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- Soft bread crumbs:<\/strong> Soft, fresh bread crumbs make a lighter, fluffier topping than the usual dry kind.<\/li>\n
- Parsley:<\/strong> Parsley brings color to the crumb topping without adding a dominant flavor.<\/li>\n
- Thyme:<\/strong> Thyme\u2019s fresh, aromatic, peppery flavor complements salmon and many other foods.<\/li>\n
- Garlic:<\/strong> Fresh garlic brings a bold, pungent flavor to the bread crumbs.<\/li>\n
- Lemon zest:<\/strong> Lemon has an affinity for fish in general, and in this case the lemon zest also helps counter the salmon\u2019s richness.<\/li>\n
- Lemon-pepper seasoning:<\/strong> The lemon-pepper seasoning doubles down on bright, lemony flavors, but its pepper content gives the fruitiness a sharp counterpoint.<\/li>\n
- Paprika:<\/strong> Paprika adds color and a mild, sweet pepper flavor to the crumb topping.<\/li>\n
- Butter:<\/strong> Melted butter enriches the crumbs, adds flavor, speeds browning, and helps deliver fat-soluble flavor molecules from the seasonings to the fish.<\/li>\n
- Salmon:<\/strong> Salmon\u2019s fatty richness makes it perfect for baking, and provides a modest degree of protection against overcooking.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Directions<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Prepare the topping<\/h3>\n
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Heat your oven to 400\u00b0F. In a bowl, combine the bread crumbs with the herbs, garlic, lemon zest, salt, lemon-pepper seasoning and paprika. Toss the flavored crumbs with the melted butter until the butter is evenly distributed throughout the mixture.<\/p>\n
Step 2: Cook the salmon<\/h3>\n
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Spray a 15×10-inch baking pan lightly with pan spray. Arrange the salmon portions in the pan, skin side down. Top them with the crumb mixture, patting it gently into place without compressing the crumbs unnecessarily. Bake the salmon until the crumbs are golden brown and the fish just begins to flake easily when tested with a fork, 12 to 15 minutes.<\/p>\n
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Herb-Crusted Salmon Variations<\/h2>\n
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- Swap the fresh crumbs for panko:<\/strong> Fresh bread crumbs have a light, fluffy, delicate texture that is quite different from conventional bread crumbs. If you\u2019d like to keep the crumb topping light but give it a more pronounced crunch, switch to panko crumbs<\/a> instead. Panko\u2019s large crumbs mimic the size and fluffiness of fresh crumbs, but also give you all the crunch you could ask for.<\/li>\n
- Change the fish:<\/strong> Although salmon is nearly ideal for this preparation method, you can use other rich, firm-textured fish<\/a> as well. Sable (aka “black cod”) is an excellent choice. So are char and steelhead trout (close salmon relatives), if you can find those in large fillets. Fresh mackerel, and mahi mahi or albacore tuna, are other good options.<\/li>\n
- Tweak the seasonings:<\/strong> This recipe\u2019s thyme and lemon flavors go nicely with salmon, but you can change things up by altering the topping\u2019s flavors. Dill is a classic salmon pairing, for example, and swapping out the thyme for dill is an easy substitution. You can also match your choice of seasonings to the side dishes you choose: perhaps cilantro and lime to go with Southwest-themed sides, or fresh basil and rosemary to accompany risotto or pasta.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
How to Store Herb-Crusted Salmon<\/h2>\n
Any leftover salmon should be refrigerated as soon as possible in an airtight food-safe storage container.<\/p>\n
Can I make this salmon with herb crust ahead of time?<\/h3>\n
Sadly, this isn\u2019t a good candidate for advanced prep. The crumb topping will never have quite the same texture when it\u2019s reheated, and it\u2019s difficult to reheat the salmon without overcooking it. It\u2019s already a quick recipe, at 30 minutes or less, depending on how quickly you work, so if time is an issue, you\u2019d be better off choosing side dishes<\/a> you can make ahead. If you prepare the crumb topping ahead of time as well and have your oven hot and ready to go, you can simply top the salmon and pop it straight into the oven for its 12- to-15-minute cooking time.<\/p>\n
How long does the herbed salmon keep?<\/h3>\n
With fish dishes, you should always plan to eat any leftovers within 2 to 3 days at most. Pack the salmon into a food-safe storage container with a tight-fitting lid as soon as possible after the meal. Reheating your salmon in an oven or toaster oven (or even your air fryer) rather than a microwave helps restore the crumbs\u2019 texture and makes the reheated dish more pleasurable to eat.<\/p>\n
Herb-Crusted Salmon Tips<\/h2>\n
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