5 Easy Ways to Make Salmon Even More Delicious

Christine Gallary
Christine GallarySenior Recipe Editor at The Kitchn
After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, I worked at Cook's Illustrated and CHOW's test kitchens. I've edited and tested recipes for more than 15 years, including developing recipes for the James Beard-award winning Mister Jiu's in Chinatown cookbook. My favorite taste testers are my husband, Hayden, and daughter, Sophie.
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updated May 1, 2019
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Salmon is full of good fats and is easy and quick to cook, making it a great choice to have in your regular dinner rotation. But just having a plain piece of seared, baked, or grilled salmon can get boring quickly, so here are five easy ways to jazz it up!

(Image credit: Dana Velden)

1. Herbs

Herbs add a ton of fresh flavor that enhance the fish without overpowering it. Toss whatever herbs you have on hand with a little oil and citrus juice and you’re golden. Don’t have the time? A store-bought pesto is just fine too.

2. Breadcrumbs

A coating of crunchy breadcrumbs instantly makes salmon more like those guilty-pleasure frozen fish sticks. Dip salmon fillets in beaten egg or brush with a mustard-mayo mixture before coating in fresh breadcrumbs or panko, then pan fry or bake until golden brown. Feel free to add some of your favorite herbs and spices to the breadcrumbs too.

(Image credit: Coco Morante)

3. Compound Butter

Is there anything that butter doesn’t make better? Mix butter with lemon zest and black pepper or some Creole seasoning and place a pat on the salmon fillet after it’s cooked. This flavorful butter will melt and mingle with the salmon juices, creating an instant sauce to sop up with some bread or rice. In fact, make extra compound butter and freeze it in small portions to make life even easier.

(Image credit: Faith Durand)

4. Yogurt or Crème Fraîche Sauce

A creamy but slightly tangy sauce works really well with salmon, and it’s why sour cream-dill sauce over salmon is such a classic. Try mixing in curry powder, Sriracha, or scallions into yogurt or crème fraîche for an easy, elegant salmon topper.

(Image credit: Anjali Prasertong)

5. Glaze or Marinade

Finally, a glaze or marinade made with condiments you probably already have in the fridge is a simple way to infuse the salmon with different flavors. If the glaze or marinade has sugar, it’ll help the salmon caramelize on the outside even more as it’s cooking.

How do you like to make your salmon more tasty? We’d love to know in the comments!

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