August is back to school, and our theme here at Health by Design is BRAIN POWER! Here is a SUPER SIMPLE, 5 ingredient, no mess recipe for a beautiful baked salmon.
Salmon is full of Omega-3, a fatty acid known to be highly beneficial to the brain. Omega-3 also provides more oxygen to the brain and allows us to retain new information while still remembering old information. The best fish to eat for brain health are salmon, tuna, and herring.
Thanks to Wellplated for this recipe!
Baked Salmon in Foil
Easy Baked Salmon in Foil with Garlic, Lemon, and Herbs. One of the best simple, healthy recipes. Turns out perfectly every time!
PREP TIME: 15 MINS COOK TIME: 15 MINS TOTAL TIME: 30 MINS
Servings: 6 servings
Ingredients
2 pound side of salmon - boneless (skin on or off, depending upon your preference), wild caught if possible
5 sprigs fresh rosemary - or fresh herbs of your choice; do not use dried herbs
2 small lemons - divided, plus extra for serving as desired
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
4 cloves garlic - peeled and roughly chopped
Additional chopped fresh herbs - such as basil, thyme, parsley, dill, or green onion (optional)
Instructions
Remove the salmon from the refrigerator and let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes while you prepare the other ingredients. Heat oven to 375 degrees F. Line a large baking dish or rimmed baking sheet with a large piece of aluminum foil.
Lightly coat the foil with baking spay, then arrange 2 sprigs of the rosemary down the middle. Cut one of the lemons into thin slices and arrange half the slices down the middle with the rosemary. Place the salmon on top.
Drizzle the salmon with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and pepper. Rub to coat, then scatter the garlic cloves over the top. Lay the remaining rosemary and lemon slices on top of the salmon. Juice the second lemon, then pour the juice over the top.
Fold the sides of the aluminum foil up and over the top of the salmon until it is completely enclosed. If your piece of foil is not large enough, place a second piece on top and fold the edges under so that it forms a sealed packet. Leave a little room inside the foil for air to circulate.
Bake the salmon for 15-20 minutes, until the salmon is almost completely cooked through at the thickest part. The cooking time will vary based on the thickness of your salmon. If your side is thinner (around 1-inch thick) check several minutes early to ensure your salmon does not overcook. If your piece is very thick (1 1/2 inches or more), it may need longer.
Remove the salmon from the oven and carefully open the foil so that the top of the fish is completely uncovered (be careful of hot steam). Change the oven setting to broil, then return the fish to the oven and broil for 3 minutes, until the top of the salmon and the garlic are slightly golden and the fish is cooked through. Watch the salmon closely as it broils to make sure it doesn’t overcook and the garlic does not burn. Remove the salmon from the oven. If it still appears a bit underdone, you can wrap the foil back over the top and let it rest for a few minutes. Do not let it sit too long—salmon can progress from "not done" to "over done" very quickly. As soon as it flakes easily with a fork, it's ready.
To serve, cut the salmon into portions. Sprinkle with additional fresh herbs or top with an extra squeeze of lemon as desired.