A crispy, cheesy coating on the silky, rich salmon is a match made in heaven.
Salmon, with its rich, delicate flavor and beautiful color has become one of the most popular fishes to grace our dinner tables. It’s easy to prepare, relatively inexpensive and feels luxurious even on a weeknight.
Nutrition experts have long recommended adding more fish to our diets, and this salmon is a great way to do that. It’s baked, not fried, which reduces the mess (and the calorie count). Its firm, meaty texture is beautifully complemented by the crispy topping which give just a little of that fried fish vibe while keeping the dish healthy. Add the fact that salmon is a great source of protein, healthy fats and the all-important Omega-3 fatty acids, and you have a delicious and satisfying meal you can feel good about serving to your family.
We prefer to buy fresh salmon over the packaged frozen varieties as it has a better texture and allows you to control portion size more easily, but frozen salmon fillets will work for this recipe if that’s what you can get.
If your family tends to turn up their noses to fish that isn’t battered and fried, the meaty texture and delicate flavor of this salmon is a great way to introduce them to eating more fish. We think that once you serve this you’ll find them asking for it in the future.
Which Salmon?
In North America, salmon comes in two general categories. Atlantic salmon is almost all farmed, while Pacific salmon is generally wild-caught.
Atlantic salmon is usually paler in color, higher in fat and has larger flakes of flesh. Pacific salmon is darker, denser, is more lean and has a slightly stronger flavor. Which you choose is up to you – both are delicious and healthy, and both contain lots of protein and healthy fats, especially Omega-3s. If you’re not very experienced with cooking salmon, we find that the Atlantic salmon is more forgiving in that it has less of a tendency to dry out if it’s slightly overcooked. If you’re opting to Atlantic salmon, try to look for the BAP (Best Acquaculture Practices) label to ensure that the fish is of the best quality.
Ingredients
- 1 of whole skin on salmon fillet
- 1/4 cup of plain breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme and chives finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter melted
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
How to Make Parmesan Crusted Salmon Recipe
Step 1: Heat your oven to 400 degrees F.
Step 2: Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
Step 3: In a small mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, and finely chopped thyme and chives. Pour the melted butter over the mixture, then season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Use your fingers to mix.
Step 4: Sprinkle the Parmesan herb mixture over the salmon fillet evenly, pressing lightly.
Step 5: Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. You’re looking for the salmon to be just cooked through and the crust to be a golden brown. If the crust needs a little extra color, switch the oven to broil for the last minute.
Step 6: Let it rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
FAQs & Tips
Like most fish dishes, this salmon is best eaten fresh out of the oven. You can make the breadcrumb-parmesan topping in advance and keep it in the fridge until dinner time, making prep a snap.
Leftover salmon can be stored in the fridge for up to three days. You can either reheat it or enjoy it cold on a salad or a sandwich. We don’t recommend freezing this dish.
If you like to eat your salmon skin, use parchment paper on the baking sheet. If you prefer it skinless, use foil – the skin will stick to the foil and you’ll be able to remove the salmon without the skin using a spatula.
Gluten-free breadcrumbs are widely available and work well for this recipe. All the other ingredients are naturally gluten-free.
Gently insert a fork into the thickest part of the fish and prise it slightly apart. The center of the fish should still be slightly glossy and a deeper pink color than the more cooked outer layer. If you prefer your fish well done, return it to the oven for a few more minutes until the flesh is fully opaque and firm. The tail end of the piece will be more cooked than the thick end, so you can accommodate different peoples’ tastes that way. If everyone likes it slightly less cooked, then try to select a uniforn piece from the center of the fish.
Serving Suggestions
Simple and sublime, we like to serve this with equally simple sides such as boiled new potatoes and steamed asparagus or broccoli, or try this easy rice dish https://bakedbree.com/baked-rice. For a lighter meal, try skipping the carbs altogether and make a fresh, lemony mixed salad. Either way, squeeze a wedge of lemon onto each piece when you serve it.
Parmesan Crusted Salmon Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 of whole skin on salmon fillet
- 1/4 cup of plain breadcrumbs
- 1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cloves of garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon of fresh thyme and chives finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter melted
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper.
- In a small mixing bowl, combine the breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese, minced garlic, and finely chopped thyme and chives. Pour the melted butter over the mixture, then season with 1/2 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Use your fingers to mix.
- Sprinkle the Parmesan herb mixture over the salmon fillet evenly, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes. You're looking for the salmon to be just cooked through and the crust golden. If the crust needs a little extra color, switch the oven to broil for the last minute.
- Let it rest for a couple of minutes before serving.
Nutrition
