Salmon With Cranberry Sauce

By
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen
Linda Larsen is a journalist, quick-cooking and slow-cooking expert, and accomplished cookbook author with over 30 years of experience in testing and developing recipes.
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Updated on 01/13/22
Salmon with Cranberry Sauce

James and James / Stockbyte / Getty Images

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 40 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 6 servings

The rich, full flavor of salmon is perfectly complemented by this sweet and tart cranberry sauce made of cranberries, onion, sugar, orange juice, and currant jelly. It is beautiful enough for a special occasion but also simple enough to prepare on a weeknight. The salmon is broiled and then topped with the sauce, making for a beautiful color contrast.

To round out the meal, serve some steamed asparagus and roasted potatoes on the side, along with a glass of white wine, if you like.

Ingredients

For the Salmon:

  • 6 (5- to 6-ounce) center-cut salmon fillets

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon freshly ground white pepper

For the Sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter

  • 1 onion, finely chopped

  • 3 cups fresh cranberries

  • 1/2 cup brown sugar

  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 cup red currant jelly

  • 3/4 cup orange juice

  • 2 tablespoons lemon juice

Steps to Make It

Prep the Salmon

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Place the salmon fillets on a broiler rack that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.

  3. In a small bowl, combine the lemon juice, melted butter, salt, and pepper. Brush the mixture over the salmon and set aside.

Make the Sauce

  1. In a large saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the onion; cook and stir until tender, 6 to 7 minutes.

  2. Add the cranberries, brown sugar, granulated sugar, currant jelly, orange juice, and lemon juice to the onion mixture in the saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce the heat to low.

  3. Simmer the sauce for 15 to 20 minutes until the cranberries pop and the sauce thickens. Remove from the heat.

Cook the Salmon

  1. Preheat the broiler.

  2. Broil the salmon 4 to 5 inches from the heat for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the fish flakes when a fork is inserted into the flesh and twisted.

  3. Serve the fish with a tablespoon or so of sauce spooned on top. Enjoy.

Salmon Tips

  • Choose center-cut salmon fillets for the prettiest presentation.
  • You can make this recipe with salmon steaks, but you'll need to increase the cooking time to about 12 to 15 minutes.
  • Salmon is similar to steak in that it can be cooked to different degrees, from rare to well-done. If you like your salmon with a bit of rawness in the center, check after 6 minutes or so; if you prefer the fish completely opaque, you may need to cook for a minute or 2 longer than the 10 minutes.

Glass Bakeware Warning

Do not use glass bakeware when broiling or when a recipe calls for adding liquid to a hot pan, as glass may explode. Even if it states it's oven-safe or heat-resistant, tempered glass products can, and do, break occasionally.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
642 Calories
27g Fat
62g Carbs
39g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories 642
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 8g 39%
Cholesterol 122mg 41%
Sodium 257mg 11%
Total Carbohydrate 62g 22%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 50g
Protein 39g
Vitamin C 75mg 377%
Calcium 64mg 5%
Iron 1mg 7%
Potassium 927mg 20%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)