Crispy Skinned Grilled Salmon

The skin is the best part, and I’ll share a few tips with you for making sure it comes out nice and crispy. Salmon and rainbow trout are among my favorite fish. And out of all my salmon recipes, this is easily one of my favorites. I make it often - at least every other week. Since the leftovers are so good (especially when cold and added to a salad), I sometimes double the recipe. When accompanied by an easy, make-ahead side dish such as broccoli salad, grilled salmon is one of the easiest dinners I make for my family. It’s literally ready in just 15 minutes, and it’s truly delicious!

Ingredients

The ingredients list for making this recipe is delightfully short! The exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below. Here’s an overview of what you’ll need: Salmon fillets: I almost always opt for skin-on filets. The skin is actually my favorite part. Olive oil: This is my favorite oil - it’s so delicious. But if you’re unsure about cooking with it, you can use avocado oil instead. It has a higher smoke point. Melted ghee is another tasty option. To season: Kosher salt, black pepper, and garlic powder.

Instructions

Cooking salmon on the grill is fast and easy. Scroll down to the recipe card for detailed instructions. Here are the basic steps:

You start by heating up your grill on medium and greasing it. You can use an outdoor grill, an indoor grill (including a dual-contact grill such as the one I use in the video below), or a grill pan. Grease the grill well to prevent the skin from sticking to it.Next, brush the salmon fillets with olive oil on all sides and sprinkle them with the seasonings.Place the fish fillets on the hot grill, skin side down. Cover and grill until the outside is crispy and the inside is fully cooked. This should take about five minutes per side. If using a dual-contact grill, it should take a total of five minutes.

Expert tip

When using skin-on fillets (as you should!), nothing gets the skin crispier than grilling. And crispy salmon skin is wonderful - as you probably know, many Japanese restaurants serve salmon skin sushi rolls which are considered a delicacy. In addition to making a truly crispy skin, grilling also keeps the fish exceptionally juicy. That is, as long as you don’t overcook it.

Frequently asked questions

Variations

You can brush the fish with melted butter instead of olive oil. Ghee is another tasty option.Try adding more spices. Tasty options include onion powder, paprika, cumin, and a touch of cayenne.Slice a lemon, brush the slices with olive oil or butter, and grill the slices alongside the fish, then serve them with the fish.

Serving suggestions

Salmon is very versatile. You can serve it with any side dish you like. I often serve it, as mentioned above, with broccoli salad. I also like to serve it with grilled broccolini or with grilled okra, grilling both the main dish and the sides at the same time. It’s also good with a side of microwave asparagus or with this cucumber tomato salad.

Storing leftovers

You can keep the leftovers in the fridge, in an airtight container, for up to 3 days. Reheat them very gently, covered, in the microwave on 50% power. You can also freeze the leftovers, wrapped in foil and sealed in freezer bags, for up to 3 months. Sometimes, rather than reheat the leftovers and risk drying them out, I flake them and use them as a salad topping. They’re very good as an added protein in this arugula salad.

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