We’re going to make summer salmon with a vibrant basil sauce, which is so good that you’ll want to drink it. Perfect for spices, freshness, and dinner for everyone!
Hello, and happy summer to you, me, and this delicious salmon in basil sauce!
For me, the bright green basil sauce is the green sauce of the summer of 2023 – pour it over a richly spiced caramelized salmon with a little tomato salad, and you’ve got a very happy dinner.
My family has been eating this over and over again lately!
How to make Salmon with Basil Sauce (with photos)
Step 1: Make basil sauce
Blitz, mix it up, do your thing. These days, I use this mini chopper (affiliate link) for almost all sauces!
Looks like this when you’re done:
Step 2: Rub the salmon with spices
I’m not going to lie; it satisfied me.
Step 3: Grill the salmon
Ten minutes before the meal, we put it in the oven. I usually use a meat thermometer to check the temperature (135-140 is a good benchmark) or sacrifice one end of a piece of meat to check doneness.
Step 4: Assemble and plate
Everyone has their plate! We put rice and a simple tomato salad.
The only requirement is to make sure everyone has plenty of basil sauce.
I am emotionally attached to this basil sauce (or some version) because it originated in a family cabin in Wisconsin. There was a huge basil plant on the dock, and we harvested it at will. For weeks, everything we ate was covered in basil sauce.
When I inhaled my first bouquet of fresh summer basil last week, it took me back in time. It was like a light bulb. Desire. Basil sauce time.
One of my favorite things in life is finding a recipe that makes my whole family happy. The meal was good for all of us: plenty of protein to make Bjork happy, plenty of flavors to make me happy, and enough elements to make the kids find something they liked no matter their mood.
Against all odds, my preschooler asks for a few more servings or three of salmon every time he makes this dish, and my toddler uses a spatula to clean up the sauce blender. I’m not saying it happens to everyone. But it happens to us sometimes, and I’m always shocked and act so calm, but it makes me especially fond of this recipe.
In short, The whole family endorses her.
May your summer be filled with many batches of basil sauce!
Watch How to Make Salmon with Basil Sauce
Related: If you love salmon, please don’t take these two recipes to heart: Coconut Curried Salmon and mango Salsa Barbecue Salmon! Oooeee! Both recipes we repeat at home.
Note: The photo on this recipe shows a tomato and cucumber salad, but at this time, I prefer a tomato and corn salad! You’ll see corn on the recipe card but not in the photo. Any kind will do, but my favorite is to follow the recipe cards!
Preparation: Prepare the tomato salad.
To make the basil sauce, Combine the ingredients until almost completely smooth and only a few crumbs remain.
To prepare the salmon:
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Combine the spices in a small bowl and stir in the olive oil.
- Coat the salmon with the spicy sauce.
Grilled salmon: Bake on a baking sheet for 9-12 minutes or until the thickest part reaches 135 degrees. (It’s all personal preference, but this is our favorite level of doneness—a medium, well-done salmon.)
Garnish: Place the salmon on the rice, serve with a salad, and spoon the sauce over it—season with salt and pepper.
Basil sauce summer salmon common problems
What herbs can I use instead of basil?
I love the basil here—it’s a star! But if you want to try something else, I’ll use some fresh dill or coriander to make something more like vanilla ranch dressing!
How long does the basil sauce last?
I’ve had it in the fridge for five days.
What other proteins might work?
It’s great with chicken or shrimp!
Chicken: Coat chicken breasts or thighs with spices and cook for 4-5 minutes on each side until cooked. I’ve done that, and it’s great. I omitted the sugar and increased the salt to 1 TSP / 1 pound.)
Shrimp: Coat the shrimp with spices and fry for 4-5 minutes until the shrimp is cooked. (I still need to do this, but it should be excellent.)
Can you make this vegetarian/meatless?
Yes, you can do something similar with tofu—here’s a similar recipe that uses tofu for protein! I also think baked sweet potatoes or cauliflower instead of salmon is excellent.
How to make gluten-free and dairy-free?
This recipe is naturally gluten-free and dairy-free! Just make sure the “grain” you use to make the bowl is gluten-free, such as rice or quinoa.
Can you cook salmon any other way?
First, Yum! Second, yes, but you only need to adjust for two things:1) the spices on top and 2) the timing. As mentioned earlier, it’s easy for the oven to coat the salmon with spices to create a golden crust, but on the grill, if you turn the salmon face down, the spices will stick to it and burn to the grill. If you want to make it, I’ll follow this guide to grilled salmon!
Can I cook salmon in an air fryer?
Yes, we do! Honestly, I’m just replacing the salmon in these bowls with this air fryer salmon, and you’re good to go!
