Here’s a delicious Baked Salmon with Asparagus and Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce recipe — elegant, flavorful, and easy to make. 🐟🥦🍋
Baked Salmon with Asparagus and Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
Ingredients (Serves 2–4)
For the Salmon and Asparagus
- 2–4 salmon fillets (6–8 oz each)
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
- 1–2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: lemon slices for garnish
For the Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
- 3 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Optional: chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
1. Preheat Oven
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
2. Prepare Salmon and Asparagus
- Place salmon fillets on one side of the baking sheet and asparagus on the other.
- Drizzle olive oil over salmon and asparagus.
- Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Optional: place thin lemon slices on top of salmon fillets.
3. Bake
- Bake 12–15 minutes, until salmon flakes easily with a fork and asparagus is tender-crisp.
- Cooking time depends on thickness of the salmon fillets.
4. Make Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
- While salmon bakes, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
- Add minced garlic and sauté 1–2 minutes until fragrant (don’t let it burn).
- Stir in lemon juice, lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat.
5. Serve
- Drizzle garlic lemon butter sauce over baked salmon and asparagus.
- Garnish with chopped parsley if desired.
- Serve immediately with rice, quinoa, or roasted potatoes for a complete meal.
Tips
- For extra flavor, marinate salmon in a little olive oil, garlic, and lemon juice for 15–30 minutes before baking.
- Use fresh asparagus for the best texture; snap off woody ends before cooking.
- For a one-pan version, you can place everything on a sheet pan and pour the sauce over before baking, but add extra butter after baking to preserve bright lemon flavor.
I can also give a foil packet version where salmon and asparagus cook together in a sealed pouch with garlic lemon butter — it keeps the fish extra juicy and makes cleanup effortless.
Do you want me to provide that foil packet version?
