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And a "top o' the day to you"! With St. Patrick's day falling on Saturday, we're posting delicious Irish-inspired recipes all week.
This Irish Roasted Salmon recipe has a fantastic combination of ingredients: honey, lemon juice, lemon zest, fresh thyme and a bit of....yes, Irish whiskey! A long, slow marinade helps the salmon to soak up all the delicious flavors. The marinade comes together quickly and all that's left is a short roast in a hot oven, making this salmon ideal for a yummy weeknight treat, yet special enough for guests. I served it with roasted asparagus and a fabulous Irish potato dish, Colcannon (yesterday's post) This recipe is definitely on my "keeper" list!
Irish Roasted Salmon
3 tablespoons honey
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 teaspoon lemon zest
ÂĽ cup Irish whiskey*
2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
sea salt, to taste
freshly ground black pepper, to taste
4 salmon fillets
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thymeDirections:
1. Mix together honey, lemon juice, whiskey, thyme, lemon zest and oil in a large zip lock bag. Add salmon and marinate 4-6 hours in the refrigerator.2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Remove salmon from marinade and place on a foil-lined sheet pan. Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Place marinade in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 4-5 minutes or until reduced to half the volume. The mixture will be syrupy. Add butter and swirl pan until butter is melted. Add the 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme.
3. Roast salmon for 10-12 minutes, basting with the sauce halfway through. Place under broiler for the last few minutes if you like a more golden exterior. This is not necessary but makes for a more attractive appearance. Transfer salmon to serving plates or platter and drizzle with sauce.
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Irish Roasted Salmon
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
- ÂĽ cup Irish whiskey*
- 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 6-ounce salmon fillets
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
Instructions
- Mix together honey, lemon juice, whiskey, thyme, lemon zest and oil in a large zip lock bag. Add salmon and marinate 4-6 hours in the refrigerator.
- Preheat oven to 450°F. Remove salmon from marinade and place on a foil-lined sheet pan. Sprinkle with sea salt and freshly ground pepper. Place marinade in a small saucepan and bring to a simmer. Simmer for 4-5 minutes or until reduced to half the volume. The mixture will be syrupy. Add butter and swirl pan until butter is melted. Add the 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme.
- Roast salmon for 10-12 minutes, basting with the sauce halfway through. Place under broiler for the last few minutes if you like a more golden exterior. This is not necessary but makes for a more attractive appearance. Transfer salmon to serving plates or platter and drizzle with sauce. Sprinkle with extra thyme, for garnish.
Notes
Nutrition
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Could Jack Daniel's be used instead of Irish Whiskey? We don't drink, but I do have a small bottle of JD just for cooking.
Yes, that will work just fine!
Hi, I have a question about the Irish Roasted Salmon recipe.
Am I setting the oven to Bake at 450F or, Roast at 450F?
This looks so good I cannot wait to try it. Thank you
Hi Carole, I use the bake setting.
Just wanted you to know that I've included your recipe in a collection of Irish foods on Simple Living and Eating. I will be pinning and tweeting it this week too. http://www.simplelivingeating.com/2014/03/ode-to-ireland-irish-recipes-healthy.html
i'm glad that you mentioned that we can skip the irish whiskey, not sure if we can get it here. you have cooked this so well, i love the golden colour of the salmon and everything!
Suzanne, you are so sweet, thanks for your kind words! I definitely have had beginners blog curve but I am quite a bit older than you so I've been cooking for probably a hundred more years than you! 🙂
This looks like a perfect meal to me. Makes me want to go out and grab the ingredients and get cooking. Congrats on your one year anniversary. Your site is so professional looking and your food too it never looked like you suffered from the beginners blog curve like me 🙂
That looks simple and healthy. What did you put in the mash?
I adore salmon and this looks so yummy Chris. A lucky for me find! Happy St. Patty's and thanks for sharing all of your glorious ideas.
What an amazing meal, I love salmon and that mash looks somewhat very tasty!!
Take care..
everything you make is so beautiful! I love the sound of this dish and that mash looks fabulous too! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Patti, this is a great suggestion!
Another delicious-sounding recipe from you! While I don't drink whiskey and never have any in the house, the liquor store sells little tiny bottles of everything. They probably hold 1/4 cup and only cost about $1.99, so I will definitely make the recipe as is.
Thanks,
Patti
This looks DIVINE!!
you make me laugh again, actually, I'm not much of a "whisky drinker" but it sure make for delicious salmon!
So tell me, did you sample a wee bit of whiskey while making the salmon? Hmmmmm??? 🙂 It looks delicious. I love the caramelization you got on the edges of the salmon.
@Mom24Thanks Mom24! I guess the daylight savings time put me not just an hour ahead, but a day ahead too! 🙂
Looks great, but St. Patrick's day is Saturday. You scared me for a minute there.
I would love to taste this marinade. I have to say, I'm pretty curious about the taste of the whisky. Next time I have a bottle of this, I'm trying this recipe!
Oh yum! My family will not eat fish, unless it's a fish stick! I would love to make this recipe. Maybe I'll pick up one salmon and just make it for me! Now that I think of it, I most definitly will.
This sounds fantastic! I've never cooked with Irish whiskey and have no idea how it tastes, but I would use it if I make it--it's a must! 🙂