Six Easy Salmon Marinades

Having a variety of different salmon marinade recipes will mean that you can enjoy a variety of different dishes without it feeling boring or as though you are having the same dish.

The best thing about these recipes is that you can swap and substitute ingredients according to your own personal preference and allow you to experiment with various flavors. Adding marinade ingredients will help to elevate the salmon and add plenty of delicious flavors to the fish and bring an extra bit of flair to any meal.

Whether you are cooking a dish for a dinner party or wanting something extra special for dinner, you’ll be able to benefit from all kinds of delicious meals.

With a prep time of five minutes, these recipes are incredibly easy to prepare and can be made using ingredients that you will probably have in your pantry, saving you extra money and waste. Here are the best six easy salmon marinade recipes that you should try:

Chili Lime Marinade

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Ingredients

• ¼ cup – of lime juice

• ¼ tsp – paprika

• ½ tbsp – lime zest

• ½ tsp – chili powder

• ½ tsp – garlic powder

• 1 tbsp – olive oil

• Salt and pepper

Honey Mustard Marinade

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Ingredients

• ½ tsp – garlic powder

• 1 tbsp – wholegrain mustard

• 2 tbsp – dijon mustard

• 2 tbsp – honey

• 2 tbsp – olive oil

Italian Herb Marinade

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Ingredients

• 1 tbsp – olive oil

• 1 tsp – Italian seasoning

• 2 tbsp – lemon juice

• 2 – minced garlic cloves

• Salt and pepper

Lemon Garlic Marinade

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Ingredients

• ¼ cup – of lemon juice

• 1 tbsp – olive oil

• 1 tsp – lemon zest

• 2 – minced garlic cloves

• Salt and pepper

Orange Ginger Marinade

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Ingredients

• ¼ cup – of orange juice

• 1 tbsp – olive oil

• 1 tbsp – orange zest

• 1.5 tsp – ground ginger

• 2 – minced garlic cloves

• Salt and pepper

Sweet and Spicy Marinade

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Ingredients

• ¼ cup – of soy sauce

• ½ tbsp – hot sauce

• 1 tbsp – honey

• 1 tbsp – lemon juice

• 1 tbsp – olive oil

• Salt and pepper

Prepping the salmon

When you have selected which marinade you wish to try, you now have to decide how you want to cook your salmon. Regardless of which marinade you have chosen, the cooking instructions will be the same so you don’t have to worry about that.

In this section, we’ll be delving into the various cooking methods you can choose depending on your preference.

1. Mixing the marinade

Gather all of your marinade ingredients and mix them in a small mixing bowl thoroughly.

2. Pouring the marinade onto the salmon

Place your salmon in a plastic bag or glass container. When you are confident that the marinade ingredients have been mixed well, pour the marinade on top of your salmon and make sure that the fish is absorbing the mixture.

3. Placing the salmon in the fridge

Now, place the salmon into the fridge for at least one or two hours before cooking. You can choose to allow the salmon to marinate overnight if you wish making it great for those who want to do their preparation in advance. 

Different cooking methods

Once your salmon has fully marinaded, it is time to cook your salmon. How you cook requires different instructions which we have provided in this section to give you the best results.

No matter what marinade you have chosen, the cooking instructions will be the same regardless so you don’t have to worry about altering the temperature or time. Here are the various cooking methods that you can choose from:

Air frying instructions:

Here are the instructions to air fry the salmon:

1. Prepping the air fryer

Before you begin, make sure that you prep the air fryer basket or tray by coating the inside with some olive oil.

2. Adding the salmon to the basket or tray

Add the salmon to the basket or tray with the skin side facing upwards and allow it to cook for ten minutes at 400°F. 

3. Flipping the salmon over

After ten minutes have passed, flip the salmon over and then pour the rest of the marinade on top of it and allow it to cook for another ten minutes. 

Baking instructions:

Here are the instructions to bake the salmon:

1. Prepping the oven and baking tray

Before you begin, prep your oven by setting it to 450°F and line your baking tray with some parchment paper. 

2. Adding the salmon

Place your salmon onto the baking tray with the skin side facing downwards and allow it to bake for around 12 to 15 minutes.

3. Checking that the salmon is cooked properly

After 12 to 15 minutes have passed, you want to make sure the salmon is cooked properly before you serve it. To do this, simply prod the salmon with a fork and if it easily begins to flake then it has fully cooked. 

Grilling instructions:

Here are the instructions to grill the salmon:

1. Prepping the grill

Before you begin, prep your grill by setting it to medium heat.

2. Adding the salmon 

Add the salmon to the center of the grill with the skin side facing upwards and allow it to cook for around five minutes. 

3. Flipping the salmon over

After five minutes have passed, flip the salmon over and add your remaining marinade over the top of it and allow it to cook for an additional five minutes. 

4. Checking that the salmon is cooked properly

Before you serve the salmon, check that the salmon is cooked properly. You can do this by prodding the salmon with a fork. If the salmon flakes away easily then you can be assured that the salmon is fully cooked. 

Pan-frying instructions:

Here are the instructions to pan fry the salmon:

1. Prepping the pan fryer

Before you begin, prep your pan fryer by pouring some oil into the pan and then heating it on medium-high heat.

2. Adding the salmon

Add the salmon to the pan fryer with the skin side facing upwards and allow it to cook for around two to three minutes. 

3. Flipping the salmon over

After two to three minutes have passed, flip the salmon over and pour your remaining marinade over it and allow it to cook for a further three to five minutes. 

4. Checking that the salmon is cooked properly

To prevent the salmon from getting overcooked, keep an eye on the color. Hopefully, your salmon will have turned white and will easily flake away if you use a fork. Make sure the inside of the salmon isn’t translucent and you can be sure that the salmon is cooked correctly. 

If you love to eat fish and want to incorporate it more into your daily lifestyle then this is the perfect article for you. Salmon is always a great option as you can arrange all kinds of meals around it and the variety of different marinades you can add to it means that you’ll never have the same meal twice if you get bored easily.

However, if you have never played around with the marinades before or want a marinade that is easy to prepare and doesn’t take up too much effort and time then we have gathered everything you need to know.

Utilizing ingredients that you may have in your pantry, we have configured a list of the top six easy salmon marinade recipes that you need to try as well as various salmon cooking methods so you can experiment with your dishes and try out various delicious and fun combinations depending on your presence.

We’ve also gathered a variety of different tips and tricks so you can cook with confidence, even if you have never prepared salmon before as well as a curated FAQ at the end of this guide where we answer the most commonly asked questions so you don’t have to worry about conducting extra research. 

Tips and tricks for marinading salmon

Before we delve into the various marinade recipes and cooking methods, there are some tips and tricks that you need to bear in mind and be aware of. This will help you to avoid making any mistakes that can easily be prevented and ensure that you get the best results.

Cooking

Firstly, it’s important to be aware of the various ways that you can cook salmon. Regardless of what kind of marinade you choose, you can cook your salmon in a variety of different ways which is great for any kind of lifestyle and kitchen.

Later in this article, we delve into how to cook your salmon using an air fryer, baking in the oven, grill, and a pan fryer so you can choose the method that suits you best

Defrosting

Another tip that you should consider is making sure that your salmon has defrosted before you begin your preparation. This is because when the salmon defrosts during the cooking process, it will release all of the water and moisture which will overwhelm the marinade and deem it ineffective.

If you are using fresh salmon then this isn’t a concern but making sure that you have removed a frozen salmon the night before will mean that it is ready to be cooked with the marinade.  

Marinating time

Following on from giving your salmon plenty of time to defrost, it is also important to make sure that it also has plenty of time to marinate. A general rule of thumb is that the salmon should be given between one to two hours to fully marinate and absorb all of the flavors.

If you know that you will be busy on the day that you plan to have the salmon then you can marinate the salmon the day before and leave it in the refrigerator overnight to save yourself the preparation time. This means that you can immediately cook it whichever way you choose when you want to.

If you have any marinade spare that has come into contact with the salmon, make sure you discard it as it has been in contact with raw fish and will not be able to be used in another dish. 

Prepping

If you are unfamiliar with cooking salmon and have never done it before then making sure you know what to expect in the prepping process will save you a lot of time and stress in the long run. This is mainly relevant to those who have bought a large salmon fillet.

If you know that you won’t be using the whole fillet then make sure that you slice it up and place any slices that you don’t plan on using in the refrigerator or freezer so it can be cooked and consumed at a later date.

Cutting up a larger fillet into slices will also allow the fish to absorb all the flavors of the marinade and ensure that there is a more consistent cook throughout. 

Storage

Lastly, knowing how to store your salmon is extremely important as this will ensure that you can cook and consume your salmon at a later date without any risk or illness. Make sure that you seal your salmon in a reliable freezer bag before placing it into the freezer.

This will mean that there is no chance of the raw fish contaminating any other food whilst also preventing spillages from the marinade. Make sure that you use extra clips to secure the top of the bags and stand the bag up in the freezer to reduce the chances of any accidents happening.

If you choose to store the salmon in the freezer, you can place it in a glass container that is covered with a lid but make sure that you use the salmon within two days of doing this. 

Frequently Asked Questions