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This Strawberry Balsamic Salmon recipe coats flaky salmon in a sweet and savory sticky glaze that features a blend of honey, balsamic vinegar, and strawberries. Serve this beautiful dish with rice, or on top of a fresh and crisp salad.
Why You’ll Love This Balsamic Salmon Recipe
Delicious Details
- Cuisine Inspiration: American
- Primary Cooking Method: Oven
- Dietary Info: Gluten-free, Dairy-free
- Skill Level: Easy
Salmon is one of my favorite dishes to prepare because it’s good for me and it tastes good – and my kids LOVE it! (Plus, always gluten free!) This balsamic salmon is such a flavorful way to prepare fish, dressing up flaky filets with a sweet, colorful sauce that gets its hue and flavor from strawberries and honey. A little balsamic vinegar offsets the fruit and pairs wonderfully with the fish. Here are a few more reasons why you’ll love this balsamic salmon recipe:
- Naturally gluten free. All of the ingredients in this recipe are gluten free. So, you can serve it to everyone at the table regardless of whether or not they need to eat gluten free!
- Perfect mix of ingredients. The tangy-sweet balsamic vinaigrette perfectly balances the sweetness of the strawberries, and a touch of honey lends natural sweetness and that lovely sticky texture. You can use frozen strawberries if you need to, but I prefer to use fresh ones for their more intense flavor.
- Easy. This is not a complicated recipe to make yet it feels very fancy once it’s assembled and served! Still, it takes just 10 minutes of active prep time, making it a great choice for busy nights when you want something a bit special but don’t have a lot of time.
Ingredient Notes
This gorgeously flavored salmon can be served as a salad or with sides of rice and broccoli – I’ve given two serving options below. You will find the full ingredient amounts in the recipe card at the end of this post.
For the Salmon
- Salmon: You can use fresh or frozen salmon in this recipe.
- Salt and Pepper
- Balsamic Vinegar: Low-acidity balsamic vinegar is a perfect choice for this glaze because it adds tangy flavor without being overwhelming.
- Honey: Locally sourced honey is best if possible to add a touch of natural sweetness.
- Olive Oil: I always use extra-virgin olive oil.
- Red Onion: You can also use 4 cloves of minced garlic if you prefer.
- Strawberries
To Serve
- Option 1: White or brown rice, broccoli, steamed or roasted.
- Option 2: Mixed baby greens, strawberries, red onion, chopped nuts, parmesan cheese, and poppyseed dressing such as my Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing.
How to Make Strawberry Balsamic Salmon
Here’s how to make this balsamic glazed salmon. Find the detailed instructions in the recipe card lower down.
- Season. First, season salmon with salt and pepper then place it in a plastic bag.
- Make marinade. Combine the vinegar and honey and thoroughly whisk together.
- Add to salmon. Pour about 1/4 cup of the mixture over the salmon and marinate for 15-30 minutes. Set the rest aside.
- Start the glaze. Season the onion and cook it in a skillet to soften. Stir in the reserved honey-balsamic mixture and let it reduce until thickened.
- Add strawberries. Stir in the strawberries. Cook for a few minutes until the strawberries are glazed.
- Cook the salmon. Place salmon on a broiler pan, season with salt and pepper and broil for about 12 minutes.
- Add glaze. Pour the strawberry balsamic glaze over the salmon then broil for another 5 minutes.
How To Tell When Salmon Is Done?
The most accurate way to tell when salmon is fully cooked to a safe temperature is to use an instant-read thermometer. When it’s inserted into the thickest part of the fish the thermometer should read 145°F. You can also tell when a salmon is reaching peak doneness by checking it for flakiness. When you use a fork to gently press on the top of the salmon it should easily flake apart. The salmon will be pink rather than opaque when it’s fully cooked.
Tips for Success
- Use fresh or frozen fish. Frozen salmon also works beautifully in this recipe. You can defrost the salmon in the fridge, then place it in the marinate so that it fully soaks up all of the flavors.
- Marinate! I’ve included about 30 minutes of marinating time in the recipe instructions, but you can let the salmon marinate a bit longer if you have time. The longer you marinate the salmon the more flavor it will have.
- Substitute maple syrup. You can swap the honey for maple syrup for a different flavor profile. Balsamic vinegar and maple syrup also work well together, so go ahead and try switching it out if you like.
- Try raspberries. For a twist on this recipe, substitute raspberries for the strawberries! You can use ½ cup of raspberries for the strawberries.
How to Store and Reheat Extras
In my opinion, fish tastes the best when it’s freshly cooked, but you can certainly save leftovers to enjoy another time. Here’s the best way to do it:
- Fridge – Place cooled leftover salmon in an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat – I prefer to warm up balsamic glazed salmon in the oven: Place it in an oven-safe dish or on a baking sheet and reheat in a 350°F oven until the fish is warmed through.
Make It a Meal
This balsamic glazed salmon is such a show-stopper, and in the recipe I share a couple of my favorite ways to serve it. But it is so versatile that there are many options for how to enjoy it. Here are a few other serving suggestions:
- Rice. There are so many ways to make rice, and it’s a wonderful and simple accompaniment to baked fish. You can see how to make white rice, brown rice, or flavorful Cilantro Lime Rice to serve with salmon.
- Potatoes. Add an easy side of potatoes to servings of fish, like my recipes for Smashed Potatoes or Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes.
- Vegetables. You can do simple steamed or air fryer broccoli as I suggest, or make Roasted Asparagus or a side of Balsamic Roasted Vegetables.
- Salad. A salad is the perfect accompaniment to salmon. The recipe card details a wonderful salad to pair with the balsamic salmon, but you can also try it in place of the chicken on this Strawberry Spinach Salad or it’ll paint nicely with my Strawberry Wedge Salad.
- Bread. A fresh loaf of Gluten Free French Bread plus softened, salted butter is a nice side to balsamic salmon! Or make a batch of savory Gluten Free Garlic Butter Dinner Rolls.
More Salmon Recipes to Try
Strawberry Balsamic Glazed Salmon
Ingredients
Option 1 for serving:
- 4 cups prepared white or brown rice
- 1 pound broccoli, steamed or roasted
Option 2 for serving:
- 12 ounces or about 8 cups mixed baby greens or about 8 cups
- ½ cup sliced strawberries
- ¼ cup thinly sliced red onion
- ¼ cup chopped nuts (roasted pistachios, toasted pecans or pine nuts, sliced almonds, etc.)
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- ½ cup Strawberry Poppyseed Dressing or your favorite poppyseed or other dressing
Instructions
- Season salmon with salt and pepper and place in a plastic storage bag or flesh side down in a shallow pan.
- Whisk the vinegar and honey together. Pour about ¼ cup of the mixture over the salmon and marinate for 15-30 minutes in the refrigerator. Set aside the remainder of the honey-balsamic mixture.
- While salmon is marinating, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 3 minutes to soften the onion. Reduce heat to low, add the reserved honey-balsamic mixture and let it reduce until thickened. Add the strawberries and cook for another minute or two until they are glazed.
- Preheat your broiler, place salmon on a broiler pan or a sheet pan lined with aluminum foil, and season with salt and pepper.
- Broil salmon for 10-12 minutes, or until nearly cooked through, having reached an internal temperature of about 125°F.
- Pour the strawberry balsamic glaze over the salmon and return it to the broiler for another 5 minutes, or until it flakes easily and has reached 145°F.
- Serve the glazed salmon over rice with steamed broccoli OR fill a bowl or divide between four plates the lettuce, strawberries, red onion, nuts, parmesan, and dressing, and top with the glazed salmon.
Notes
Did you make this?
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Absolutely love your creative idea with strawberry red wine glazed salmon! Can I post it on my blog? Thanks for sharing!
Hello Kara,
You are more than welcome to share a link to this recipe post, but please do NOT copy and paste any portion of the actual recipe on your blog. Thank you. 🙂
Hey buddy, thanks for your delicious post. I mean amazing post. Another healthy post as always. Keep posting, looking forward to more from you.
Looks yummi! Strawberries + salmon filet = perfect combo. Btw I found your post from Pinterest ! Thanks for sharing, Brianne!
Thank you, Julia. I hope you enjoy the salmon recipe!
Looks like a piece of art! I am loving the looks of this Strawberry Red Wine Glazed Salmon. My boys always love salmon 🙂
Thanks again for another delicious recipe! Hope all is well with you and your loved ones.
Thank you so much for your sweet comment, Barbara!
How attractive! Just looking it, I can know how delicious it is. I can’t wait to try this recipe for tomorrow dinner. Hope it will be successful. No matte how it is, I’ll be back to learn more healthy recipe and try my best to cooking better. Thanks.
I have this old country song from the 90’s in my head – “Like Strawberry Wine”….great use of ingredients, and I can imagine that the strawberry wine added a little extra flavor to the salmon.
The color of that strawberry glaze is simply lovely. What a way to perk up salmon.
Thanks so much Renee. It is pretty and spring-y!
What an original recipe. Salmon with strawberries…hmm, that’s a new one for me. Must try. Your photos look great!
I’m not usually very creative when it comes to fish, even salmon which is my fave. We have strawberries all summer long here in Washington so I’ll be able to pick some and try this recipe!
I often need help in the fish department too. Sometimes I come up with something, but I’ll only eat it if it has tons of flavor.
WOW I have never thought of strawberries with salmon. Sounds amazing!!
It was surprisingly delicious!
PS I feel like I should dedicate an entire blog to remaking your recipes lol
Haha, I feel that way about a few bloggers whose recipes I always reinvent!
OHH MY GOD this sounds SO delicious! We make salmon at least once a week in my house, I have GOT to try this next time!
I bet when these flavors soak in this vis delicious!
It really is! Thanks Cindy!
I would have never thought of strawberries and salmon… this looks great!
It was a surprisingly good combination!
I’m not a big salmon fan either, but this strawberry red wine glaze may be what it takes to convert me!
Give it a try! Or try the glaze on chicken. That is something I want to do.
Looks great! I wouldn’t have thought of strawberries in a salmon sauce.
Thanks! It was really good!
I am so intrigued by this combination…enough to want to try it!
It is a surprisingly good combo! I want to try it on chicken, too!
I have never tried a Strawberry glaze – that looks yum!
I think it would be great on other proteins, too!
Oh WOW. What phenomenal flavours!
Thank so much!
I am on the same page as you: my fancy meals are always on Saturday. Fridays I am too tired from cooking all week: we tend to go out to eat…haha. Then on Saturday I get a second wind and make a fancy meal at home. Sunday is filled with errands and getting ready to start the week again; we graze on leftovers or small plates for the most part!
We usually go out Friday or Saturday, depending on what our plans are.
I’m the same way with Sunday dinners–more elaborate meals are for Friday/Saturday when I still have energy! Interesting idea to pair strawberry with salmon. Never would have occurred to me!
It really worked well!
Oh yum, I want some for lunch Brianne!
It would make a nice lunch over a salad!
We eat salmon at least once a week here and I’m always looking for a new way to make it. LOVE LOVE LOVE this!!! PINNED and adding to my menu!
Thanks so much Aimee!
The colors is amazing on this salmon! It looks soo yummy!
Thanks so much, Deanna!
I bet that salmon is packed with punch and flavor! delicious!
It really is!
Strawberry salmon sounds amazing! What a great combination! I’d never thought of this before!
It really pairs well!
I love salmon cooked almost any way (except smoked). Now this is one for me to try. Thanks for sharing.
Happy to give you a new idea!
What a fabulous looking recipe!! That looks so good, I love it!!
Thanks Tara!
Oooh, Brianne! I could see that sticky sweet, marmalade-y glaze on so many other things as well, like chicken breast and pork chops. It’s just beautiful!
I’ve been wanting to try it on chicken. I think a pork tenderloin would be great too!
I can’t wait to make this…we have salmon several times a month, and this looks SO tasty!!
Oh great! Enjoy!
Fruit plays so well with salmon! Your recipe sounds amazing…and makes such a beautiful presentation!
It really does! Thanks Liz!
I love a sweet sticky glaze for salmon and this one looks like a winner!
I know, I pretty much only eat salmon if it has some sort of glaze.
Oh my goodness my mouth is drooling looking at these. Hurry up Summer and get to the UK because I have to enjoy this sitting outside in warm weather. Until then I will just watch the cold rain and pretend it is warm, and eating something as summery as this that won’t be too hard. 🙂
Oh I bet it is dreary right now. You just need lots of bright, fresh flavors!
All I can say is WoW! This looks absolutely fabulous and would make a salmon lover of anyone…therefore will be trying to convert some of my crew very soon!
I love how you paired salmon with strawberries and red wine! What a fantastic meal idea! Bookmarking it to make asap!
Thanks Manu!