Oven Baked Salmon with Blackberry Barbecue Sauce Recipe
This Oven Baked Salmon with Blackberry Barbecue Sauce is a delightful dish combining tender, flaky salmon with a tangy and slightly sweet homemade blackberry barbecue sauce. The sauce is bursting with fresh and frozen blackberries, molasses, and a blend of spices, making it a perfect balance of flavors. Garnished with rosemary and fresh blackberries, it’s an elegant yet simple meal ideal for any occasion.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 12 minutes
- Total Time: 22 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Low Fat
Ingredients
Salmon
- 1 ½ lb salmon fillet
- Salt and pepper to season
- Rosemary to garnish
- Fresh blackberries to garnish, a handful
Blackberry Barbecue Sauce
- 1 cup ketchup
- 2 Tbsp. apple cider vinegar
- 2 ½ Tbsp. light brown sugar
- ½ Tbsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
- 1 Tbsp. molasses
- 1 cup frozen blackberries (preferably Oregon brands)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Set your oven to 400°F (200°C) to ensure it reaches the perfect temperature for baking the salmon evenly.
- Prepare the blackberry barbecue sauce: In a medium saucepan, place the frozen blackberries over low heat to begin defrosting gently. Meanwhile, in a separate bowl, mix together the ketchup, garlic powder, apple cider vinegar, brown sugar, fresh ground black pepper, lemon juice, molasses, and Worcestershire sauce. Once the blackberries soften and start to break apart, about 10 minutes, stir in the sauce mixture thoroughly to combine all flavors.
- Prepare the salmon: Pat the salmon fillet dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Place the salmon on a baking tray lined with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup. Season generously with salt and pepper.
- Apply the sauce: Spread an even layer of the prepared blackberry barbecue sauce over the top of the salmon fillet, ensuring good coverage for maximum flavor infusion.
- Bake the salmon: Place the salmon in the preheated oven and bake for 10-12 minutes, or until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
- Garnish and serve: Once baked, garnish the salmon with fresh sprigs of rosemary and a handful of fresh or defrosted frozen blackberries to enhance presentation and add a fresh burst of flavor.
Notes
- You can use parchment paper or foil when baking the salmon for easier cleanup.
- Adjust the seasoning and brown sugar in the barbecue sauce to your taste preference.
- If fresh blackberries aren’t available, frozen ones work perfectly well for both the sauce and garnish.
- This recipe can be doubled easily for larger gatherings.
- Let the salmon rest a few minutes after baking before serving for juicier results.
