You may already be aware of the many health benefits of salmon. That’s because it’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids, which help prevent heart disease, cancer, and stroke, as well as arthritis and memory loss. In addition, recent studies have shown omega-3s may be beneficial for mental health, by helping to alleviate depression and post-traumatic stress disorder. Besides the omega-3s, salmon is also a great source of vitamin D, which is known to help prevent diseases like multiple sclerosis and heart disease, as well as helping to boost bone growth. But, here’s something you may not know about salmon: It’s super-versatile and super-easy to cook. Need proof? Try one of these simple, flavor-packed salmon recipes.
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1. Apricot Garlic Butter Salmon
Courtesy of The Daley Plate
The secret to this sweet-and-savory dinner is in the 5-ingredient sauce, which combines apricot preserves, garlic, vinegar, red pepper flakes, and a smidge of butter. It’s the perfect complement to salmon’s rich and meaty flavor.
Pro tip: This recipe calls for malt vinegar, but you can use balsamic vinegar instead.
Try the recipe from The Daley Plate.
2. Honey Mustard Salmon
Courtesy of Gimme Some Oven
This roasted salmon takes just 25 minutes to make and is cooked in foil, making cleanup a breeze. Pair with your favorite veggies and dinner is done.
Try the recipe from Gimme Some Oven.
3. Southwest Salmon Salad
Courtesy of How Sweet Eats
Are you looking for a hearty, healthy meal that’s loaded with good-for-you ingredients? This Southwestern-inspired salmon salad is the answer. Dig in!
Try the recipe from How Sweet Eats.
4. Salmon Sandwich with Dill Sauce
Courtesy of A Couple Cooks
Looking for a tasty sandwich to replace your usual burger? It takes about 10 minutes to cook the fish and just a few more to throw together the sauce, which, it should be said, goes with just about everything.
Try the recipe from A Couple Cooks.
5. Baked Salmon
Courtesy of Well Plated
When it comes to making salmon, sometimes the simpler a recipe is, the better it is. You can’t get much more simple than this recipe for oven-baked salmon, which only has seven ingredients, including a two-pound side of salmon. In total, this delicious recipe, which pairs well with a side of green beans and rice, only takes 30 minutes to put together.
Try the recipe from Well Plated.
6. Salmon Burgers with Slaw
Courtesy of Pinch of Yum
Move over beef patties: not only are salmon burgers lower in both fat and calories than traditional beef burgers, but they’re also packed with protein and a great source of vitamin D. Not only are these salmon burgers a healthy dinner option, but they’re also super easy to make with only eight ingredients and a prep time of five minutes.
Try the recipe from Pinch of Yum.
7. Lemon Pepper Salmon
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With a prep time of five minutes and a cook time of 15, there are few easier ways to get some more vitamin D into your diet than this simple salmon recipe, seasoned with black pepper and fresh lemon zest. This recipe is also served with a side of cauliflower rice, helping to cut down on carbs and making this a well-balanced, veggie-packed meal.
Try our recipe on Clean Plates.
8. Salmon Wellington
Courtesy of Well Plated
If you’re looking for a dish to impress your friends and family, look no further. This salmon wellington is a dinnertime show-stopper and contains a whopping 41 grams of protein per serving, as well as being a great source of vitamin D. The best part is that despite how intimidating it might look, it’s not tricky to put together at all, with a prep time of only 30 minutes.
Try the recipe from Well Plated.
9. Wild Salmon Sweet Potato Cakes
If you’re trying to eat more healthy food like salmon, sometimes it helps to have variety rather than just eating filet after filet. That’s where these crispy, fried salmon sweet potato cakes come in handy. A lot of ingredients go into making the dish, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it’s an unmanageable recipe, it still only takes 20 minutes to prep and cook it.
Try our recipe from Clean Plates.
10. Lemon Baked Salmon
Courtesy of Minimalist Baker
Just like macaroni and cheese, or peanut butter and jelly, salmon, and lemon seem to go perfectly together, especially in this recipe, which pairs the perfectly-seasoned filets with a garlic dill sauce. It’s also easy to make, with only seven ingredients and a prep time of five minutes.
Try the recipe from Minimalist Baker.
11. Salmon Poke
You don’t have to travel all the way to Hawaii to get a delicious poke. You only need seven ingredients for this simple recipe, including one pound of salmon — be sure to ask your fishmonger to remove the skin and pin bones.
Try our recipe on Clean Plates.
Read next:8 Healthy Seafood Recipes Even Beginners Can Cook
