Christmas pomegranate salmon – A tasty and festive dish perfect for your holiday table. It’s easy to prepare, yet looks and tastes amazing! The salmon fillets are pan seared and coated in a sweet pomegranate sauce, garnished with fresh rosemary and pomegranate seeds. It’s a show-stopping dish that takes only 20 minutes to make.
Complete your holiday dinner with these festive sides Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts and Crispy Garlic Butter Potatoes.
Why you’ll love this festive salmon recipe
If you’re tired of the usual holiday dishes and looking for something new, this Christmas salmon recipe is the perfect solution. It’s an easy, delicious and fast dish that will look fantastic on your holiday table!
This recipe will impress your guests! The salmon is coated in a tasty sauce made with pomegranate molasses, giving it a wonderful flavor. For more delicious holiday dishes, check out my ‘Honey Orange Salmon‘, ‘Scallops in white wine sauce‘ or ‘Cranberry Chicken‘.
It’s satisfying, smells amazing when brought to the table, and goes well with roasted vegetables or any side dish you prefer. This salmon recipe is light and bursts with flavor. It perfectly combines savory and sweet tastes perfectly, while offering a delightful texture.
We create a simple spiced sauce starting with an ingredient called pomegranate molasses. If you’re new to it, don’t worry! It’s usually easy to find in supermarkets, often in the international or in syrup aisles, labeled as pomegranate syrup. It has a wonderfully tangy-sweet taste, similar to balsamic glaze.
Let me guide you through the recipe with this step-by-step VIDEO.
Why you should try this Christmas salmon
- Healthy Delight: This dish is both elegant and good for you, offering a healthier dinner option.
- Effortlessly Impressive: Despite its impressive appearance, it’s actually quite simple to make using just one skillet.
- Festive Flavors: The hearty, sweet flavors and colorful garnishes of red and green bring a holiday vibe to your table.
- Versatile Appeal: Enjoy it as a main course with your preferred sides or serve it as a starter, offering flexibility in how you present this dish.
- Adaptability: If pomegranate molasses is hard to find, you can make your own or substitute it with pomegranate juice. Tips for these alternatives are provided below.
Christmas Salmon Ingredients
- Salmon Fillets: Choose similar-sized and evenly thick salmon fillets for uniform cooking. Although skinless salmon is recommended, skin-on salmon works well too. Simply serve it with the skin side facing up and avoid coating it with sauce to prevent sogginess.
- Pomegranate Molasses/Syrup: Offers a sweet-tart flavor. If unavailable, make your own or use pomegranate juice. See tips below.
- Maple Syrup: Adds a nice touch without being too sweet, but you can also use brown sugar or honey.
- Lemon: Provides a citrus flavor. We use its juice to balance out the sauce and zest as a powerful garnish.
- Shallot and Garlic: Essential for flavoring the dish.
- Pomegranate Seeds: Not just for visual appeal but also to add a pleasant texture.
- Rosemary: When used for garnish, it oOfers a festive touch. Thyme can be used as an alternative for a similar effect.
What to Serve with Christmas Salmon
- Warm vegetables like roasted broccoli, steamed asparagus, Brussels sprouts or roasted carrots.
- A fresh salad made of thinly sliced fennel combined with olive oil and lemon juice, sprinkled with pecans and pomegranate seeds.
- Pearl couscous combined with almonds.
- Crispy Garlic Butter Potatoes.
- Potato Gratin.
- More side dishes ideas.
Helpful Tips
- If you can’t find pomegranate molasses, you can make a substitute by combining 1/2 cup of store-bought pomegranate juice with 2 tablespoons of sugar and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Add this mixture to the skillet instead of the molasses. Let it simmer for around 10 minutes until it thickens slightly before putting the salmon back in.
- This recipe is quick and tasty! It’s perfect for a regular weeknight meal or to surprise and delight your friends over the weekend.
Storage tips
Leftover salmon will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Looking for more inspiration?
Check out my Christmas dinner ideas or New Year’s Eve party ideas for even more delicious options!
Christmas Salmon
Ingredients
- 4 skinless salmon fillets
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ½ tsp sweet paprika
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 shallot - diced
- 2 garlic cloves - minced
- ¼ cup water
- 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- freshly ground black pepper - for serving
- zest from 1 lemon
- 3 rosemary sprigs
- 4 tbsp pomegranate seeds
- chili flakes - for serving
Instructions
- Get your prep done before you start cooking. Pat the salmon fillets dry, season both sides with paprika and ¼ teaspoon salt and pepper. Finely chop the shallot and mince the garlic.
- Heat oil and butter over medium high in a large nonstick skillet. Add salmon fillets and sear 3 minutes per side. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- Reduce heat to low. Add garlic and shallot, cook for 3 minutes or until soft and fragrant. Deglaze the skillet with ¼ cup water, simmer for for 2 minutes while scraping up the brown bits on the bottom of your skillet with a wooden spoon.
- Add pomegranate molasses, maple syrup and the remaining salt and pepper. Return salmon to the skillet and coat with pomegranate sauce. Add rosemary and lemon juice.
- Top with freshly ground black pepper and lemon zest. Finish off with chili flakes and pomegranate seeds. Enjoy!
Video
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