Sauces for Salmon

1. Creamy Dill Sauce with Mustard

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp chopped dill
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 tbsp honey (adjust quantity to control sweetness)
• 2 tbsp Dijon mustard

How to make it:

In a pan over medium heat combine the heavy cream, honey and Dijon mustard and stir with a wooden spoon until well combined. Simmer for about 5 min, stirring occasionally.

Remove from heat, add the chopped dill and transfer to a serving dish.  

Dill mustard sauce for salmon.

2. Lemon Dill Sauce

You can increase both the dill and lemon zest in this bright sauce if you’d like to amplify its zesty, fresh punch.

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 tbsp lemon juice + 1 tsp lemon zest (optional)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper (white recommended)
• 2 tbsp chopped dill

How to make it:

In a sauce pan over medium heat the olive oil and melt the butter. Add the garlic and saute for 30 -45 sec. Add the cream, lemon juice, salt and pepper, stir all together and let simmer for 3-4 minutes until slightly reduced. Remove from the heat and stir in the dill and the lemon zest (if using).

3. Dill Sauce with Horseradish

This simple salmon sauce is one of our favorites. It does not require actual cooking. We typically use vinegar prepared horseradish, but the creamy version works too, you just might need to add a bit more of it. 

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup sour cream or creme fraiche
• 2 tbsp finely chopped dill 
• 1 garlic clove, minced
• 2 tsp prepared horseradish (add more if you’d like)
• 1 tsp vinegar
• salt and pepper to taste

How to make it:

In a small bowl whisk together the mayonnaise, sour cream, garlic, horseradish and vinegar. Fold in the dill, taste and season with salt and pepper as needed.

4. Sour Cream Horseradish Sauce

While perfect for steak and beef roasts such as prime rib, this zesty concotion pairs delightfully with the rich flesh of center cut salmon. Find the recipe here. 

5. Yogurt Dill Sauce

We often use this very healthy yogurt sauce as a veggie dip but it is superb with salmon. You can vary the fresh herbs if you want. Recipe here.

Mustard Sauce for Salmon Options

6. Honey Mustard Sauce

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup Dijon mustard
• 1/4 cup honey
• pinch pepper
• 2 tsp orange juice (optional, to thin out sauce if necessary)

How to make it:

In a small bowl combine the Dijon mustard and the honey. Add a pinch of pepper and stir until mixed well. Taste and if needed thin out the sauce with 2 tsp orange juice.

9. Lemon Butter Thyme Sauce

This silky sauce can be made with fresh thyme or the dried version. If you want to play up the lemon essence consider adding minced preserved lemon rind along with the garlic. Its flavor takes the lemon presence to a whole new level.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick butter
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp minced preserved lemon rind (optional)
• 4 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tbsp heavy cream
• 1 tbsp thyme (picked fresh leaves) or just shy of 1 tbsp dried thyme
• pinch salt and pepper

How to make it:

In a skillet over medium-low heat melt the butter. Add the garlic and preserved lemon (if using), whisk in the lemon juice and the cream. Season with a pinch of salt and pepper. Whisk for another minute or two until well emulsified and remove from heat, but keep warm. 

12. Capers and Shallots Cream Sauce for Salmon

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp butter
• 2 shallots, minced
• 1 tbsp capers
• 2 tbsp white wine or chicken broth or gose ale
• 1 cup of cream
• salt and pepper to taste

How to make it:

In a sauce pan over medium heat melt the butter and add the shallots and the capers. Stir around and let the shallots soften. Add the white wine (or chicken broth or gose ale), then stir a few times. Add the cream, whisk well together and let simmer until the sauce gets reduced to your desired thickness. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

13. Brown Ale BBQ Glaze

Ingredients:

• 1 cup brown ale (or English porter)
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 cup BBQ sauce (your favorite)

How to make it:

In a cold sauce pan add the ale, sugar and butter. Bring to simmer over medium heat, stir and let reduce by half. Add the BBQ sauce, whisk and simmer for 2 more minutes. Remove from heat and brush the glaze over salmon.

14. Honey Garlic Soy Glaze

Ingredients:

• 3 tbsp honey
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 3 tbsp soy sauce
• 2 tbsp water
• 1 tbsp finely chopped cilantro

How to make it:

In a sauce pan over medium heat whisk together all ingredients. Bring to simmer and let the glaze reduce until it coats the back of a spoon. Fold it the tablespoon of finely chopped cilantro

15. Miso Ginger Glaze

This is another one that does not require cooking.

Ingredients:

• 2 tbsp miso paste
• 1/2 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
• 2 tsp lime juice
• 1 tbsp vegetable oil

How to make it:

In a small bowl whisk together the miso paste, grated ginger and lime juice. Slowly add the vegetable oil while continuing to whisk. Taste and add a bit more ginger if needed – a whole teaspoon instead of the half in the recipe will please ginger lovers. 

16. Bourbon Sauce for Salmon

Ingredients:

• 1 tbsp butter
• 1 medium onion
• 3 cloves garlic
• 3/4 cup dark brown sugar
• 1/2 cup bourbon whiskey
• 1/4 cup soy sauce (low sodium recommended)
• 2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

How to make it:

To make this versatile bourbon sauce follow these instructions.