So what do you do after a long vacation, lots of time on planes, and very little sleep? You fall asleep--deeply asleep--in your chair and don't have much time to cook dinner. That's not a problem if you have salmon in your refrigerator. Fortunately, I did, as I'd just been to the market in the afternoon. Salmon takes about 15 minutes to cook in the air fryer and only a few minutes to prepare. It's perfect when you need a quick dinner. Plus, during the salmon cooking time, you can zap a vegetable in the microwave, cook a pot of rice, and fix a simple salad. Dinner is served in less than 30 minutes. Yes, I use the air fryer for this recipe, but you can also bake the salmon in a regular oven in 18-20 minutes at 375 degrees. The salmon will come out moist and flaky. The orange-mustard glaze compliments the fish nicely, adding a tangy counterpart. I use fresh thyme in the glaze, but dried will work as well. Don't skip the thyme, though. It adds a nice freshness and extra flavor to the glaze. You may want to hang onto this recipe for less busy (or sleepy) times. The salmon is so good you'll want to prepare it again and serve it to company.
Salmon with Orange-Mustard Glaze -- Serves 2
12 ounces of salmon filet
1/4 teaspoon of lemon pepper
1 1/2 tablespoons of creamy Dijon mustard
1 1/2 tablespoons of orange marmalade
1 teaspoon of fresh thyme leaves (or 1/2 teaspoon of dried thyme)
Prepare a foil sling about 4 inches wide and long enough to fit up the sides or your air fryer. Spritz the foil with non-stick cooking spray. Place the salmon on the foil and sprinkle it with the lemon pepper. Spritz the top of the fish with non-stick cooking spray or olive oil and let the fish sit a few minutes while you make the glaze. In a small bowl or cup, mix together until thoroughly combined the Dijon mustard, marmalade, and dried thyme. Brush or spoon the mustard mixture evenly over the top of the fish. Using the edges of the foil, place the fish in the air fryer basket and set the temperature to 360. Cook the fish for about 15 minutes (check it early, because air fryers vary) or until the glaze is slightly brown and the fish flakes easily with a fork. Divide the filet into two pieces to serve it.
