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Crispy Baked Salmon Recipe with Fluffy Dill Rice

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A simple, reliable, and comforting dinner featuring crispy baked salmon with golden-brown skin and fluffy, fragrant dill rice. Perfect for busy weeknights and cozy dinners.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 salmon fillets (6 oz / 170 g each), skin-on, preferably wild-caught
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin preferred)
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: lemon wedges for serving
  • 1 cup long-grain white rice (about 190 g)
  • 2 cups water or low-sodium chicken broth (480 ml)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons fresh dill, finely chopped
  • 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • Salt, to taste

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425°F (220°C).
  2. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Optionally, score the skin gently with a knife in a few places.
  3. Brush each fillet with olive oil, then sprinkle garlic powder, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper evenly over the top and skin side.
  4. Place the fillets skin-side down on a parchment or silicone-lined baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching.
  5. Bake for 12–15 minutes, depending on thickness, until the skin is golden and crisp and the flesh flakes easily with a fork.
  6. While salmon bakes, rinse the rice under cold water in a fine mesh strainer until water runs clear.
  7. In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed rice with 2 cups water or broth and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
  8. Reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 15 minutes without removing the lid.
  9. Remove from heat and let rice rest, covered, for 5 minutes.
  10. Add butter, chopped fresh dill, and lemon zest to the rice. Gently fluff with a fork and season with additional salt if needed.
  11. Remove salmon from oven and let rest for a couple of minutes on the tray.
  12. Serve salmon alongside the fluffy dill rice, garnished with lemon wedges if desired.

Notes

Dry the salmon skin thoroughly before baking to ensure crispiness. Avoid overcrowding the pan to allow air circulation. If salmon fillets are thicker than 1 inch, add a couple extra minutes to baking time but watch closely to avoid drying out. Fresh dill is best added after cooking to preserve flavor. Rice resting after cooking is key to fluffiness. For dairy-free option, substitute butter with olive oil.

Nutrition

Keywords: crispy baked salmon, dill rice, easy dinner, healthy salmon recipe, weeknight meal, gluten-free, oven-baked salmon

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