Are you scratching your head, thinking of an easy dinner idea that won’t take all evening to prepare? Think no further! This easy glazed salmon is juicy, flaky, and seasoned to perfection. The best part? You’ll have dinner on the table in 20 minutes!
You know those days when you want your family to eat well, but it’s an extremely busy weeknight and you’re this close to getting take out? For weeknights like these, I have individually sealed salmon filets in the freezer that are ready to shine. Fish is incredibly quick to thaw out compared to chicken or beef, so that alone saves you ample prep time.
I did not used to cook fish very often. In fact, it was my husband who really inspired me to make salmon more often. One day he took a surprising ingredient and added it to the top of his salmon filets. The ingredient was mayonnaise. I was obsessed!
The mayonnaise made for an ultra juicy and moist salmon filet. I couldn’t believe it. The mayonnaise also melted into the fish, and with the right seasoning, tasted like a sauce. Although I prepare salmon in several ways today, my favorite and most common way to cook salmon includes mayonnaise.
I wanted to add an Asian inspired twist to the salmon, so I picked up some hoisin sauce at the local Target. The dinner I wanted to create was a light yet flavorful meal, packed with tons of healthy ingredients, but that didn’t taste healthy if you know what I mean!
I thought about what I enjoyed when I ordered takeout Asian food…big flavor, healthy vegetable sides, and rice or noodles. One of my favorite sides at Panda Express is one that I make quite often at home: chopped mushrooms and zucchini. The beautiful thing about both these veggies is that they don’t take long to cook at all, which is perfect for a quick weeknight meal!
Has your pantry grown since the start of the pandemic? Mine has too. More than ever before, I’ve learned that it’s vital to have dry good stocked up in case of an emergency. With that being said I love ready rice. My favorite brand is Uncle Ben’s. The brand offers jasmine, Spanish style, whole grain, and vegetable rice just to make a few. I always stock up on jasmine and basmati rice. It takes exactly 90 seconds to heat the pouch of rice in the microwave, and the quality and taste of this rice is always amazing.
This is one of the easiest and quickest meals I like to make about once per week. The salmon offers an abundance of health benefits through the omega 3 fatty acids. The vegetables are roasted and super flavorful, and the rice ties perfectly into the dish. Let’s jump in to the recipe!
What You Need:
*For the salmon*
- Family pack of individually wrapped salmon filets (4-5 filets)
- 3 tbsp mayonnaise
- 3 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp cumin
- 1 tsp garlic powder
*For the vegetables*
- 2 zucchini- chopped
- 1/2 lb white button mushrooms- chopped
- 2 tbsp scallion- chopped
- 1 tbsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tbsp hoisin sauce
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Instructions:
Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Remove the individually wrapped salmon filets from bag and place in a bowl full of water (do not remove the salmon from their individual seals). The salmon will defrost fairly quickly!
Place mushrooms in colander and spray down to wash the dirt away, then pat dry with a paper towel. Chop the mushrooms and put into a bowl/ Peel the skin of the zucchini (optional) and chop. Into the bowl the zucchini goes. Chop the scallion and add into the bowl. Season, and drizzle with olive oil and hoisin sauce. Mix all ingredients together and spread out onto a baking sheet.
By now the salmon filets should be defrosted. Remove salmon filets from their individual packaging and pat dry with a paper towel. Place filets on a baking sheet and season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and cumin. Mix mayo and hoisin sauce in a small bowl, and brush onto the salmon filets- this is the glaze for the salmon.
Cover the salmon with a foil “tent”.
Both baking sheets go into the 400 degree oven for about 15 minutes. About a minute before the fish and veggies is to be taken out of the oven, tear a small vent on the ready rice packet and microwave for 90 seconds. Careful as the packet will be hot to the touch.
Now we plate! I love the colors on our plate: green, brown, white- so earthy and bright. Garnish with a little more chopped scallions if you wish, and enjoy your 20-minute glazed salmon dinner! With a lightning fast dinner prep as this, you’ll be left with plenty more time to do what you love most- spending that time with your family!