Name: Citrus Salmon with Roasted Fennel
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 30 min
Ingredients: 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; 2 large bulbs of fresh fennel, stems removed and cut into 6ths; Sea salt and fresh cracked pepper; 2 1/2 lbs fresh salmon filet (Skin on or off is per preference); 4 tbsp melted butter; 2 tbsp honey; Zest of 1 lemon; Zest of 1 naval orange; 1/8 cup fresh squeezed lemon juice; 1/4 cup fresh squeezed naval orange juice; 2 cloves garlic, grated or pressed; 1 1/2 tsp dried oregano; 1/8-1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (Use more or less depending on your love of spice.); 1 tbsp fresh mint, minced (If you cannot find it and have to use dried, use 1 1/2 tsp of dried instead.); 2 blood oranges, sliced; 2 naval oranges, sliced; 2 lemons, sliced; 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil; For serving: Fresh parsley, rice or farrow and coarse sea salt and fresh cracked pepper to taste

Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

Delectable Citrus Salmon with roasted fennel is bright and exquisite dinner meal. The salmon roasts up to be fork tender with incredible citrus butter flavor and pairs perfectly with sweetened, caramelized fennel. Save this 30 minute meal now so you can always find it when you want a delicious and easy dinner.

Thank you so much for visiting! This post contains affiliate links. That means I may receive a small amount of compensation if you choose to purchase from my links. I only link to products that I know and love.

Winter has had us in a vice grip for weeks now. While some years I love winter for its calmness and the breathing room it provides from the other seasons, this year has been a lot. Since winter in the United States is citrus season, I find myself cooking with a lot oranges and citrus flavors to give me a little brightness during our most drab days. This Citrus Salmon with roasted fennel was exactly what I needed this week. It is roasted to perfection making the salmon tender and the vivid flavors are a dose of sunshine for the tastebuds.

Making the fennel

Before we dive into the citrus salmon, let’s chat about the fennel. If you are not familiar with fennel then I will tell you it can have a licorice-type flavor. But not so fast! If that is not your favorite flavor (it is not mine), it completely changes when it is roasted. Roasting it brings out a sweet caramelization that pairs beautiful with the fish. The fennel going into the oven first for about 10 minutes to roast with a little extra virgin olive oil, sea salt and fresh cracked pepper. If you really, really don’t like it you can leave it out, but if you are on the fence then try it and see!

The correct citrus needed

Before you get started, make sure to gather all of the citrus you need for the Citrus Salmon with roasted fennel. You will need a total of 3 lemons, 3 naval oranges and 2 blood oranges. Two of the lemons and the naval oranges are sliced along with the blood orange and used under and on top of the salmon. This helps the air circulate beneath the salmon to cook it and infuses it with flavor. The last lemon and naval orange are zested, which all goes into a citrus butter. Then they are also juiced (measurements in the recipe below) and that is also added to the butter.

Making the citrus herb butter

The main flavor component for the whole dish is a citrus butter that is infused with orange and lemon juices. Four tablespoons of melted butter is combined with two table spoons of honey for a touch of sweetness. Then fresh squeezed lemon juice and orange juice are added into the mix along with zest from the orange and lemon too. Grated garlic, fresh mint, dried oregano and some crushed red pepper flakes are added in to round out the flavor profile. This gives you a sweet citrus butter with a touch of heat. It really works well with the salmon and the fennel.

The butter mix gets spooned over the fennel and then brushed onto the salmon. I use it all. If you think it is too much for your. filet, reserve a little bit of it before adding it to the salmon and then you can add more if you want after the salmon is cooked. The only difference you might find is that flavors might not be as cohesive without being cooked and the garlic might come through a little strong. That said, it works really well mixed in with rice or farrow too, which I like to serve with the salmon.

Roasting the salmon

The Citrus Salmon with roasted fennel can cook for a total of 30 minutes. The fennel goes in first at 425 degrees and then the salmon is added to the pan and roasted for 15-20 minutes. According to the FDA, the correct temperature to cook salmon to is 145 degrees F. Salmon filets can be a challenge because they often have a portion of the salmon that is thicker. You can see in my photos that the wider portion of the salmon filet was thicker. It ranged from about 1/2 inch thick to just over an inch. Measure the temperature in the thickest part of the salmon. You want the salmon to be opaque, firm and easily flake with with your fork.

What to serve with the Citrus Salmon recipe

When it comes to side dishes, you already have the roasted fennel right on the baking sheet. However, I also like to serve this over rice or over farrow. Both are grains that will pair well with the citrus, salmon and fennel individually. A serving size is about 6-8 oz of salmon and that can simply be cut from the larger filet and plated.

Saving and reheating the Citrus Salmon recipe

To save the citrus salmon, place it in an air tight container in the refrigerator. I would eat any leftovers cold on a salad or you can reheat it by wrapping it in tin foil, adding a touch of water and cooking it at 275 degrees F for about 10 minutes. Then it can be eaten as is or used for something like tacos.

Looking for more seafood or citrus recipes?

If you love seafood or love those citrus flavors in this recipe, try these recipes too.

Herb & Orange Roasted Chicken Thighs {HERE}
Seared Salmon with Lemon Dill Sauce {HERE}
Miso Glazed Salmon {HERE}
East Coast Shrimp Rolls {HERE}
Mediterranean Baked Cod {HERE}
Broiled Lobster Tail {HERE}
Salmon with Goat Cheese and Herbs {HERE}
Easy Shrimp Salad with Old Bay {HERE}

Thank you so much for visiting today. I hope that you love my Roasted Citrus Salmon recipe l recipe and that it inspires you to make your own. Please let me know if you have any questions. You can find a full, printable recipe below. Happy eating.