Simple Salmon Marinade

Add a gourmet touch to your fish dinner with a Salmon Marinade Recipe made entirely with long-lasting pantry and fridge staples.

The Best Salmon Marinade

When you eat salmon as often as my family does, it’s easy to get a little bored with it once in awhile. Often, the secret to impressing your taste buds lies in a simple marinade.

This easy marinade is a balanced blend of savory, sweet, tangy and umami flavors, carefully selected to enhance the flavor of salmon but not overwhelm it.

Below, I’ll teach you exactly how to whip up a quick salmon marinade, and then cook the fish so that it has a perfectly tender texture and a caramelized exterior.

Salmon Marinade Recipe ingredients

• garlic – a cornerstone ingredient in so many marinades, this will add a pungent, aromatic flavor to the fish.
• soy sauce – adds umami and saltiness, so that the salmon is seasoned deep into its flesh.
• cider vinegar – adds acidity that helps tenderize the salmon.
• Dijon mustard – offers a tangy, sharp flavor and emulsifies the vinegar and oil together.
• maple syrup – brings a touch of sweetness that balances the acidity and saltiness of the salmon marinade recipe.
• salt and pepper – both enhance the natural flavor of the salmon.
• olive oil – the base of the marinade that adds moisture and prevents the fish from sticking to the pan or the grill while cooking.

How to make the Best Marinade for Salmon

1. WHISK. In a small baking dish or a pie plate, whisk the garlic, soy sauce, vinegar, mustard, maple syrup, salt and pepper until well combined. While whisking, slowly drizzle in the oil until all the oil is incorporated.

2. SALMON. Place the salmon, skin-side down, into the marinade.

3. FLIP + REFRIGERATE. Flip the salmon so it is flesh-side down in the marinade. Transfer it to the refrigerator for 1 hour.

4. REMOVE. After an hour, remove the fish from the marinade and discard the excess marinade. Then, cook the salmon using your preferred method. More on this below!

How to cook Marinated Salmon on the grill

To cook grilled marinated salmon, first brush the grill with a wire brush to remove any crumbs or crusty bits, then preheat the grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat.

Spray the grill grates throughly with cooking spray, then place the salmon, skin side down, directly on the grill grates.

Cover the grill and cook 4 to 6 minutes or until the skin is very crisp and the fish is beginning to turn opaque.

Using two heatproof spatulas if necessary, carefully flip the fish. Cover the grill and continue cooking until the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees F.

How to cook this Marinated Salmon Recipe in the oven

OVEN ONLY

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a rimmed baking pan with nonstick spray, and place the salmon, skin side down, in the center of the pan.

Transfer to the oven and bake until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the fish reaches 145 degrees F.

STOVETOP TO OVEN (RECOMMENDED)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a large oven-safe nonstick skillet over medium heat. Transfer the salmon, flesh side down, to the skillet.

Cook 3 to 4 minutes, undisturbed, until the salmon flesh is deep golden brown. Flip the salmon so it is skin side down, then transfer the pan to the oven and continue cooking the salmon until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

Easy Salmon Marinade variations

• MEDITERRANEAN FLAIR – Replace the maple syrup with honey, and add a few tablespoons of chopped fresh dill.
• ASIAN TWIST – Add a tablespoon of hoisin sauce and replace the lemon juice with lime juice.
• SWEET AND SPICY – Add a teaspoon of red pepper flakes and replace the maple syrup with brown sugar for a different kind of sweetness in this best salmon marinade.

How to store Marinade for Salmon

Unused marinade can be stored in an airtight container or jar in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Once you’ve had raw salmon in your marinade, it’s best to discard the marinade. Don’t re-use it.

If you wish to use some of the marinade as a sauce for drizzling on the salmon after it cooks (good idea!), set aside a portion before adding the salmon to the remaining marinade.

Simple Salmon Marinade FAQs