Salmon is a popular dinner choice as it's simple to make and tastes great - but it can easily dry out and lose its flavour. This one extra ingredient makes salmon delicious.
The Problem with Salmon
Salmon makes for a wonderful evening meal and is ideal for warm summer nights, given how quickly it cooks. It's remarkably easy to prepare, yet it can sometimes turn out dry, stringy, or even burnt if you don't use the right ingredients when getting the fish ready.
Many home cooks simply pop a salmon fillet into the oven or air fryer, but salmon is particularly lean and lacks sufficient fat to shield the skin from the heat, unlike other meats. This means the fat renders rapidly during cooking, and the proteins in the fish expel the moisture, causing you to lose most of those flavour-packed juices.
The Secret Ingredient: Mayonnaise
Journalist Katherine McPhillips is a devoted salmon lover who has cooked it regularly throughout the years. She has uncovered the secret ingredient that will prevent your salmon from drying out and guarantee delicious results every single time.
She said: "When I first came across the idea of cooking salmon with mayonnaise, I thought it sounded peculiar and frankly unappetizing, but having grown tired of it emerging from the oven overcooked, I decided to give it a go at least once."
"I can now confirm that mayonnaise is the secret to achieving flavoursome salmon with a perfect golden, slightly crispy texture."
Mayonnaise consists of oils, eggs and a touch of acid, which forms a protective layer around the fish to seal in moisture. It simply reduces moisture loss, preserving the salmon's juiciness throughout the cooking process, delivering a wonderfully rich and satisfying meal without a great deal of effort.
Having tested this cooking method on numerous occasions, Katherine can confirm the salmon won't absorb any mayonnaise flavour, as the coating essentially vanishes during cooking. Mayonnaise tends to crisp up the skin towards the end of cooking, resulting in a golden-brown salmon fillet with a delightfully buttery consistency.
How to Prepare Tastier Salmon Fillets
You will need (per person):
- One salmon fillet
- Two teaspoons of mayonnaise
- One teaspoon of lemon juice
- Half a teaspoon of smoked paprika
- Half a teaspoon of Dijon mustard
- Half a teaspoon of honey
- A slight drizzle of olive oil (optional)
- Salt and pepper
Method
Begin by heating the oven to 180°C and lining a baking tray with greaseproof paper. Combine the mayonnaise and lemon juice in a small bowl until you achieve a smooth, consistent sauce.
Place the salmon fillet skin-side down on the tray. A small drizzle of olive oil can be added if you're working with a larger fillet, though this is generally unnecessary when using mayonnaise.
In a separate small bowl, combine the smoked paprika, Dijon mustard and honey, then spread the mixture over the salmon. If you'd rather not handle raw fish directly, gloves are perfectly suitable, as is the back of a spoon or simply your fingers.
Next, add several generous dollops of the lemon-infused mayonnaise onto the salmon, smoothing it into a thin, even layer across the entire fillet. Place the salmon in the oven and roast for approximately 20 minutes, keeping a close eye on it after the 15-minute point.
The finished salmon should emerge from the oven rich, buttery and beautifully tender, with each mouthful virtually melting on your tongue - all without requiring lengthy hours slaving away in the kitchen.
