Healthiest Baked Salmon Recipe With Creamy Watercress Sauce (20 Minutes) Seafood Dinner Gluten-free Low Sodium Recipes Mediterranean Diet Recipes Greek Recipes

Salmon is the undisputed leader of healthy ingredients in the seafood department. Salmon has many health benefits and is a popular ingredient in the heart-healthy Mediterranean Diet. A new nutritional powerhouse that just entered the ring is watercress. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just announced that watercress is the healthiest vegetable.

This seafood recipe combines the two ingredients into one irresistible plate of healthy food that takes about 20 minutes to prepare and cook. The salmon is simply baked until moist and juicy, then served drizzled with or on a bed of peppery, creamy watercress sauce.

You only need a few wholesome, simple ingredients to make this nutritious salmon recipe. Here is your shopping list: salmon fillets, watercress, green onions, creme fraiche (see Recipe Notes for substitutions), salt, black pepper and an optional pinch of nutmeg.

This succulent, gluten-free baked salmon recipe puts healthy eating in the spotlight in a delicious way! Serve this salmon and sauce for dinner with your favorite side dishes.

Fun Fact: Watercress is a Mediterranean ingredient that is believed to have originated in Greece. 

Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes (ovens vary)
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets

Watercress Sauce

• 2 ounces watercress
• 4 green onions, ends trimmed and roughly chopped
• 5 ounces creme fraiche (a little over 1/2 cup)
• salt and black pepper
• pinch of nutmeg (optional)

Recipe Notes

• If you can't find creme fraiche, you could use sour cream or plain Greek yogurt.

• Try this recipe with spinach, arugula or your favorite leafy green.

• Try this recipe with other fish, like cod, halibut, redfish, walleye or sole.

• Many stores sell 2-ounce bags of fresh watercress. If you're not sure how much that is, use a food scale or eyeball it.

• If you don't want to bake the salmon, you could cook it in a skillet or grill pan.

Here's how to make it: 

1. Season the salmon fillets with salt and black pepper. Place in a parchment paper-lined baking dish. Bake in a preheated 400-degree F oven until the fish is cooked through and flakes easily, about 15 minutes. 
2. While the salmon bakes, put the watercress, green onions and creme fraiche into a blender or food processor. Season with salt, black pepper and a pinch of nutmeg, if desired. Blend or process until smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings.
3. Serve the watercress sauce with the hot salmon. Top with fresh watercress, if desired.

Recipe cooking times, nutritional information and servings are approximate and provided for your convenience. However, 30Seconds is not responsible for the outcome of any recipe, nor may you have the same results because of variations in ingredients, temperatures, altitude, errors, omissions or cooking/baking abilities. This recipe has been analyzed by HappyForks. However, any nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and it is up to the individual to ascertain accuracy. To ensure image quality, we may occasionally use stock photography.

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