How to Make Delicious Sockeye Salmon For A Weeknight Dinner

Sockeye salmon, also known as red salmon, is a delicious and healthy fish that makes for an easy weeknight dinner With its rich flavor and beautiful bright red color, sockeye salmon is a fantastic choice for home cooks looking for a quick protein to add to their meal rotation Follow these simple steps to learn how to make moist, flaky sockeye salmon fillets in less than 30 minutes.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make sockeye salmon, you’ll need just a few simple ingredients:

• Sockeye salmon fillets (4 fillets for 4 servings)
• Olive oil or avocado oil
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)
• Fresh herbs like dill, parsley or chives

Make sure your salmon fillets are about 1-inch thick for even cooking. Sockeye salmon is available fresh during the summer months when it’s in season. However, high-quality frozen sockeye salmon fillets work just as well for this recipe if fresh is not available.

Prep The Salmon Fillets

Before cooking the salmon, you’ll want to prep the fillets:

• Rinse the fillets under cold water and pat dry thoroughly with paper towels. Make sure no moisture remains on the surface.
• Drizzle each fillet with olive oil or avocado oil and rub to coat both sides evenly. This helps prevent the fish from sticking while cooking.
• Generously season each fillet with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Salmon loves bold seasoning so don’t be afraid to add an extra pinch.

Roast The Salmon In The Oven

Roasting the salmon fillets in the oven at a high temperature helps achieve crispy edges and tender, flaky centers in a short amount of time. Here’s how:

• Preheat your oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper or foil.
• Place the oiled and seasoned salmon fillets skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet. Make sure the fillets aren’t touching.
• Roast for 10-12 minutes until the salmon is opaque and flakes apart when gently prodded with a fork. The fish should reach an internal temperature of 125°F.
• After removing from the oven, drizzle each fillet with fresh lemon juice and sprinkle with chopped fresh herbs. This adds brightness and flavor.

Salmon fillets 1-inch thick take about 10-12 minutes to roast while thinner fillets may take 9 minutes and thicker fillets 11-13 minutes. Keep an eye on them and check for doneness early.

Pan-Fry The Salmon For Crispy Skin

For salmon with an ultra-crispy skin, pan-frying is the way to go Follow these steps

• Pat the fillets completely dry as moisture will cause splattering. Generously season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Heat an ovenproof skillet over medium-high heat and add just enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan.
• When the oil is shimmering, carefully place the fillets in skin-side down. Press down gently with a spatula to ensure good contact.
• Cook for 4 minutes until the skin is crispy. Flip and cook 2-3 minutes on the second side.
• Finish cooking by placing the skillet in the oven at 400°F for 2-3 minutes until the salmon reaches 125°F internally.

The initial pan-frying followed by a short oven roast gives you the best of both worlds – crispy seared skin and moist flaky centers.

Poach The Salmon For Flavorful Fillets

Poaching is a gentle cooking method that results in moist, tender salmon fillets infused with flavor. Here’s how:

• Make a poaching liquid by combining 3 cups of water, 1 cup of white wine, lemon slices, aromatics like sliced shallots or fennel, and herbs. Bring to a bare simmer.
• Lower the heat to maintain a gentle simmer then add the fillets and poach for 7-10 minutes until just cooked through.
• Remove the fillets when they turn opaque and flake easily. Serve drizzled with olive oil and lemon wedges.

Poaching salmon keeps it succulent and you can experiment with different poaching liquids to infuse unique flavors.

Broil The Salmon For Quick Cooking

If you want an ultra-fast salmon dinner, broiling is the way to go. It takes just minutes for flavorful, caramelized fillets:

• Line a baking sheet with foil and place an oven rack 4-6 inches from the heating element. Turn on the broiler to high.
• Place seasoned salmon fillets on the baking sheet. Broil for 3-4 minutes on the first side.
• Flip the fillets and broil another 2-3 minutes until just cooked through.
• Watch closely as broilers can burn food quickly if left unattended.

In just 5-7 minutes total you can enjoy delicious broiled salmon for a weeknight dinner.

Plank-Grilled Salmon For Smoky Flavor

Grilling salmon on a cedar plank infuses it with a subtle smoky taste. Soak the plank first:

• Soak a cedar plank in water for at least 1 hour prior to grilling.
• Preheat grill to medium-high. Place soaked plank on the grill grate and close the lid for 3-5 minutes until plank is lightly charred and smoking.
• Place seasoned salmon fillets skin-side down onto the hot plank.
• Grill with the lid closed until salmon is opaque and cooked through, about 10-12 minutes, depending on thickness.
• Use tongs to carefully transfer the plank with salmon to a serving platter.

The smoldering cedar plank gives the salmon a kiss of smoke that takes this recipe to the next level.

Top Tips For Cooking Sockeye Salmon

Follow these tips when cooking sockeye salmon for restaurant-quality results:

• Always start with fresh, high-quality salmon. Wild-caught sockeye has the best flavor and texture.

• Pat salmon fillets very dry before cooking. Any moisture can cause steaming instead of searing.

• Get the pan or grill nice and hot before adding the fish. Proper heat is key for creating a tasty crust.

• Salmon continues cooking after removed from heat so take it off just before it’s done to your liking.

• Check for doneness early. Overcooked salmon gets dry. Use a meat thermometer to ensure 125°F internally.

• Add fresh lemon, herbs, compound butter orsauces at the end for easy ways to elevate the dish.

With these simple methods and expert tips, you can enjoy incredible sockeye salmon any night of the week. Experiment with different prep techniques and flavor combinations until you find your favorite way to cook this healthy, sustainable fish.