This Garlic and Herb Salmon Marinade is a flavorful and healthy way to enjoy an easy seafood dinner -- in just 15 minutes!
Hey, friends! As I sit typing this post, I'm staring out the window at a beautiful, warm, and sunny spring day. Spencer has spent the morning outside in the sandbox in shorts and a t-shirt, only briefly coming inside for a quick snack.
We just finished a weekend of soccer games, outdoor play, and yard work. And after a winter of many cold, gray months, the sunshine is completely filling my soul (and my entire family) with joy! It is such a welcome sight.
The warm temps have encouraged my boys to spend hours playing in the dirt (country living!); the abundance of fresh produce has encouraged me to reach for lighter, healthier groceries; and the balmy evenings have encouraged Keith to fire up his grill again.
Regular readers of my weekly meals posts already know that grilling is a weekly (or bi-weekly) event around here at this time of year.
It's a great way to get Keith to help with dinner prep, and the smoky, crisp, charred meat just tastes so much better than its boiled or baked counterparts...especially when there's a delicious salmon marinade involved!
The Salmon Marinade - What You Need
Salmon is one of my go-to options when it comes to healthy dinners, but eating the same exact meal week after week can get pretty darn BORING. That's why I whipped up this Garlic and Herb Salmon Marinade for last night's dinner.
It only took me about 5 minutes to whisk together some olive oil, vinegar, lemon juice, and a bundle of fresh herbs from the garden, but the payoff was exponentially better than plain ol' fish!
Isn't that exactly what a sauce is supposed to do? The fresh ingredients in this salmon marinade highlight the natural flavors and textures of the seafood in a light and subtle way.
The marinade doesn't dominate the dish -- it just makes it taste even better than it otherwise would.
I hope that you'll mix up your regular grilled fish (or chicken!) with this simple marinade that takes advantage of flavorful, healthy ingredients. Your dinner will reflect the warmth and sunshine of the season -- and your body and tastebuds will thank you!
More Salmon Recipes To Try:
- 4-Ingredient Baked Salmon Recipe
- Mediterranean Salmon in Foil Packets
- Maple Pecan Crusted Salmon
- Grilled Salmon with Yogurt Dill Sauce
Garlic and Herb Salmon Marinade
Ingredients
- ½ cup olive oil
- ¼ cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 4 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped
- 1 tablespoon fresh rosemary chopped
- 2 teaspoons salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- About 1 – 1 ½ lbs. of salmon cut into 4 pieces
Instructions
- Combine all of the ingredients (except for the salmon) in a large jar with a lid. Shake vigorously until completely combined (or whisk ingredients together in a small bowl).
- Set aside about ¼ cup of marinade for later.
- Place salmon and remaining marinade in a large zip-top plastic bag or in a glass container. Place in the refrigerator to marinate for about 30 minutes (and not longer than 1 hour).
- Heat coals or gas grill. Remove salmon from the bag and discard marinade. Place salmon on the grill. Cover and grill over medium heat for 4-5 minutes per side. Brush the salmon with the reserved ¼ cup of marinade a couple of times as the fish cooks. The salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork.
Isn't this weather the best? I'm loving the spring and summer weather we've had lately too! This marinade looks perfect, Blair! I make salmon almost once a week, as my husband and I love it, so I will have to try this. Sounds SO good and so easy to make!
Love this time of year!! And any excuse to grill some salmon is welcome. 🙂 Hope you get a chance to try it, Gayle!
Dinner tomorrow night! It is time to start grilling even with unseasonable cool and wet weather.
That's wonderful, Linda! Enjoy!
Warm weather makes me soooooo happy! And I've been grilling up a storm this spring, but have yet to put salmon on the grill. This marinade sounds like the perfect reason to! 🙂
Best marinade for salmon!!!! Delicious. Would also be goid as a dressing! Thanks.
Awesome! I agree, Nayda! I've definitely used it as a salad dressing, too! 🙂
This salmon marinade is so simple and delicious, definitely need to try it on chicken too!
Why not marinade longer than an hour? Is it a health thing or just too lemony if longer??
Hey, Kelsie! The acid in the marinade starts to "cook" the fish if it marinates for too long. The end result would be ceviche! 🙂
Any suggestions if you want to try the recipe on a stove top or in the oven?
Hi, Savannah! Sure! You can marinate the salmon in the same way, and then bake it in the oven at 450 degrees F for 10-12 minutes (or until it flakes easily with a fork). On the stovetop, you can sear the marinated salmon in a skillet. To do so, heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place salmon, flesh-side down, in the hot oil. Cook for 2-3 minutes, and then flip salmon with a spatula. Cook for about 5-6 more minutes, or until skin becomes crispy and fish flakes easily with a fork. Hope that helps, and enjoy!
Once you've marinated salmon for 30 minutes, do you think you could freeze the fillets for later use?
Hi, Jean! Yes -- I think that would probably work well!
My nephews love eating fish so I just made the marinade and will bake the fish once my nephews come back from school. Thanks for sharing the recipe with us.
That's wonderful! I hope that the boys enjoy the salmon! 🙂
It turned out great. Thanks.
Wonderful! Thanks, Arum!
I saw ur recipe and I made it and salmon is at this minute marinadeing now. It sounds soooo goos
Hope you enjoyed it, Mary!
Great marinade, will try on chicken as suggested and maybe on a pork chop as well.
Only issue I have is the 5 minute prep time. I don't have a sous chef to wash and chop all the ingredients.
Totally happy with the end result!!
Thank you, Michael! 🙂