Sally Schneider's Slow-Roasted Salmon (or Other Fish) Recipe on Food52 (2024)

5 Ingredients or Fewer

by: Genius Recipes

July11,2021

4.7

22 Ratings

  • Prep time 10 minutes
  • Cook time 35 minutes
  • Serves 4

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Author Notes

Slow-roasting makes a beautifully tender, evenly cooked, not-one-bit-dry piece of fish. If you miss the 120° F, just-starting-to-flake mark and take it out late, it will still be good—even carryover cooking after taking it out of the oven won't outrun you, because there isn't much velocity behind it. This makes the technique perfect for dinner parties and newer fish cooks. Slightly adapted from A New Way to Cook by Sally Schneider (Artisan, 2003). —Genius Recipes

  • Test Kitchen-Approved

What You'll Need

Ingredients
  • 1 teaspoonextra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 1/2 poundsthick salmon fillet, or other fish like striped bass or cod (1 large fillet or four 6-ounce fillets)
  • 2 pincheskosher salt
  • 1 small bunch of fresh thyme sprigs (optional)
  • 3 tablespoonschopped fresh herbs, like chives (optional)
  • 1/2 cupGreek yogurt, for serving (optional)
Directions
  1. Preheat the oven to 275° F. Brush a baking dish lightly with half the olive oil.
  2. Arrange the fish fillet(s) skin side-down in the pan. Rub the top with the remaining olive oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt. Tuck half the thyme sprigs under the fish and place the remainder on top.
  3. Roast for 15 to 35 minutes, until a two-pronged kitchen fork inserted in the thickest part of the fish meets with no resistance, the flesh separates easily from the skin, and is just beginning to flake when you poke into it. An instant-read thermometer should read 120° F. (Don't worry if the top of the fish has a slightly transparent, raw look; this is the result of the low roasting temperature. It will be cooked inside.)
  4. Serve warm, room temperature, or cold. Remove the thyme sprigs and sprinkle with additional fresh herbs, like chives before serving, if desired. Serve with Greek yogurt mixed with more herbs, or another sauce of your choice.

Tags:

  • American
  • Chive
  • Thyme
  • Seafood
  • Make Ahead
  • Serves a Crowd
  • 5 Ingredients or Fewer
  • Slow Cooker
  • Father's Day
  • Fall
  • Summer
  • Mother's Day

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Eve Hyde

  • HaylesYeah

  • Kellia Brinson

  • Melissa Y

  • Susanna

Recipe by: Genius Recipes

Popular on Food52

60 Reviews

Eve H. September 10, 2022

Easy to do and came out meltingly tender. My new "go to" for salmon!

HaylesYeah May 22, 2022

Just made this with first of the season Chinook and it was incredible. Husband said “this is the best salmon I’ve ever had.” Thank you!

Kellia B. May 10, 2022

The best way to bake fish, hands down.

Wsmokeyandashes January 30, 2021

This my go to recipe now. The salmon melts in your mouth. I place it on slightly oiled foil and cleanup is a snap. Even my friends who barely cook are making this recipe frequently. This recipe is that easy and that good!

Estela L. August 9, 2019

Easy, quick, delicious!

Melissa Y. May 14, 2019

I will never cook fish any other way. It couldn't have been easier, turned out perfect, and is the perfect weeknight meal. I've done every combination under the sun (thinly sliced citrus, herbs of every type, just salt, dried herbs, curry rub), and the the flavors are always delicate but still much more detectable than one would think, which allows you to finish the dish (or not) in whatever way you choose. This is a game changer for sure.

ellie July 12, 2018

Does anyone have an opinion as to whether this would be a good method to cook fresh yellowfin tuna?

Susanna June 23, 2018

I wonder how this would be if I wanted to do Provençal-style flavors—olives and tomatoes, etc. I’m thinking I might slow-roast those with olive oil for a long time (but how long?) before adding the fish. Will report how it turns out.

Barbara B. June 20, 2018

I love ALL Food 52 recipes and this salmon recipe sounds great too...but take a look at the cook time listed in the recipe - "Cook time: 5 hrs 50 min" The actual recipes states 15-35 minutes. Just wanted to be helpful so that it could be corrected and not confusing to others.

Katherine June 20, 2018

Thank you. I was glancing through the recipe because I am a fish LOVA and was confused by the time!!!! I need to learn how to cook fish the right way! I should fully read the recipe next time.

Kristen M. June 20, 2018

Thank you both for flagging that! I’m not sure what happened there but I just fixed it.

Katherine June 20, 2018

Cook time 5 hrs and 50mins??? I had to miss something right?

Sandy April 2, 2018

This was delicious! My fish filet was almost 3 inches thick so I baked it st 225 roughly 30 minutes. The pan of water is a great trick. I had never tried that before. Living in the Cayman Islands, we eat lots of fresh fish. We meet the boats as the fishermen bring their catch in. Thanks for the recipe.

Momimel December 22, 2019

What is the pan of water trick? I don't see it mentioned in the recipe.

Sandy December 22, 2019

Place a pan of hot water in the oven on the shelf below the fish.

Barb March 15, 2018

If you've never tried Sous Vide cooking, you'll love it just for the salmon! Low, slow cooking automatically, and still done in less than 20 minutes, yet perfect every time.

Anonymous February 21, 2018

I discovered this method with one of the great chef's of our time (in my opinion) Molly Stevens in her classic cookbook, All About Roasting. With a simple and similar name, "Slow-Roasted Wild Salmon Fillets," it was an amazing discovery for me that this technique produces amazing results! She makes a "smear" of olive oil, chives, and lemon or orange zest to top the salmon before cooking.

But I still won't give up my super high heat method, either, and my all time favorite quick preparation for salmon is with Chef Paul Prudhomme's Magic Salmon Seasoning found in most grocers or on Amazon - in a 450 oven for 10 minutes. Super moist and produces a fabulous quick meal! Its great to have two methods that make such a yummy, healthy meal!

FrugalCat August 15, 2017

Low 'n slow! I love cooking salmon with this method. I surround the fish with slices of lemon, or fresh herbs. Once my husband was like "is this fish still raw?" but he tasted it and understood.

Windischgirl August 8, 2017

Made Coho Salmon on the grill using this method tonight. Preheated the grill on high. Placed a 1.5 lb filet, skin side down, on a double layer of foil. Topped the fish with fresh basil leaves and slices of heirloom tomatoes, salt and pepper. Sealed it with a layer of foil over the top, placed in on the grill pan and promptly lowered the heat to low. It was perfect at about 15 minutes. Delicious with sautéed fennel and a smear of pesto!

mrslarkin August 7, 2017

Made this again tonight using cod. So delicious. I love this recipe!

SKK April 1, 2017

Do not know how I missed this recipe and am thrilled to have found it! It is fresh halibut season here in Seattle and I used this recipe, with advice from Alice Waters via Greenstuff. Amazing flavor! Halibut gently let go of the skin. Used the pan of water and my oven needed to be at 225. Will be making this with for a crowd of 16. Used a simple sautéed leak and butter topping. Wow!

Jen December 20, 2016

Do you think this method would work with Halibut?

Jen January 6, 2017

I ended up finding salmon and this was amazing! We host Sunday dinner and one of the hardest things is finding dishes that work well with the chaos of getting everyone at the table at the same time. The salmon was wonderful right out of the oven, later at room temp, and fantastic the next day straight from the fridge. I did as suggested below and topped with Lemon Caper dressing. Doing again tonight! Now, to figure out the side dishes...

Laura November 28, 2016

I have tried this multiple times but each time the white protein of the salmon oozes out and by the time the thickest part registers 120*F, the rest of the (thick!) fillet is tough! Any ideas on what I could be doing wrong?!

Greenstuff November 28, 2016

That has never once happened to me, but if you look at the earlier comments below, you'll see that I use a lower temperature, 200, and I place a pan of water underneath to keep the atmosphere moist.

Laura November 28, 2016

Thanks Greenstuff - I'll try your approach next time and see how it goes! I've tried different fillets from different markets, tried different baking dishes, popped the fish in straight from the fridge or after resting on the counter to let the chill drop off...but it always leaks albumin and gets an unpleasant overcooked texture. So many other people seem to have great results with this as written, so I'm assuming what I'm experiencing is due to user error somehow!

Greenstuff November 28, 2016

Maybe your oven runs hot? Too much heat is the only factor I can think of that would yield those results.

Billy52 June 17, 2020

Brine the salmon for 15 minutes before baking.

Spice September 25, 2016

This was amazingly moist. I used the method with red snapper.

Sally Schneider's Slow-Roasted Salmon (or Other Fish) Recipe on Food52 (2024)

FAQs

What not to do with salmon? ›

5 Mistakes to Avoid When Cooking Salmon
  1. Not removing the pin bones. This is an easy step to forget about, especially since pin bones go unseen — until you get one unpleasantly stuck in your throat. ...
  2. Seasoning the fish too soon before cooking. ...
  3. Removing the salmon skin before cooking (with one exception).

How to not overcook salmon in the oven? ›

The gentler heat cooks the salmon slowly and reduces the chances of overcooking. It also gives you the time to calmly assess when the salmon is done. Bake the salmon at 275°F for 20 minutes, or at 300°F for 10 to 15 minutes.

What is the very best way to cook salmon? ›

A Mainstay You Can Evoke With Little Fanfare
  1. Heat the oven to 275°F.
  2. Place a salmon fillet in a baking dish. Rub all over with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper.
  3. Roast until salmon flakes easily, or a thermometer inserted in the thickest part reads 120°F (about 30 minutes for a 6-ounce fillet).
May 13, 2020

What salmon to avoid? ›

Avoid farmed Atlantic salmon from Canada, Chile, Norway, or Scotland, except when purchasing from businesses committed to sustainable seafood, it's ASC-certified, or you confirm it's from a Good Alternative source (scroll down for more information).

Why you shouldn't eat salmon everyday? ›

Eating large amounts of salmon and other fish could expose you to cancer-causing chemicals, or carcinogens. Fish get these chemicals by swimming in polluted water. Although both wild and farmed salmon carry this risk, the benefit-risk ratio for wild salmon is significantly greater.

What should I put on top of my salmon? ›

A creamy but slightly tangy sauce works really well with salmon, and it's why sour cream-dill sauce over salmon is such a classic. Try mixing in curry powder, Sriracha, or scallions into yogurt or crème fraîche for an easy, elegant salmon topper.

What is the white stuff coming out of my salmon in the oven? ›

What is that stuff and how can you keep it from developing? The white material is called albumin, which is a protein that is found naturally in salmon. The moisture-rich protein starts out as a liquid. The muscle fibers in the salmon contract as they are heated and that pushes albumin to the surface.

Is it better to bake salmon at 350 or 400? ›

What is the best temperature to bake salmon? 400°F (205°C) is ideal as it allows the fish to gain colour and the skin to become crispy. If you prefer a milder method, you can bake it at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes or until done. The salmon baked at 425°F (215°C) produces tender, creamy fillets that cook quickly.

What can I put on salmon to make it taste better? ›

Garlic Butter – a mixture of garlic, butter, chicken broth, lemon juice, and honey. Lemon & Dill – a mixture of butter, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, dill, salt, and pepper. Cajun Seasoning – I love McCormick's Cajun seasoning! Baked Teriyaki Salmon – Pour some Teriyaki Sauce on top of the salmon before baking!

Is it better to cook salmon in foil or not? ›

Cooking salmon in foil just makes things easier. It creates a buttery, fresh, evenly cooked fish without having to be as precise. Moisture is preserved while flavor is exploded! Your fish won't have any char marks either!

Does salmon taste better in oven or pan? ›

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

Does salmon taste better cooked in oil or butter? ›

A seared fish necessity. Butter + Oil. Butter makes everything better, and the oil is key for helping create the crispy exterior. Make sure to use an oil with a high smoke point like canola, grapeseed, or avocado oil to avoid burning it.

When should you not use salmon? ›

If the salmon smells fishy, sour or ammonia-like, then it's gone bad. Appearance: Fresh salmon fillets should be bright pink or orange with no discoloration, darkening or drying around the edges. If you notice any dull or gray coloring, dark spots or filmy white residue, then it's a sign that the salmon has spoiled.

What are the negatives of salmon? ›

Farmed salmon typically contain trace amounts of contaminants, including PCBs, dioxins and mercury. Both wild and farmed salmon have been found to contain mercury and PCBs, both in levels not likely to cause health risks, according to most health experts.

What not to eat after eating salmon? ›

Eating milk, curd or other dairy products with fish may trigger digestive discomfort, bloating, stomach ache and even lead to skin infections and allergies. The combination of dairy and fish can disturb the digestive flow due to their high protein content and compounds that can impact digestion.

What is the mistake on salmon on Food Network? ›

The Mistake: Cooking Salmon Past Medium

Why It's Bad: While some people prefer very well-done salmon, by and large the most common mistake is overcooking it. You'll begin to compromise its flavor and texture if it cooks beyond medium and you could end up with a dry and fishy meal.

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