We’ve talked a lot about the versatility of salmon. We’re so passionate about this fish as one of the best protein options because there are so many different ways to prepare it. Whether it’s breakfast, brunch, lunch, appetizers, dinner, or even dessert, salmon can shine. Are you looking for a new way to cook salmon for family dinner? Want to wow your friends? Throw together a meal in 5 minutes? Salmon is your go-to any way you slice and dice it. So, today we’re rounding up some of our most favorite ways to serve salmon. Below you’re going to truly see the versatility of this fish and hopefully gain some inspiration for when to cook it.
First things first. Whenever you’re purchasing salmon to cook and eat, you want to get the good stuff. We always recommend sustainable, high quality, fresh fish. Therefore, we recommend Oshēn Salmon for those of you cooking at home. You can use it for any of the different ways to serve salmon below.
12 Ways to Serve Salmon
Pan-Fried Salmon
One of the most popular ways of cooking salmon is frying it. It’s one of the fastest ways to cook salmon. So, if you cook the salmon for family dinner and prepare it in less than an hour, pan-frying is the best option.
It only takes less than 15 minutes typically, usually 6 minutes of cooking time on each side, to ensure that you have cooked and well-pan-fried salmon. Simply cook it, then serve it up onto individual plates or on a platter for family-style depending on what you’re cooking.
Check out this salmon with vegetables in white wine sauce. It’s a great pan-fried salmon recipe!
Pan-Seared Salmon
Pan-seared salmon is one of the easiest and most favorite ways to serve salmon. If you want to satisfy your cravings for healthy fats, then pan-sear your favorite fish.
This is a favorite method because you can prepare the meal easily in under an hour. Simply sear on each side and get it to your desired cook. Remember, as the pros would say, once the skin starts to crisp, it’s good to go. It also doesn’t require a lot of ingredients. Most of the ingredients for pan-seared salmon recipes are already in your kitchen! Think salt, pepper, butter, herbs, spices, soy sauce. Literally, anything pairs well with seared salmon.
Seared salmon also goes well with different sauces, and one of our favorites is the green pipian sauce from Chef Dana Venuto’s recipe.
Grilled Salmon
This one is quick, easy, and a pretty common method for cooking not only salmon but all proteins. If you’re going to grill salmon, definitely check out these different ways to season your salmon. Plus, we recommend cooking your salmon in foil on a grill if you’re looking for an easy cooking method. You can serve up your grilled salmon for almost any occasion and for almost any recipe style.
Fire Roasted Salmon
There are multiple ways to cook salmon over a fire to serve up to your friends and family. If you haven’t tried it, we definitely recommend it. It gives the salmon a smokey, more earthy flavor. You can serve it up on skewers, at a BBQ, or have people make their own like marshmallows!
Salmon On A Bagel
As we’ve mentioned above, salmon is also a great breakfast option. We love salmon on bagels so much we created this list of salmon bagel ideas to help you spice up your salmon bagel. Some of these are breakfast style, but some are also great for lunch or brunch! Serve your salmon bagels on a breakfast, brunch, or lunch bar. This is a super fun and interactive way to engage your guests. Or serve it to yourself at home and make an easy and nutritious meal.
You can toss on avocado, poached eggs, or hard-boiled eggs. Grapefruit is also another awesome salmon pair. If you want to add more flavor and heat, you can also opt for chopped jalapeños!
Dehydrated Salmon
A little more on the unique side, but still tasty and worth trying! Dehydrated salmon is actually insanely delicious, especially for days that you’re on-the-go but still want to have a healthy snack or meal. You don’t have to worry because it still has all the flavor and nutrients.
Learn how to dehydrate salmon HERE.
Pickled Salmon
You can also pickle salmon for a fun flavor or to extend its shelf life, just like dehydrating it. The first thing you need to do is to choose and create a pickle flavor. Then, use a clear vinegar that’s been fermented. Next, boil all the ingredients, including your flavor of choice. Chill the mixture and soak the fish for at least 10 minutes or depending on the slices’ thickness.
Steamed Salmon
Steaming salmon fillets is another easy and delicious way to serve salmon. You can steam salmon in a pan and cover it, or you can simply use a rice cooker. Either way, steamed salmon is buttery, moist, and delicious.
It would be best if you seasoned salmon before you steam it. This way the flavors really infuse into the salmon during the steaming process. You can use salt and pepper; lemon, olive oil, salt, and pepper; thyme; or garlic, onion, and soy sauce.
Unlike pan-frying salmon, steaming salmon only takes up to 10 minutes. So try to avoid overcooking it, and always consider the carryover cooking when you remove the fish from the heat source.
Cold-Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon is another popular option, but have you heard of cold-smoked salmon? It’s smoking salmon in medium heat that’s not too hot to cook the fish. It’s done for at least 9 hours and is often the way to go if you want a less smoky flavor.
The first step is to cure your salmon with salt and sugar. Next, soak the fish in cold water and dry it by leaving it in your refrigerator for at least 4 hours.
Once it’s dry, you can now start smoking the salmon. Make sure to follow the steps here!
Baked Salmon
Baked salmon is one of the most popular and depending on your recipe, easy ways to serve salmon.
The standard means of baking salmon is to preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the salmon for at least 12 minutes. If you want it really cooked, then you can bake it for up to 15 minutes.
Check out our favorite baked salmon recipes here.
Salmon Sashimi
Yes, you don’t have to go out to eat sashimi as you can do this at home. Especially if you know where to get high-quality salmon. The benefits of eating raw salmon, plus the taste and family style of eating sashimi make it one of our favorite ways to serve salmon. There are three basic ways to cut salmon for sashimi, including hira-zukuri, kaku-zukuri, and sogi zukuri.
Regardless of the cutting style you choose, the most crucial thing to handle and hold the knife correctly. It would be best if you used a sharp knife to ensure consistency when slicing. Next, use your thumb to stop the meat from moving.
Serve the sashimi with ponzu sauce, lemon, soy sauce, or just plain white rice!
Salmon With Wine:
No matter how you serve up your salmon, wine is always a good idea. Again because you can prepare salmon in so many different ways, with different flavors, your wine can vary as well. Check out this full guide for how to pair salmon and wine to help pick the perfect wine for your dish.
Don’t Forget To Plate Your Salmon Like A Pro!
Last, but certainly not least, plate your salmon like a pro! No matter if you’re having a casual affair or something more formal. You can plate your salmon like a chef! If you’re going to be serving up salmon deliciousness to your guests, you might as well make it look fancy! We’ve shared a ton of tips to help you learn how to plate salmon like a chef, so use them! It’s really more simple than you think!
