everything comes together in under half an hour, so you can have a beautiful dinner on the table even on busy nights.
  • The flavor is bold enough to impress guests but simple enough that you will want to make it every week.
02 -
  • Do not overbake the salmon or it will turn dry and chalky, pull it from the oven the moment it flakes easily and still looks moist in the center.
  • Simmering the reserved glaze concentrates the flavor and gives you that restaurant-style drizzle that clings instead of running off.
  • If your fillets are thinner than six ounces, start checking for doneness at the ten-minute mark to avoid overcooking.
03 -
  • For a deeper caramelization, switch your oven to broil for the last one to two minutes and watch it closely so the glaze bubbles and darkens without burning.
  • Let the salmon rest for two minutes after baking so the juices redistribute and every bite stays tender and moist.
  • Use a pastry brush to apply the glaze if you want an even, glossy coating that looks like it came from a professional kitchen.

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