Middle Eastern Glazed Salmon

Middle Eastern Glazed Salmon

These glazed salmon fillets pair wonderfully with simple sides like fresh salad, or can be turned into a more substantial meal with fluffy couscous, spiced rice, or warm flatbread for a complete Middle Eastern feast.

Ingredients

Method

  1. Make the marinade: Mix olive oil, orange juice, paprika, pomegranate molasses, sumac and salt.
  2. Brush salmon generously on both sides, reserving about 1/4 of the marinade for basting.
  3. Marinate for 20 minutes. Arrange orange slices on top of the fillets.
  4. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  5. Bake for 10 minutes. Baste with reserved marinade.
  6. Continue cooking for another 8–10 minutes until just cooked through.
  7. Rest 2–3 minutes before serving. Drizzle with extra olive oil and sprinkle with sumac.

Swaps, Serves & Storage

Can I use any other fish for this recipe?
I haven’t tried this marinade on another fish, but I have used it for chicken and it works really well. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.

Do I have to use 250g fillets?
Larger fillets work beautifully, but it’s also perfect for a standard supermarket 4-pack of salmon portions.

What can I use instead of pomegranate molasses?
Swap for honey and a squeeze of lemon juice. You won’t get the exact same flavour, but the sweetness and tang is similar.

What can I use instead of sumac?
Replace sumac with lemon zest or a squeeze of lemon juice.

Can I make this in the air fryer or on the stove?
This recipe adapts easily:

Stovetop: Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with a little oil. Cook 3–4 minutes per side, basting halfway.
Air fryer: Preheat to 180°C. Cook 7–8 minutes, flipping halfway and brushing with reserved marinade.

Can I make this ahead of time?
Make the marinade or marinate ahead, but cook just before serving. Reheating salmon often overcooks it.

Tips & Tricks

How to cook salmon perfectly:
I prefer salmon medium-rare — pink and flaky in the middle with just-set edges. For 250g fillets, an 18–20 minute total cook time gives the best results. Basting halfway helps create a caramelised crust.

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