This baked Lemon Salmon & Asparagus recipe is easy, fuss free and made on one sheet pan! Served with a simple Basil Aioli this dinner is packed with both nutrients and flavor! It's perfect for easy weeknight dinners, yet elegant and delicious enough for entertaining! Recipe can be scaled up or down by using the slider if you hover your mouse over the number of Servings.
Prep Time15mins
Cook Time15mins
Total Time30mins
Course: entree, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: asparagus, baked, dill, garlic, lemon, salmon, sheet pan
1 ½ - 2PoundsAsparagus(medium or thin spears, tough ends trimmed_
Kosher Salt & Pepper- to taste
Basil Aioli:
1/3Heaping Cup Fresh Basil Leaves- packed & finely chopped
½CupCrème Fraiche
1small clove Garlic - minced
2tspLemon Juice
Optional for Garnish: Micro Greens, Chives, Lemon Wedges
Serving Options: Artisan Bread, Quinoa or Rice, Salad
Instructions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper for easy clean up.
Make lemon sauce for salmon: In a small bowl, mix together 2 ½ tablespoons of oil, mustard, lemon juice, zest, garlic, dill, parsley, paprika, cayenne and ½ teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Set aside.
Season asparagus: Place the asparagus on the baking sheet. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Toss to coat. Arrange the asparagus on the outside edges of the pan, making room in the center of the pan for the salmon.
Brush salmon with sauce: Place the salmon in the middle of the pan and brush with the mustard mixture. Place the lemon slices on the salmon and around the baking sheet.
Bake: Transfer the baking sheet to the oven and roast for 10-15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked to your desired doneness.
Meanwhile, make the aioli: In a small bowl, whisk together all the ingredients for the sauce* with ¼ teaspoon salt and a pinch of pepper. Taste and adjust for seasoning with more salt and pepper if desired. Set aside.
To serve: Cut the salmon into 4 pieces and finish with a squeeze of lemon. Serve with sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
You can either use one large filet of salmon for this recipe, or you can cut the filet into smaller serving portions if desired. As well, this recipe scales up and down really easily depending on how many people you are feeding! If feeding a crowd, make sure you use more than one sheet pan and rotate the pans in the oven, from top to bottom and front to back, half way through cooking.
If you like a stronger lemon flavor, add more lemon zest to the Lemon Dijon mixture in step 3.
Make sure you hand whisk together the ingredients for the basil aioli. Using a food processor or blender will cause the ingredients to separate!
If you want a crisper top on your salmon, I recommend you broil it for the last few (3-5) minutes of cooking. After you switch the oven to high broil, make sure you watch the salmon CAREFULLY as it can go from golden brown to burnt very quickly!
The cooking time in the recipe is approximate. It will really depend on how thick your salmon is and your desired doneness. Salmon is cooked through when it flakes easily with a fork.
Nutritional information is an approximation based upon 4 servings. Exact information will depend upon the brands of ingredients and precise measurements used.