Why? This Maple Pecan Salmon is perfectly cooked with not only salt, pepper and butter (the usual fare) but with a little help from sweet maple syrup, a tad bit zingy from mustard and cayenne, and some crunch from those yum pecans. The end result… A CONVERT TO SALMON LOVER!! Coming from me, that’s a BIG THING. Yeah, I wasn’t much into salmon before. You may say “what, such people exist?” Yeah, ME. When it comes to salmon, I wish things could be easy like most of you. I know you just love the simple delicate salmon flavor with salt, pepper and butter to top it off. Lucky you! I simply don’t get excited over the taste of plain fish or meat in my mouth. Of course I tried it a few times… Oh believe me, I try every single thing when it comes to food, but salt and pepper just ain’t enough for this lady with any kind of fish or meat. The verdict was there for a few years that I may not be a salmon person. Jason loves his salmon and had been scratching his head for a long time thinking of how to convert me so he could eat salmon more often. Yeah, he is a darling, he does stuff like that. He is a great cook and that’s one of the reasons I married him. So basically, this is his recipe and I’m just jotting it down. He knew that if he just added something to tingle my palate, I just might start eating salmon. So he enhanced the natural buttery sweet flavor of salmon with sweet maple syrup and a hint of mustard and cayenne to woo my taste buds. Not to mention crunchy pecans. Glazing the salmon with that concoction does the trick. One bite into it and I said “husband, that’s awesome!!” This is like one of those sheet pan meals you see everywhere lately. It’s quick and easy, perfect for weeknights… yet so special!
Ingredients
Salmon Fillet: The freshness of the fish is key to the final flavor. Wild-caught salmon often has a more intense flavor compared to farmed salmon and a firmer texture. Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup is a must for the best flavor. Avoid artificial maple-flavored syrups as they can be too sweet and lack the depth of flavor of real maple syrup. Butter: Adds a creamy richness to the sauce, complementing the maple syrup. Brown Mustard: You can experiment with different types of mustard for varied flavors. Seasonings (Salt, Pepper, Cayenne Pepper): Freshly ground black pepper will provide the best flavor. The cayenne pepper adds a hint of heat, adjust according to your preference for spiciness. Pecans: Freshness is key.
Ready to Make Maple Pecan Salmon?
- Prep Salmon: Arrange your salmon on a greased baking sheet, along with any veggies you would like to roast with it. Brush with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Bake: In an oven preheated to 425°F, bake salmon for about 12-15 minutes, or until it flakes easily with a fork.
- Make the Glaze: While salmon is baking, combine maple syrup, butter, mustard, salt, pepper and cayenne in small pan. Bring to low boil and simmer until thickened. Add pecans and cook 3-4 more minutes.
- Finish the Dish: Spoon maple syrup mixture onto salmon pieces. Serve and enjoy. Can you believe how easy that was? Jason’s meals are super duper easy, but the results are super duper delish!! Give it a try guys. If I like this, I bet all of you will like it! Rather than your regular buttery one, try this pecan crusted salmon. Add some kind of veggie, we love our roasted asparagus with this one. We like to serve it on a bed of sweet potato mash along with asparagus and nice wedges of lemon. I’m so glad Jason went to the effort to come up with this perfectly enhanced salmon dish for me. I am suddenly looking forward to new ways to try this fish that I never gave much thought to. And my dear friends, you will hear all about them… just stay close by!! Try these other great salmon recipes!Finnish Salmon SoupBaked Sockeye SalmonSalmon with Mango SalsaMaple Pecan SalmonFirecracker SalmonSalmon Rice BowlsSalmon TacosSalmon Pasta This recipe was originally posted September 10, 2019 and has been updated with new images and a refined cooking method. Here’s one our original ugly pictures 😅:
