Salmon Sandwich
This easy Salmon Sandwich can be made on the grill or in the oven. Either way, this restaurant-quality sandwich with herb mayonnaise is ready in less than 30 minutes.
This Is One Of The Very Best Salmon Sandwich Ideas
If you’re a sandwich lover like me, you know the joy of biting into something that’s both hearty and flavorful.
As someone who’s also passionate about creating new ways to enjoy salmon, this grilled salmon sandwich is a combination of some of my favorite things.
This sandwich features tender, flaky salmon paired with an herb-inufsed myao, crisp lettuce and soft, pillowy bun.
The best part is that whether you’re a seasoned home chef or just starting to experiment in the kitchen, this recipe is super do-able.
Don’t have a grill? No problem. I’ve included easy instructions for cooking the salmon on a grill pan or in the oven, so you can enjoy this sandwich any time of the year.
Why You Will Love This Salmon Fish Sandwich
- Tastes like a gourmet treat without any complicated cooking techniques.
- Salmon is a great source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
- Add your favorite toppings like avocado, pickled onion, spicy slaw, cucumber slices or arugula to make it your own.
Salmon Sandwich Recipe Ingredients
- salmon – you’ll need 1-1/2 pounds of skinless salmon fillets. More on how to choose the perfect fish below.
- oil – I like a neutral oil like canola oil or vegetable oil for grilling fish.
- hamburger buns – my favorite for salmon sandwiches are brioche buns!
- lettuce – I like fresh, crunchy butter lettuce best.
- salt and pepper – for seasoning the salmon and also the mayo. You can also season with salmon rub for even more flavor.
- mayonnaise – this will be the base of our herb mayo sauce.
- fresh basil leaves – the main flavor component of the herb mayo.
- dill – fresh dill is best, but I know it’s annoying to buy fresh for such a small amount. Dried is also good substitute. If using dried dill, use half the amount called for.
- lemon juice – this adds a bit of tang to the herb mayo, and can also be squeezed over the fish for extra flavor.
- garlic – to add a savory note to the herb mayo for this grilled salmon sandwich.
- Dijon mustard – this adds a little kick of heat (but not TOO much) to the herb mayo.
The Herb Mayo Can Be Made In Advance
While the herb mayo takes only about 5 minutes to make, one way to make sure that this salmon fish sandwich recipe comes together as fast as humanly possible is to make the herb mayo in advance.
So, go ahead and make this herb mayo up to 2 days in advance. Just keep it in an airtight container in the fridge until you’re ready to serve the salmon sandwiches.
Not a fan of herby mayo? My roasted garlic spread and creamy feta dressing (follow the directions to make it thick) is also great on these sandwiches. So is a smear of cream cheese.
How To Buy The Best Fish For Grilled Salmon Sandwiches
I prefer thicker, center-cut pieces of salmon, and not thinner, tail-end pieces for this salmon sandwich recipe.
The tail end pieces or larger fillets are really better for a recipe where the salmon is going to be flaked, like salmon cakes from fresh salmon.
If you have a grocery store, butcher, or seafood market where you can specify that you need center-cut pieces, that’s ideal for salmon sandwiches. I prefer skinless salmon fillets for this recipe.
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How To Cook Salmon On The Grill
Making grilled salmon doesn’t have to be scary. But I admit, I was intimidated the first time I tried it, and I even went to culinary school! It just SEEMS like it’s going to stick to the grill, right?
Don’t worry, I’m here to walk you through how to cook salmon on the grill for a salmon sandwich successfully every time.
- CLEAN GRILL. Use a wire brush to really scrub that grill to get off ALL the crumbs and crusty bits, because those bits are what the fish will stick to. Fish will NOT stick to clean grill grates as much.
- OIL. You’ll be using canola oil to throughly oil both sides of the salmon fillets. You will ALSO be spraying those clean grill grates with nonstick cooking spray to add another layer of nonstick protection.
- PREHEAT. Preheat your grill to medium-high and don’t spray the grill grates until JUST before you place the fish on the grill.
- COOK. Place the salmon directly on the clean, oiled grill grates. Cover the grill and cook 4 to 5 minutes or until the fish is beginning to turn opaque.
- FLIP. Quickly and confidently flip the fish with a heatproof fish spatula. Once the fish is flipped, cover the grill again and cook 4 to 5 minutes longer.
Follow the same instructions above if using a grill pan, too.
Home Chef Tips for Salmon Sandwiches
- You can use any variety of salmon you like best for this salmon sandwich recipe, whether that’s Atlantic salmon, sockeye salmon, or something else. Food & Wine’s Guide to Every Type of Salmon You Can Buy will help you learn the differences.
- If you have an instant read thermometer, the easiest way to check for doneness is to check for an internal temperature of 125 degrees F in the thickest part of the fish. Having a thermometer is the easiest way to determine how long to cook salmon on the grill.
How To Bake Salmon For A Salmon Sandwich
If you don’t have a grill and would rather bake the salmon for salmon sandwiches, you’re in luck: baking salmon is basically the easiest thing in the world.
Grab a small rimmed baking pan. I usually line it with foil for super easy cleanup. Spray the foil with nonstick cooking spray (or rub it lightly with oil) so the salmon doesn’t stick.
Place the salmon on the foil and give it a sprinkling of salt and pepper. Bake at 400 degrees F for 16 to 18 minutes or until the fish is cooked through.
What To Serve With A Salmon Sandwich
My favorite summer side dishes are spicy potato chips or potato salad with bacon, Dr. Pepper baked beans and my Mexican street corn salad recipe.
Or, if you want to get fancy, try my tomato beet salad. Any combination of these sides are the perfect way to round out the meal.
In the winter, I love a bowl of soup with this salmon sandwich, like Irish colcannon soup!
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Salmon Sandwiches
Ingredients
For the Herb Mayonnaise:
- 1 garlic clove minced
- ¾ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh basil
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped fresh dill
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
For the Salmon Sandwiches:
- 4 skinless center-cut salmon fillets about 6 ounces each
- 2 tablespoons canola oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Nonstick cooking spray
- 4 brioche hamburger buns split
- 4 butter lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Make the Herb Mayonnaise: In a medium bowl, stir together garlic, mayonnaise, lemon juice, basil, dill, mustard, salt and pepper.
- Make the Salmon Sandwiches: Brush grill with wire brush to remove any crumbs or crusty bits, then preheat grill for direct grilling over medium-high heat.
- Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towel. Rub salmon generously on all sides with oil, and then sprinkle with salt and pepper on all sides.
- Spray grill grates throughly with cooking spray. Place salmon directly on grill grates. Cover grill and cook 4 to 6 minutes or until fish is beginning to turn opaque.
- Using a heatproof spatula, carefully flip fish. Cover grill and cook 4 to 6 minutes longer or until internal temperature in the thickest part of the fish reaches 125 degrees F. Remove salmon from grill and let stand 5 minutes before building sandwiches.
- To serve, spread both halves of buns with Herb Mayonnaise. Divide lettuce over bottom halves of buns. Place 1 piece of salmon on each sandwich and top with top halves of buns. Serve immediately.
