Salmon is a very fatty fish which can dilute its taste, but there is a really easy way to bring out its flavour and make it a dinner you crave using an ingredient you likely have sitting in your kitchen.
There is a simple way to make salmon taste so much better (Image: Getty)
Salmon makes for an ideal weekday dinner when you’re after something both satisfying and nutritious, yet it can occasionally fall flat if you simply pop it in the oven. It’s genuinely straightforward to prepare, though bear in mind that salmon is a naturally oily fish, which can sometimes render it quite rich and overpowering on its own.
Cooking salmon without any accompanying ingredients will likely result in a strong, greasy taste rather than the tender, buttery flesh that makes it so appealing. However, recipe developer Elizabeth Rider has revealed a remarkably simple way to elevate the flavour of salmon — all you need is a handful of lemon slices.
She said: “The lemon slices go right on top, so the fish bakes in citrus instead of sitting in a heavy sauce. You get [a] brighter flavour and almost no cleanup.”
Lemons are a superb ingredient for enhancing salmon’s taste, as they contain citric acid, which cuts through the fish’s natural richness.
This helps to counterbalance the salmon’s intensity while drawing out its other innate flavours, producing a fresher, more enjoyable meal.
The acidity from the lemon also imparts a vibrant, zesty quality to the salmon while complementing its delicate sweetness.
It can even amplify other herbs and seasonings, delivering a flavour-packed weeknight dinner in under 20 minutes.
How to make lemon baked salmon
You will need:
- Two salmon fillets
- One tablespoon of olive oil (or butter)
- Two garlic cloves (minced)
- Four lemon slices
- Salt and pepper
Method:
Start by preheating your oven to 190°C and lining a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Position the salmon on the tray skin-side down, then use kitchen paper to pat the fillets dry.
Coat each fillet with a brush of olive oil before seasoning with salt, pepper and the minced garlic. Lay two slices of lemon across each fillet before transferring them to the oven.
Bake for 15 to 18 minutes until the fillets are tender and flake easily. Should you prefer a crispy top, grill for one final minute, though remain vigilant as the fish can catch and burn if left unattended.
Finish with a generous grind of black pepper and a scattering of parsley, and your wonderfully delicious salmon is ready to serve.
