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    Balsamic Salmon Marinade (3 ingredients!)

    April 5, 2021 by Denise Bustard 17 Comments

    Home / Recipes / Dinner / Balsamic Salmon Marinade (3 ingredients!)

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    This simple balsamic salmon marinade has just 3 ingredients, and gets dinner on your table in no time. The salmon comes out with the best texture- so soft and tender on the inside and never over-cooked.

    When it comes to salmon, I'm all about serving it up with a delicious sauce. Maple glazed salmon and teriyaki salmon glaze are two of our favorites! This balsamic salmon marinade is another great option that infuses so much flavor into the salmon, but can also be converted into a sauce to drizzle over top.

    close up shot of balsamic salmon with reduction drizzled over it
    Table of Contents show
    1 Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe
    2 Recipe video
    3 Ingredient notes
    4 Step by step directions
    5 FAQ
    6 Recipe tips
    7 Serve it with
    8 More salmon recipes
    9 Balsamic Salmon Marinade (3 ingredients!)

    With just three simple ingredients, this balsamic salmon marinade is so easy to prepare! Serve it up with a batch of coconut rice and sautéed green beans for the perfect meal.

    Reasons you'll ♡ this recipe

    • there are just 3 ingredients in the marinade, and it only needs to marinate for 30 minutes
    • you can turn the marinade into a sauce to drizzle over the salmon, rice and veggies!
    • starting the salmon on high heat, then reducing the temperature helps it cook through perfectly: so soft and tender on the inside and never over-cooked!

    Recipe video

    See exactly how to cook balsamic salmon by watching the video below! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

    Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

    Ingredient notes

    ingredients required to make balsamic salmon marinade
    • salmon- this cooking method works best with salmon fillets, and not thin tail sections. If you have a side of salmon, cut it into even 5 oz portions before marinating. For thin sections of salmon, see how I pan fry them in How to Cook Salmon
    • balsamic vinegar- I've used regular grocery store balsamic vinegar, but you could get fancy with flavored balsamic vinegars
    • maple syrup- balances the acidity/sharpness of the vinegar. Swap for honey or brown sugar.
    • garlic powder- brings a touch of savory to the marinade; swap for 3-4 cloves of fresh minced garlic if you have it

    Step by step directions

    balsamic marinade in jar

    1. Shake up marinade- in a ½ pint jar or salad dressing shaker, combine the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and garlic powder. Shake it up until completely combined.

    salmon skin side up in marinade in white baking dish

    2. Marinate salmon- Make sure your salmon is cut into equal-sized 5 oz fillets. Arrange in a 9 x 9 inch square baking dish. Pour the marinade evenly over the salmon, then turn the salmon so it is skin side up. Marinate for 30 minutes.

    • balsamic salmon on baking sheet

    3. Preheat oven + sheet pan- Heat the oven to 500°F. Line a sturdy baking sheet with foil and place it in the oven to pre-heat as well. Once oven comes to temperature, remove the sheet pan and carefully arrange the salmon on it (skin side down).

    4. Reduce heat + bake salmon- Place the sheet pan into the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 275°F. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the salmon reaches 125°F* when checked with an instant read thermometer.

    *this is medium-rare, if you prefer your salmon closer to medium doneness, cook to 145°F.

    reducing balsamic marinade in blue pot

    5. (optional) Reduce marinade- While salmon bakes, add the reserved marinade to a pot. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, until it reduces and thickens. Use this to drizzle over the salmon.


    FAQ

    Is it safe to marinate salmon overnight?

    Unlike chicken, salmon should be marinated for no longer than 2 hours; at this point the acid in the marinade can start to degrade the muscle fibres in the salmon, making it mealy and unappetizing.

    Can I use balsamic glaze instead of vinegar?

    No, the balsamic glaze is thickened and sweetened, so you don't want to swap it for regular balsamic vinegar in the marinade. However you can use a bottled balsamic glaze to serve and skip the reducing the sauce step!

    Is it safe to eat the used marinade?

    Yes- for this recipe. Since we simmer the marinade, it kills any bacteria that could be lurking in there; its essentially the same as if we were to bake it with the salmon in the oven.

    Why do you pre-heat the pan in the oven?

    I've used Cook's Illustrate's brilliant method: pre-heat the oven to 500°F with your baking dish in the oven (note- you can't use a glass baking pan for this recipe as it runs the risk of shattering). Place the marinated salmon on the pre-heated pan and place in the oven. Immediately reduce to 275°F. This sears the outside of the fish, which helps lock moisture in. It's my favorite way to bake salmon!

    close up shot of balsamic salmon with reduction drizzled over it

    Recipe tips

    Use a sturdy baking dish

    Preheating the baking sheet helps sear the salmon, sealing the juices in. Make sure you use a good quality sheet pan, and avoid glass at all costs (as it runs the risk of shattering at high temperatures). I also prefer a baking sheet over dish as it has great air circulation between salmon fillets, helping them cook through evenly.

    I love these baking sheets

    Check the temperature

    All ovens bake slightly differently, and salmon can vary in thickness and shape. To avoid over or undercooking your salmon, I recommend checking the internal temperature using a digital thermometer.

    • medium rare (recommended)- 125°F
    • medium- 145°F

    Foil makes clean up easier

    I normally make this recipe without the foil, just giving the pan a soak and scrub. If you want to make clean up easier, line your pan with foil. Due to the high temperature, parchment paper will not be safe to use for this recipe.


    Serve it with

    • 7 Cauliflower Rice Recipes 
    • 7 Easy Rice Recipes
    • Broccolini
    • Autumn Apple Farro Salad 
    • Staple Kale Salad
    • Maple Cinnamon Roasted Butternut Squash
    • Parmesan Roasted Cauliflower
    how long to bake salmon; spooning glaze over the cooked fillet

    More salmon recipes

    • Herb Crusted Broiled Salmon
    • Sheet Pan Honey Lemon Salmon & Broccolini
    • Air Fryer Salmon Patties
    • Air Fryer Salmon

    ☆ Did you make this recipe? I'd love to hear how it turned out! Leave me a review and star rating in the comments below. Your reviews help so much!

    close up shot of balsamic salmon with reduction drizzled over it
    Print Recipe
    5 from 1 vote

    Balsamic Salmon Marinade (3 ingredients!)

    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: American
    Diet: Gluten Free
    Calories: 270kcal
    Author: Denise Bustard
    Servings: 4
    This simple balsamic salmon marinade has just 3 ingredients, and gets dinner on your table in no time. The salmon comes out with the best texture- so soft and tender on the inside and never over-cooked.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time10 mins
    Marinating Time30 mins
    Total Time15 mins

    Ingredients

    • 20 oz salmon fillets cut into 5 oz portions; see note 1
    • ¼ cup balsamic vinegar
    • ¼ cup maple syrup note 2
    • ½ teaspoon garlic powder note 3

    Instructions

    • Shake up marinade- in a ½ pint jar or salad dressing shaker, combine the balsamic vinegar, maple syrup and garlic powder. Shake it up until completely combined.
      balsamic marinade in jar
    • Marinate salmon- Make sure your salmon is cut into equal-sized 5 oz fillets. Arrange in a 9 x 9 inch square baking dish. Pour the marinade evenly over the salmon, then turn the salmon so it is skin side up. Marinate for 30 minutes.
      salmon skin side up in marinade in white baking dish
    • Preheat oven + sheet pan- Heat the oven to 500°F. Line a sturdy baking sheet with foil and place it in the oven to pre-heat as well. Once oven comes to temperature, remove the sheet pan and carefully arrange the salmon on it (skin side down).
      balsamic salmon on baking sheet
    • Reduce heat + bake salmon- Place the sheet pan into the oven and immediately reduce the temperature to 275°F. Bake for 10 minutes, or until the salmon reaches 125°F*(see note 4) when checked with an instant read thermometer.
    • Reduce marinade (optional)- While salmon bakes, add the reserved marinade to a pot. Simmer for 5-10 minutes, until it reduces and thickens. Use this to drizzle over the salmon.
      reducing balsamic marinade in blue pot

    Notes

    1- if you have a thin tail portion of the salmon, I recommend pan frying instead of baking. See How to Cook Salmon
    2- you can swap the maple syrup for an equal volume of honey or brown sugar; alternative sweeteners have not been tested
    3- garlic powder can be swapped for 3-4 cloves fresh minced garlic
    4- 125°F yields medium-rare salmon; cook to 145°F for medium-well.
    Storage
    Balsamic marinated salmon is best served fresh, though leftovers may be stored in the fridge for up to 48 hours.
    Reheat
    Reheat in a 350°F oven for 10 minutes, or in the microwave until steaming hot.
    CAUTION
    Do not use a glass baking dish as it risks shattering in the oven at 500°F.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1fillet | Calories: 270kcal | Carbohydrates: 16g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 77mg | Sodium: 68mg | Potassium: 757mg | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 55IU | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 1.2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @SweetPeaSaffron or tag #sweetpeasandsaffron

    About Denise Bustard

    Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more. read more

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