Name: Salmon With Lemon Dill Sauce
Prep time: 2 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 12 min
Ingredients: 1 pound salmon fillets; Avocado oil spray (or any cooking spray of your choice); 1 teaspoon salt; 1/2 teaspoon pepper; 4 tablespoons nonfat plain Greek yogurt; 4 tablespoons sour cream; 1 heaping tablespoon dried dill; 1 lemon (juiced and zested); 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon pepper

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This bright and flavorful Salmon With Lemon Dill Sauce is one you’ll make over and over again. The salmon comes out flaky and delicate, and the lemon dill sauce adds an extra layer of richness and creaminess. This salmon recipe is simple to make, and it comes together quicker than the time it would take to order at a restaurant.

THE PERFECT LIGHT SUMMER MEAL

This Salmon With Lemon Dill Sauce is so light and refreshing! Broiling the salmon gives it a nice crust while keeping it tender and flaky on the inside. Lemon and dill are the perfect companions for salmon in this simple, easy-to-make recipe. The lemon dill sauce adds a bright and creamy element to the flavorful salmon.

This healthy, low-calorie meal is perfect for when you want something light and delicious yet don’t necessarily have much time to make it happen. The best part? This salmon recipe is an excellent dish to serve at dinner parties because it’s light and refreshing.

While most recipes call for adding lemon juice to your salmon, this recipe brings the lemon flavor in from a different angle. You’ll love this easy-to-make and healthy salmon dish if you love lemon and dill. The lemon dill sauce is so yummy and provides some freshness without being overpowering at all. You can even make extra sauce to add to the top of Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Crispy Oven Roasted Potatoes, or pasta!

When I mentioned that this recipe is a quick one, I truly meant it. The prep time is about two minutes, and the cooking time is about ten minutes. While the salmon is cooking, you can throw together the lemon dill sauce and then dinner is served. Easy peasy lemon (and dill!) squeezy!

I often serve this salmon with Oven Roasted Potatoes and Oven Roasted Vegetables to make a complete meal that is the perfect way to impress your guests!

HEALTH BENEFITS OF SALMON

Did you know that the American Heart Association recommends eating two servings of fish per week? Salmon is a wonderful way to add a serving of fish to your diet to meet this requirement.

Additionally, salmon is a healthy choice because it is a good source of…

Protein (there are 20 grams of protein per 100 grams of salmon)
Omega-3 fatty acids
Vitamins A, B3, B12, and D
Zinc, glutamine, and iron

WHY YOU’LL LOVE THIS RECIPE

A healthy option: Salmon is packed with protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins, zinc, glutamine, iron, and other nutrients.

Variety and flavor: If you’re trying to get more fish into your diet, salmon is an easy way to add variety to your regular meal rotation. Salmon is a mild fish, which is perfect for those who don’t want an overpowering fishy flavor.
Simple clean up: There is only one pan to clean, which always earns bonus points in my book.
Readily available ingredients: The lemon dill sauce gets all of its flavors from a few ingredients you likely already have in your kitchen.
Easy to adapt: You can make this recipe your own by adding your favorite fresh herbs to the sauce, such as parsley or basil.

WHAT YOU NEED TO MAKE SALMON WITH LEMON DILL SAUCE

EQUIPMENT

Baking dish
Knife
Cutting board
Citrus juicer, if preferred
Grater or zester
Small bowl
Spoon

INGREDIENTS

For the salmon:

Salmon fillets: Fresh or frozen is perfect!
Avocado oil spray: I prefer avocado oil spray (my favorite brand is Chosen Foods) for baking and roasting due to its high smoke point. Any cooking spray of your choice will do!
Seasonings: While I like to keep it simple with salt and pepper, feel free to add any other seasonings you enjoy!

For the lemon dill sauce:

Nonfat plain Greek yogurt: I use Fage 0%.
Sour cream: For reduced calories and fat, you can opt for a light version.
Lemon: You will use the juice and the zest of a lemon in this recipe. If you don’t have a fresh lemon available, you can use bottled lemon juice and skip the zest.
Seasonings: Dried dill, salt, and pepper are all you need for this sauce. Fresh dill works as well!

HOW TO MAKE SALMON WITH LEMON DILL SAUCE

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat your oven to broil, or 550 degrees.
Place the salmon fillets on a sprayed baking dish and season with salt and pepper.
Broil for 10-12 minutes, or until cooked through.

While the salmon is broiling, make the lemon dill sauce.
To make the sauce, start by juicing and zesting your lemon.
Mix the Greek yogurt, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, dried dill, salt, and pepper together in a small bowl until well combined.

Top each piece of salmon with a dollop of the lemon dill sauce.

VARIATIONS TO THIS RECIPE

You can substitute another citrus fruit like lime or orange in place of the lemon.
If you don’t have dill, you can use another herb like parsley or basil instead.
This recipe would be amazing with chicken or another type of fish like cod, halibut, or mahi mahi.

TIPS AND TRICKS

At first glance, cooking any type of fish may seem a bit intimidating. Fish is on the pricier side, and you don’t want to overcook it. Happily, once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s actually quite simple to prepare a delicious salmon dish. Here are some pointers and tricks I’ve learned over the years.

The first step is to prepare the fish before you cook it. You can do this by removing the skin if desired, removing any pin bones, patting the fish dry with paper towels, and seasoning with salt, pepper, and any other seasonings you enjoy.

Now, let’s talk about cooking the fish. It’s important not to overcook salmon. The fillets should still be slightly translucent when you remove them from the oven, and the internal temperature should be 125 degrees for medium doneness. (While the USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145 degrees, many people find that this is too done. Experiment and see what you prefer!) If your salmon needs more time in the oven, be sure to only put it back in for a minute or two at a time to avoid overcooking.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

CAN I SUBSTITUTE THE SALMON WITH CHICKEN?

Yes, chicken is a great substitute for the salmon in this recipe, and it will work just as well as the fish would. Simply make sure to adjust the cooking time to ensure the chicken is cooked to the proper temperature of 165 degrees.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE THE SALMON WITH ANOTHER TYPE OF FISH OR SEAFOOD?

You can substitute any kind of fish or seafood that you like. However, cooking time will vary depending on what type of fish you use.

WHAT SHOULD I SERVE WITH THIS SALMON RECIPE?

While this recipe is delicious by itself, you can serve it with a simple side salad, rice pilaf, or Oven Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

STORAGE, REHEATING, AND FREEZING

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO STORE SALMON WITH LEMON DILL SAUCE?

The best way to store salmon with lemon dill sauce is in an airtight container. If you put it in the refrigerator, make sure that the container’s lid is closed tightly. If you don’t have a tight-fitting lid, use plastic wrap or aluminum foil.

HOW DO YOU REHEAT SALMON WITH LEMON DILL SAUCE?

This salmon recipe is a great dish to make ahead of time and then enjoy later in the week. Nevertheless, you’ll want to avoid using the microwave to reheat it whenever possible. The microwave will dry out your salmon and make it tough, and nobody wants that! Instead, you can use the oven or a frying pan to reheat your salmon by following these easy steps.

If you’re using an oven…

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit.
Place your salmon fillet in an oven-safe baking dish. Cover it with aluminum foil to ensure it doesn’t dry out.
Place the baking dish in the oven and heat for about 8-10 minutes until heated through.

If you’re using a frying pan…

Heat your frying pan on medium heat.
Spray your frying pan with a little avocado oil spray (or any cooking spray of your choice).
Heat your salmon fillet for about 2-3 minutes on each side until heated through.

CAN YOU FREEZE SALMON WITH LEMON DILL SAUCE?

Yes, you can freeze Salmon With Lemon Dill Sauce. Freezing the salmon and sauce together is as simple as placing the salmon in a freezer-safe bag or container, pouring the sauce over it, removing as much air as possible, and sealing it tight. Freezer burn can occur when food is stored for too long at a temperature below freezing. This can cause the food to lose moisture, making it dry out and become tough. Make sure the container you use to store your salmon seals tightly to avoid freezer burn.

From the freezer, you should be able to thaw your salmon and sauce in the refrigerator overnight and cook or reheat without an issue.

NUTRITIONAL INFORMATION

This Salmon With Lemon Dill Sauce makes four servings. Each serving comes out to 202 calories, 2 WW Green SmartPoints®, 1 WW Blue SmartPoint®, and 1 WW Purple SmartPoint®.

Go here to calculate your own WW PersonalPoints™ for this recipe.

MORE EASY DINNER RECIPES

Are you looking for more quick dinner recipes for busy weeknights? Be sure to check out…

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below, or post a picture and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, or Twitter with @cookingwithfudge or #cookingwithfudge.

Originally posted on October 29, 2020. Reposted on July 12, 2022 with different pictures and more detailed instructions.