This simple combination of fresh ingredients produces a dill-garlic salmon that will impress your guests.
There’s something undeniably elegant about serving a whole side of salmon. Guests always respond with delight when a beautifully roasted side arrives at the table. Growing up, my mother made a marinated salmon for Yom Tov that everyone anticipated eagerly. My mother-in-law also enjoys preparing large sides of salmon and experimenting with different flavor profiles. Between their examples and a bit of practice, I learned to love preparing a full side of fish for larger gatherings.
A full side serves a crowd (about 15–20 people), but you don’t need that many eaters to enjoy this recipe. Leftovers are excellent the next day, flaked into a salad or added to pasta. You can also halve the recipe for smaller fillets or a smaller side—just reduce the baking time so the fish doesn’t overcook.
Over time I’ve experimented with many toppings and found that simplicity wins. Salmon is a wonderful canvas, and bold yet uncomplicated flavors let the fish shine. This recipe highlights my favorite trio: fresh dill, garlic and lemon. I kept the dressing simple so the dill and garlic remain front and center. Feel free to customize—add thin jalapeño slices for heat or chopped sun-dried tomatoes for extra brightness.
Salmon is best served fresh. You can mix the dill-garlic mixture in advance and pour it over the fish shortly before baking, or prepare the entire dish a few days ahead and refrigerate it well covered. If chilled, remove it from the fridge a little before serving so it isn’t too cold.
Using fresh ingredients makes a noticeable difference—fresh garlic and dill deliver brighter flavor, better texture and nicer presentation. Frozen herb cubes are a good second choice; dried dill should be a last resort because the flavor will be less vibrant. If fresh dill isn’t available, at least use fresh garlic rather than garlic powder.
A good-quality baking sheet helps prevent the salmon from becoming soggy and gives better results overall.
Side of Salmon with Fresh Dill and Garlic
Ingredients
- 1 side of salmon, approx. 2–4 lbs.
- 2 tsp olive oil
- Juice of 1 lemon (about 2 tablespoons)
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup fresh dill, roughly chopped (or 10 frozen cubes, thawed; or 2 tbsp dried dill)
- 6 garlic cloves, minced (or 6 frozen cubes, thawed)
Instructions
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Preheat the oven to 400°F.
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Place the salmon on a baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil and lemon juice, then season with salt and pepper.
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Evenly spread the chopped dill and minced garlic over the top of the salmon.
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Bake for about 25 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and is opaque in the center. For a crisper top, broil for an additional 1–2 minutes—watch carefully to avoid burning.
Notes
Recipe by Faigy Murray