A Fall Dinner: Manuka Honey Pecan Salmon

Manuka Honey Pecan Salmon

For those who seek a dish with contrasting yet surprisingly well merged flavors that is comically easy to make, then this Manuka Honey Pecan Salmon recipe is perfect for you! Great with a salad or a similar light side dish and maybe even a glass of white wine, this dish requires a few ingredients, a close eye to be sure the fish isn’t over or undercooked, and an understanding to not drown the poor fish in honey (while we all love Manuka honey, the goal isn’t to create a candied apple salmon). Adding the pecans as the perfect fall garnish, harmonizing rather than emphasizing the honey flavor, this potential dinner is all you could want and more.

This recipe yields two total servings, so feel free to double the recipe if you expect to feed a family or a group of friends. Well, let’s get started on that Manuka Honey Pecan Salmon!

Ingredients for Manuka Honey Pecan Salmon

• 1.5 pound salmon fillet, skin on
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• 1 tablespoon Manuka honey
• 1/3 cup chopped pecans
• 1 lemon, seeds removed (if desired)

Directions for Manuka Honey Pecan Salmon

1. Prep time: 5 minutes. Cooking time: 20 minutes.
2. Preheat oven to 300˚ F. Place the fillet, skin-side down, in aluminum foil in a baking pan and sprinkle lightly with the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Loosely close the foil around the fish and place the pan in the oven for 15 minutes.
3. Check the salmon—the color should be turning a soft pink—and use a fork to test the texture. The salmon should yield to the fork in delicate flakes; if it is mushy, you need some more time. Check periodically if you need more than 15 minutes.
4. After 15 minutes, turn off the oven, pull back the foil and lightly spread the Manuka honey and pecans over the salmon. This allows the honey to cook into the fish—adding sweetness and moisture to the fish—and develop a glaze that won’t just run off.
5. Leave the fillet in the oven for another 5 minutes; the hot oven will continue to cook the fish. If you want a crispy topcoat, at the end of the combined 20 minutes set the oven to broil for 2 minutes, keeping a close eye on the fish in this time. Overcooking is an easy mistake to make, so try to avoid if you can.
6. Once you’ve finished cooking the salmon, serve with your side dishes and enjoy!