If you are looking for something other than meat to be the centerpiece of your Christmas dinner, look no further than this Christmas salmon. This salmon dish is perfect for special occasions and will be a perfect centerpiece for your table on Christmas day.
I live in a pescatarian household and therefore our Christmas looks a bit different. Salmon is such a versatile fish in the ways you prepare it and this recipe is a delicious way to celebrate the fish. Baked with a delicious glaze, topped with a creamy dill sauce and holiday tapenade, it is the perfect centerpiece for your Christmas table (or really any time during the holiday season). Who needs the traditional turkey? Do something a little different and make this delicious Christmas salmon.
What equipment do you need?
Roasting dish or baking tray
Tin foil or parchment paper
Bowls
Paper Towels
Serving platter
Why should you make this Christmas salmon?
This holiday salmon is made with simple ingredients but shines as a main course. It is on par with any of the traditional main dishes for Christmas eve or Christmas day. Once you make it, it will no doubt find a home in the repertoire of your Christmas recipes. The fresh herbs in the sauce, and the flavors of the holiday tapenade make this a great option for anyone who is looking for a main course that does not contain meat. It will be a delicious centrepiece on your holiday table.
What are the ingredients needed for Christmas salmon?
Salmon Fillets: Salmon is our protein for this dish
Greek Yogurt: Greek yogurt is the base of our creamy dill sauce
Lemon Juice: this is for our dill sauce
Garlic: garlic goes into our glaze and also in the dill sauce
Honey: this is used
Dill: Dill is such a great herb and it pairs beautifully with the yogurt and salmon
Dried Cranberries: The cranberries go into our holiday tapenade
Champagne Vinegar: The acidity helps enhance the flavors of the tapenade
Slivered Almonds: The flavor and texture are part of the tapenade
Parsley: gotta have fresh parsley to finish off the fish
Butter: to add to the richness of the glaze for the salmon
Pomegranate seeds: They are the final pop of beauty to our Christmas salmon
How do you make Christmas salmon?
Set the oven: to 400°F
Pat down the salmon: with paper towel. You do not want the fish to have too much excess water. Season the salmon with sea salt and black pepper.
Make the glaze: brown the butter. Once browned, add the garlic and honey.
Place the salmon skin side: down on either tin foil or parchment paper on your baking sheet and cover with the honey glaze.
Put the baking sheet: into the preheated oven and bake for 13 minutes. Meanwhile make the dill yogurt.
Mix the lemon juice: greek yogurt, minced garlic, and dill in a bowl. Set side
Made the holiday tapenade: add the slivered almonds, vinegar, honey, pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries, and parsley. Set aside.
Remove the salmon: from the oven and place on a large platter. Place the dill yogurt on top of the salmon. Then top the yogurt with the holiday tapenade. Serve immediately.
*The internal temperature of cooked fish is 145°.
Tips and Tricks:
If you cannot find champagne vinegar, you can sub in orange juice or apple cider vinegar.
I made this using individual salmon fillets but you can use whole salmon filet if you want something more presentable with a dinner party or holiday dinner. The best part is this recipe works just as well. You would roast whole salmon fillets as you would individual salmon fillets but you need to remember that this will take longer to cook. So keep that in mind should you roast a whole salmon.
Instead of using honey, you can also use maple syrup.
How do you store Christmas salmon?
Place the individual portions in an airtight container and but in the fridge for a few days. Easy peasy! This recipe pairs beautifully with my herb potatoes or my creamy mashed potatoes. If you want to pair it with something traditional from your holiday table then a cranberry sauce would be perfect. If you are looking for a drink, this would pair well with a white wine or a sparkling cider.
LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW!
Did you like this recipe? If you did, let me know! And let others know too by leaving a comment and star rating. Reviews are incredibly useful in helping other people find my site and make my recipes. Thank you so much!
Laura
CHECK OUT OTHER RECIPES
Baked Christmas Salmon Recipe: The Best Holiday Dinner
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 People 1x
Description
If you are looking for something other than meat to be the center piece of your Christmas dinner, look no further than this Christmas salmon. This salmon dish is perfect for special occasions and will be a perfect center to your table on Christmas day.
Ingredients
- 1 cup Greek Yogurt (Dill Sauce)
- 3 Garlic Cloves (Dill Sauce)
- 1 Tsp Lemon Juice (Dill Sauce)
- 2 Tbsp Fresh Dill (Dill Sauce)
- ½ cup Slivered Almonds (Tapenade)
- ½ cup Dried Cranberries (Tapenade)
- ¼ cup Pomegranate Seeds (Tapenade)
- 1 Tbsp Honey (Tapenade)
- 1 Tbsp Champagne Vinegar (Tapenade)
- ¼ cup Parsley (Tapenade)
- 4 Salmon Fillet (I use sockeye salmon)
- 2 Tbsp Butter (for salmon glaze)
- 2 Tbsp Honey (for salmon glaze)
- 3 Garlic Cloves (Minced, for slamon glaze)
Instructions
- Set the oven: to 400°F
- Pat down the salmon: with paper towel. You do not want the fish to have too much excess water. Season the salmon with sea salt and black pepper.
- Make the glaze: brown the butter. Once browned, add the garlic and honey.
- Place the salmon skin side: down on either tin foil or parchment paper on your baking sheet and cover with the honey glaze.
- Put the baking sheet: into the preheated oven and bake for 13 minutes. Meanwhile make the dill yogurt.
- Mix the lemon juice: greek yogurt, minced garlic, and dill in a bowl. Set side
- Made the holiday tapenade: add the slivered almonds, vinegar, honey, pomegranate seeds, dried cranberries, and parsley into a bowl and mix together. Set aside.
- Remove the salmon: from the oven and place on a large platter. Place the dill yogurt on top of the salmon. Then top the yogurt with the holiday tapenade. Serve immediately.
Notes
You know when salmon (and all fish) is. cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. Always be sure to check with a proper thermometer.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Cuisine: Mediterranean
Nutrition
- Calories: 512
- Sugar: 28
- Sodium: 143
- Fat: 24
- Saturated Fat: 6
- Carbohydrates: 34
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 42
- Cholesterol: 111
Dianna Wilson Sirkovsky says
this looks beautiful and I'm definitely going to try it!