Baked Chimichurri Salmon
Baked Chimichurri Salmon is an easy weeknight meal, bursting with flavor! Fresh herbs and perfectly baked salmon come together for a satisfying meal, packed with protein and omega-3 fatty acids!
Gluten Free, Nut Free, Soy Free, Dairy Free
I have to be honest… I took a several month hiatus from salmon! GASP! The gold standard dietitian recommendation to enhance your omega-3 fatty acid intake and I took a break!
OK, maybe it’s not that big of a deal, but the reason I needed such a break was that I was bored. I just couldn’t make my Dijon salmon or spice-rubbed salmon again. As much as I LOVE those recipes, they were weekly staples and I needed to change it up.
So I skipped salmon for some time until some inspiration hit… some CHIMICHURRI inspiration!
What is chimichurri?
If you’ve never heard of chimichurri, it’s a green condiment of sorts, made from a blend of herbs, vinegar, garlic and oil. It’s Latin America roots scream FRESH!
Chimichurri is super versatile, but I think it’s best on proteins, like salmon. You can use this exact recipe on chicken or steak too. Or even cauliflower steaks or tofu – yum!
Baked Chimichurri Salmon is…
- Easy to make – no special equipment needed
- Flavorful
- Fresh
- Satisfying
- Made with less than 10 ingredients
If your kids love salmon, this is a great way to introduce herbs into their diets too. For you, adding all these herbs is a great way to boost your satisfaction – so good!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Baked Chimichurri Salmon
You’ll need just 8 ingredients to make the most flavorful salmon. If you have an herb garden, you may have lots of them already!!
You’ll need:
- Salmon
- Garlic
- Shallots
- Lime juice
- Red wine vinegar
- Cilantro
- Parsley
- Olive oil
Salmon is a great base for this recipe because it’s packed with protein and omega-3 fatty acids.
Like I mentioned above, you can add the chimichurri sauce on any protein, including chicken, steak, tofu, etc. I just think the bright flavors complement fish really well.
The chimichurri sauce is a very acidic, flavorful blend of herbs, vinegar, oil, and garlic.
I used both lime juice and red wine vinegar in this recipe, because I love the combination of flavors.
If I don’t like cilantro, can I just other herbs?
Of course – make it your own! I love cilantro for the bright, earthy flavors, but you could definitely make this with just parsley. It would be a great herb sauce with dill or oregano too!
How to Make Baked Chimichurri Salmon
There are two key steps to make this recipe. First, you’ll bake the salmon. Second, you’ll prepare the chimichurri sauce.
My favorite way to prepare salmon is baking it at 325F. It’s tender, flaky, and quick to cook every time. As a bonus, your entire house won’t smell like fish [like it does if you sear or saute it stovetop].
While the salmon cooks, prepare the chimichurri sauce. First, you’ll combine the garlic, onions and acidic ingredients (lime juice and vinegar). This helps break down the shallots and garlic. Let this sit for 5-10 minutes.
Then, add the herbs and oil. Let sit until the salmon is done cooking.
To serve, simply spoon the chimichurri sauce on top of the salmon. SO GOOD!
Tips to Meal Prep This Recipe
Yes, you can prepare the chimichurri sauce in advance in order to save time while getting dinner together. Store in an airtight container.
Kitchen Tools You’ll Need to Prepare Baked Chimichurri Salmon
This recipe does not require any fancy equipment. You’ll need:
- Sheet pan
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Mixing bowl (use the smallest one for the chimichurri – lid is great for storage)
Other Salmon Recipes to Try
Even if I didn’t hype these recipes up too much in the beginning of this blog, I still LOVE these recipes (I just needed something new!).
PrintBaked Chimichurri Salmon
Baked Chimichurri Salmon is an easy weeknight meal, bursting with flavor! Fresh herbs and perfectly baked salmon come together for a satisfying meal, packed with protein and omega-3 fatty acids!
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
For the salmon:
- 4 salmon filets
- Salt and pepper, to taste
For the chimichurri sauce:
- 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- Juice from 1 lime
- 1/4 cup red wine vinegar
- ½ cup very finely chopped cilantro
- ⅓ cup very finely chopped parsley
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Instructions
For the salmon:
- Preheat the oven to 325F.
- Place salmon, skin-side-down, on a lined baking sheet. Sprinkle salt and pepper on top.
- Bake for 15 minutes, or until salmon is fully cooked and easy to flake with a fork.
For the chimichurri sauce:
- While the salmon cooks, prepare the sauce.
- In a small bowl or jar combine the garlic, shallots, lime juice and red wine vinegar. Let sit for 5 minutes.
- Add the herbs and oil. Mix together and let sit until the salmon is done cooking.
To assemble:
When the salmon is done cooking, serve with the chimichurri sauce on top. Enjoy!
Don’t Forget to PIN this Chimichurri Salmon Recipe!
XO