Description
If you’ve ever walked past Keta salmon at the store and wondered what to do with it, this recipe is your answer. This Easy Lemon Herb Keta Salmon is light, bright, and bursting with flavor from fresh herbs, garlic, and a generous squeeze of lemon. It’s the kind of recipe that’s fancy enough for date night, but simple enough for a casual Tuesday dinner. Plus, it’s healthy, affordable, and comes together in about 20 minutes my kind of meal.
Ingredients
- Fresh Keta salmon fillets (skin-on or skinless)
- Olive oil
- Fresh lemon (zest and juice)
- Garlic cloves
- Honey or maple syrup
- Dijon mustard
- Fresh dill, parsley, or chives
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
See recipe card below for full list of ingredients with exact measurements.
Instructions
- Pat the salmon dry with paper towels to help the seasonings stick and ensure a good sear.
- Make the marinade: In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, minced garlic, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper.
- Marinate: Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over. Let the salmon soak for at least 15 minutes, or up to 30 if you have time.
- Cook the salmon: Heat a drizzle of olive oil in a nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the salmon, skin-side down, and cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip the salmon and cook for another 2-3 minutes until golden and flaky.
- Garnish and serve: Sprinkle fresh herbs over the top and finish with a final squeeze of lemon. Serve immediately with your favorite sides.
Notes
- Don’t overcook: Keta salmon is leaner than other types of salmon, so it can dry out quickly. Keep an eye on it and remove it from the heat as soon as it flakes easily.
- Marinate for more flavor: If you have time, letting the salmon marinate for a full 30 minutes makes the flavor even better.
- Serving ideas: This salmon pairs beautifully with roasted veggies, couscous, rice bowls, or fresh green salads.
- Other cooking methods: You can also bake this salmon at 400°F (200°C) for 12-14 minutes, or grill it for about 4 minutes per side.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Seafood, Main Course
- Method: Pan-seared (with options to bake or grill)
- Cuisine: American, Mediterranean-inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet (approximately 4-5 oz)
- Calories: 275
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 5g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 30g
- Cholesterol: 75mg
Keywords: Keta salmon recipe, easy salmon dinner, lemon herb salmon, healthy seafood recipe, weeknight salmon recipe, how to cook Keta salmon