Want to try a good sockeye salmon recipe? Try out ones mentioned in this article that will tingle your taste buds.
What Is Sockeye Salmon?
Salmons have been essential to humanity’s diet since they lived in cave dwellings. Today, we look at one of its popular varieties to cook – the sockeye salmon.
Sticking to its origin word – ‘Suk-kegh,’ meaning red fish, the sockeye salmon, also called red salmon, has a dark red-orange flesh, which turns into a deep red hue when it swims upstream. It weighs around 5-15 pounds and is one of the smaller salmons with thin and compact flesh.
While the indigenous people enjoy the fattened sockeye salmon found upriver breeding, the commercial varieties are fishes before it reaches there – being fattier and tastier.
Majorly, it is sold in Alaska, and other places include Oregon, British Columbia, Northern California, and Washington.
The taste of wild sockeye salmon can differ according to its size, catching area, and body development. Generally, it has a rich texture and strong flavor and can be grilled, baked, and roasted.
1) Sockeye Salmon Recipes
Let us check out some of the tasty sockeye salmon recipes worth relishing –
1.1) Baked Sockeye Salmon Recipe
This simple and delicious recipe is a must-try baked in a way that brings out the sockeye salmon’s flavors.
1.1.1) Ingredients
1) Sockeye salmon (1 and a 1/2 pound)
2) Olive oil (3 tbsp)
3) Lemon juice (1 tbsp)
4) Minced garlic cloves (2)
5) Dried parsley flakes (1 tsp)
6) Sea salt (1/2 tsp)
1.1.2) Instructions
Make this sockeye salmon recipe with 8 minutes of prep time and 13 minutes of cook time. It has four total servings.
1) Preheat the oven to 425°F. Take a rimmed baking sheet, and place the salmon on an aluminum foil sheet. Use a paper towel to pat the salmon dry.
2) Add olive oil, garlic, lemon juice, sea salt, parsley flakes, and black pepper to a small bowl.
3) Cover the sockeye salmon with this mix, and place lemon slices on top of it.
4) Close the prepared sockeye salmon into the foil packet. Bake for around 10 minutes, then open the packet and broil on high for around 2-3 minutes. Make sure it doesn’t burn.
5) Remove the baked sockeye salmon from the oven. You can top it with fresh dill if required.
Serve immediately and enjoy.
1.1.3) Tips
1) A moist texture can be achieved by enclosing the salmon within a large foil sheet.
2) If you have leftovers, store them in the refrigerator for three days.
1.1.4) Nutrition information
Per serving of this baked sockeye salmon has a total of 362 calories, 362 fat, and 45 gm protein.
1.2) Grilled Wild Sockeye Salmon Recipe
For a balance of buttery taste and smoky grill flavor, this sockeye salmon recipe is a good choice among healthy dinner cuisine.
1.2.1) Ingredients
1) Wild sockeye salmon fillets (4 8 oz) or whole wild salmon filet (1-2 lb)
2) Extra virgin olive oil (1/4 cup)
3) Kosher salt (1 and 1/2 tsp)
4) Freshly ground black pepper (1 and 1/2 tsp)
5) For optional garnish, use lemon slices
1.2.2) Instructions
This wild sockeye salmon recipe would take 5 minutes prep time and 8 minutes cook time with a total of 4 servings.
1) Preheat the grill grates on high and clean them off. Then, reduce it to medium-high.
2) Coat the wild-caught sockeye salmon filet with olive oil on both sides. Sprinkle this mix with salt and pepper.
3) Start grilling with the skin side down for around 5 minutes, flip and cook for another 4 minutes till it’s done.
Note – Don’t close the cover while grilling.
Your delicious wild sockeye salmon recipe is ready to be devoured.
1.2.3) Tips
1) The type of wild salmon you use here can depend on your tastes. Some of the popular choices are king salmon, Coho salmon, and farmed salmon.
Wild Alaskan Company (also famous in Pacific Northwest) and Costco Kirkland are great choices for procuring wild sockeye salmon.
1.2.4) Is Wild Sockeye Salmon Good To Consume?
Wild salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and protein, making this a healthy meal. Also, eating this would help the environment.
1.3) Easy Sockeye Salmon Recipe
Cooking sockeye salmon would never get easier with this baked sockeye salmon recipe, flavored with garlic and lemon and paired with roasted asparagus. This is a healthy pan dinner idea.
1.3.1) Ingredients
1) Sockeye salmon fillets (4 – 5 to 6 ounces). Note – Pat them dry with paper towels.
2) Olive oil (2 tbsp)
3) Garlic (minced -2 tbsp)
4) Fresh herbs like chopped parsley (2 tbsp) and chopped thyme leaves (1 tsp)
5) Lemon juice (1/3 cup)
6) Asparagus with woody ends trimmed off (1 pound)
7) Salt and pepper (1 and 1/2 tsp)
8) For garnish, use lemon slices.
1.3.2) Instructions
This easy sockeye salmon recipe will take 25 minutes to finish with four servings.
1) Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Brush 1 tbsp olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
3) To cook sockeye salmon, place the filets skin side down on the baking sheet, and brush the remaining olive oil on it.
4) Use the fresh herbs to rub salmon fillets, and pour lemon juice on them.
5) Arrange asparagus in a single layer around the prepared sockeye salmon mix. Toss around well, and season with salt and pepper.
6) Roast for around 10-12 minutes, or till the internal temperature shows 135 to 140 degrees F.
7) Remove from the oven, and let it be for some minutes.
Garnish this delicious baked salmon with lemon, and serve with warm asparagus.
1.3.3) How To Cook Sockeye Salmon?
To get the best-baked sockeye salmon recipe, here are some easy tips to follow –
1) A simple brush of fresh herbs should bring out the tastes of sockeye salmon.
2) For an extra juicy taste, keep the skin on.
3) A golden-brown texture can be formed if you set the broiler high while salmon is almost cooked and browned on top.
1.3.4) Storing Tips
1) Store the baked sockeye salmon in the fridge for two days, enclosed in an airtight container.
2) If you plan to leave some, freeze the leftovers by removing the skin and placing it in a safe bag. These last for two months.
Just defrost in the fridge overnight if you plan to reheat in the morning. Use a stovetop in a skillet, or eat it cold with a salad.
1.4) Wild Caught Sockeye Salmon Recipe with Honey Mustard
This is the perfect light and healthy summer meal if you love salmon. You can bake or grill it, and the tangy honey mustard glaze makes this sockeye salmon recipe too enticing not to try.
1.4.1) Ingredients
1.4.1.1) For the Salmon
1) Wild caught sockeye salmon (skin on – 2 lb)
2) Olive oil (2 tbsp)
3) Salt (1/4 tsp) and ground black pepper (1/2 tsp)
1.4.1.2) For the Glaze
1) Dijon mustard (1 tbsp)
2) Horseradish sauce (1 tsp)
3) Dried mint (1 tsp)
1.4.2) Instructions
This wild-caught sockeye salmon recipe can be made in 11 minutes, with four servings.
1) Preheat the grill to medium-high at 450°F
2) Take a small bowl, whisk the glaze ingredients, and set them aside.
3) Rinse the salmon filet, then pat dry. Brush with oil on both sides, keeping the skin on—season with pepper and salt.
4) Place the filet skin side down on the hot grill for about 3-4 minutes on high or till it is crispy and golden brown. Flip, keep the skin intact and cook for three more minutes.
5) Remove from the cooking appliance, brush with honey mustard glaze and let it be for 2 minutes.
Your wild-caught sockeye salmon recipe is ready to be eaten. You can also try the baked version here.
1.4.3) Health Benefits
Since this sockeye salmon recipe cannot use farmed ones, it has fewer calories and healthy omega-3 fats.
Use the famous copper river salmon along the northern Pacific Ocean for a healthy dinner.
1.5) Paprika Sockeye Salmon Recipe
A salmon lover should experiment with flavors; this recipe might just fit the list by pairing two bold flavors.
1.5.1) Ingredients
1) Wild fish fillets (salmon 2 – 6 0z)
2) Oil spray (preferably olive)
3) Diamond Crystal kosher salt (1/2 tsp)
4) Black pepper (1/4 tsp)
5) Garlic powder (1/2 tsp)
6) Paprika (1 tsp)
1.5.2) Instructions
1) Preheat the oven to 425° F; prepare a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper and grease it lightly.
2) Take a large plate or a cutting board, and place the fish fillets on it. Spray both sides with oil, and sprinkle salt, pepper, paprika, and garlic powder.
3) Bake for about 15 minutes until the fish is cooked and opaque.
Tasty fish fillets are ready to be served and eaten.
1.5.3) Notes
1) You can use sweet and smoked paprika, depending on your tastes. Both of them complement the bold flavor of the fish.
2) Using fresh or frozen and thawed fish is ideal, but the frozen ones should be baked for 25 minutes.
3) The salmon skin gives you plenty of fatty and delicious notes, but if you wish to remove it due to the taste or texture, you can. See how to do it here.
4) Some variations to the dish are – using melted butter instead of oil and onion with garlic powder. These add extra taste.
5) Store the remaining dish in a sealed container placed in the fridge, which lasts up to 3 days. You can reheat them in the microwave on half powder. Cold ones can also be used as a salad topping.
2) More Salmon Recipes
Apart from the sockeye salmon recipes, you can also try out nutritious main dishes made with salmon like –
2.1) Salmon Pasta with Parmesan Cream Sauce
This simple weeknight dinner recipe resembles those made in an Italian restaurant.
The combination of salmon with cherry tomatoes, creamy parmesan garlic sauce, and fresh dill will tingle your taste buds. Check out the full recipe here.
2.2) Fiesta Salmon Rice Bowl
Health cilantro rice bowls served with corn, bean salad, and delicious fish filets would make a great choice for a nutritious lunch and dinner.
The best part is you can substitute meats like chicken, beef, and turkey, and toppings of different sauces and herbs as per your choice. Click here to try out the recipe.
2.3) Asian Grilled Salmon Marinade
With only 5 ingredients, this recipe will give you all the spicy, salty, and sweet flavors wrapped into an easy grilled dinner.
This Asian mix can be served with a salad, fried rice, and even carrots. View the whole recipe here.
2.4) Creamy Spinach Stuffed Salmon
This veggie and fish mix with herbs, hot sauce, garlic, salt, and pepper is an interesting take that has garnered good reviews. Check it out here.
2.5) Broiled Miso Salmon
A recipe for busy nights is perfectly broiled miso salmon with ginger notes and veggies.
With a tender center and golden-brown color, the ginger miso acts as a delicious sauce for the veggies. Click here to try it out.
2.6) Salmon Cakes with Pepper Sauce
With a simple and creamy roasted red pepper sauce, these crispy salmon cakes can be made with canned or even leftover ones.
Ingredients like breadcrumbs, onions, spicy brown mustard, cooked or raw salmon, and heavy whipping cream make a healthy mix. Click here to check it out.
2.7) Instant Pot Salmon
You can make this instant frozen salmon recipe in just 20 minutes with an electric pressure cooker; reviews rave about the basmati rice, salmon, and balsamic vinaigrette as a healthy and tasty combination to try. Click here to know more.
2.8) Maple Crusted Salmon
The spicy and sweet salmon filets are drizzled with maple syrup, providing a mouth-watering caramelized crust. It is a healthy dinner choice made within 10 minutes. Click here to try it out.
2.9) Salmon Croquettes with Dill Sauce
This is a healthier variety than the traditional deep-fried croquettes as it uses egg as a binding agent rather than crackers or breadcrumbs.
Made with easily available canned salmon and dill sauce, this can be served as an appetizer, lunch, or any part of a multi-course meal. Know how to cook here.
2.10) Salmon Tacos with Mango Avocado Salsa
These healthy and fresh tacos topped with flavourful salsa and cilantro yogurt sauce are definitely worth trying. Click here to check out the recipe.
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