Baked Tamari Maple Salmon
So quick and easy with a flavor that suggests you worked hard.  I love the little chunks of cooked garlic, so I opt for extra and chop it in pieces slightly bigger than the standard mince.

Yield: 3-4 servings (marinade ingredients may be easily adjusted based on how many pounds of salmon/servings you wish to make)


Ingredients

  • 1 to 1-1/4 pounds salmon
  • 3 tablespoons (45 ml) pure maple syrup
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) low-sodium tamari (may use soy sauce; see notes)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced (2 if you really like garlic)
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger

Instructions

  1. In a small bowl, mix together the maple syrup, tamari (or soy sauce), garlic, and optional ginger. I sometimes add a few grinds of the pepper mill, too.
  2. Place the salmon in a shallow glass or ceramic baking dish that is just large enough to hold the salmon. (This will keep more of the maple syrup mixture around the fish; line with parchment or foil for easy cleanup.) Pour the mixture overtop. Marinate the salmon at room temperature for 30 minutes, using a spoon to drizzle the tamari mixture over the top once or twice.
  3. Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Place the salmon in the preheated oven (with the marinade) and bake, uncovered, for 15 – 20 minutes, or until just barely cooked through the center.

Notes

  • Most tamari is gluten-free and it tastes just like soy sauce. Double-check the label if this is important, as there are exceptions. Likewise, soy sauce typically contains gluten, but there are options that do not.
  • Helpful hints: Check the salmon a little early, cutting into the fillet if necessary, as cooking time will vary based on the variety of salmon used and the thickness of the fillet. I like to remove the fish from the oven when there is the tiniest amount of uncooked fish in the center of the fillet. The fish will continue to cook for a minute or two after it is removed from the oven, and this will ensure an end result that is tender and not at all dry.
  • Thinner fillets of wild salmon may cook in as little as 8-10 minutes. Conversely, if the salmon cut is particularly thick it may require extra time in the oven. In this case, cover the baking dish with foil for the first 10-15 minutes. This will ensure that all of the marinade does not cook off. Any extra liquid is delicious drizzled over the cooked salmon or a side of rice or steamed broccoli.
  • When in doubt as to how long to cook the salmon, use a quick-read thermometer and look for an internal temperature of 120 degrees F.

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