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Gordon Ramsay Christmas Salmon Recipe

4.8 from 387 reviews

Gordon Ramsay’s Christmas Salmon is a festive and flavorful dish featuring a beautifully glazed salmon side baked and broiled to perfection. Accompanied by a creamy dill sauce and a vibrant cranberry-almond tapenade, this elegant recipe combines sweet, tangy, and herbaceous flavors, making it a perfect centerpiece for holiday celebrations.

Ingredients

Scale

Salmon & Glaze

  • 1.21.5 kg side of salmon
  • 150g butter
  • 1/2 cup honey
  • 3 cloves minced garlic

Dill Sauce

  • 1 1/2 cups sour cream
  • 1/2 cup chopped dill
  • 1/2 grated eschalot
  • 1 1/2 tbsp lemon zest

Tapenade

  • 1 cup dried cranberries soaked in 1 cup hot orange juice
  • 1 cup toasted almonds
  • 1/3 cup parsley

Finishing

  • Pomegranate seeds
  • Parsley
  • Lemon juice

Instructions

  1. Prepare Dill Sauce and Tapenade: Mix together the sour cream, chopped dill, grated eschalot, and lemon zest to make the dill sauce. For the tapenade, soak dried cranberries in hot orange juice, then combine with toasted almonds and parsley. Both can be prepared ahead of time for convenience.
  2. Preheat Oven and Prepare Salmon: Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C). Season the salmon side as desired and place it on a parchment-lined foil sheet ready for glazing.
  3. Make and Apply Glaze: Melt the butter and blend it with honey and minced garlic to create the glaze. Pour this glaze evenly over the salmon, then wrap the salmon tightly in the foil to seal in moisture.
  4. Bake the Salmon: Place the wrapped salmon in the preheated oven and bake for 15 minutes, allowing it to cook gently and absorb the flavors of the glaze.
  5. Broil the Salmon: Carefully unwrap the foil, then switch the oven to broil mode. Broil the salmon for 7–10 minutes until the glaze is bubbling and turns golden, giving it a beautiful caramelized finish.
  6. Rest the Salmon: Remove the salmon from the oven and let it rest for 5 minutes to allow the juices to redistribute for optimal tenderness.
  7. Serve with Sauces and Garnishes: Top the rested salmon with the prepared dill sauce and cranberry-almond tapenade. Scatter pomegranate seeds and fresh parsley on top, and drizzle with lemon juice for a bright, festive finish.

Notes

  • The cranberry-almond tapenade and dill sauce can be made a day in advance to save time on the day of serving.
  • Use a fresh, high-quality salmon side for the best flavor and texture.
  • Ensure the foil is wrapped tightly to prevent steam from escaping during baking, keeping the salmon moist.
  • Watch the broiling step carefully to avoid burning the glaze.
  • Leftover salmon can be refrigerated and served cold or gently reheated.

Keywords: Christmas salmon, holiday salmon recipe, baked salmon, honey garlic glaze, cranberry almond tapenade, dill sauce, festive seafood dish