Sheet Pan Rosemary Balsamic Salmon

A simple and delicious one Sheet Pan Rosemary Balsamic Salmon with crispy broccoli and blistered tomatoes for an easy and healthy weeknight meal.

Salmon has always been a huge hit at our house. Who would guess that 1-3 year olds prefer salmon to lets say – mac and cheese, pizza, hot dogs or pretty much all of their other favorite foods?? Well, I won’t argue. However, tonight as my twins, toddler, and husband are gobbling down this delicious dish (my all time FAVORITE way to eat salmon), something happened that led to a huge bump on my head and a story that will be told for years to my endless torment and shame.

I probably shouldn’t share this story. It’s (mostly) PG but I think I would be mortified if anyone I knew well were to read it – mother that’s your cue to skip to the recipe. It all started with my 3 year old using his fork to dip his salmon in the “yummy chocolate sauce” that he calls the balsamic reduction. Then one of the twins started giggling for no apparent reason and that sent him into a fit of laughter. Something about my son: when he gets excited or happy he goes a little crazy. Okay, a whole LOT of crazy. While the hysterics continue he starts flinging his fork all over the place and his salmon flies off and lands on the front of my white shirt (go figure I would wear a white shirt when cooking with balsamic vinegar) leaving a huge stain.

Fast forward to later that evening after I’ve cleaned up dinner, done the dishes and put all three children to bed. My sick husband (poor guys pulled a 36 hour call shift at the hospital yesterday and came down with a cold) is in our bathroom brushing his teeth. I’m doing a load of the kids clothes and decide to pull off my shirt, put stain remover on the giant balsamic stain and add it to the load. It’s then that I realize that I had left the curtains opened and blinds pulled up on our large window in our master bedroom when I was taking pictures of this scrumptious balsamic salmon that betrayed me. This window looks out onto the street and is directly across from other townhomes with similar windows. In other words everyone and their dog can see into our bedroom – brilliant.

I can’t go downstairs without a shirt (more windows), and so I walk to our bedroom and cautiously peek around the door calling out to Nate in the bathroom to close the blinds. He can’t hear me due to the running water and electric toothbrush, so I do the only obvious thing. I get down on the ground and army crawl my way through the bedroom and into the bathroom wearing only my jeans and bra to get a shirt out of our closet.

I’m half way into the bathroom thinking I’m in the safe zone (out of view of the large window) when I lift my head up and bang it on a drawer that is left pulled completely out. HARD. It pretty much flattens me. My husband who is the culprit of the draw left open (does anyone else’s husband/significant other do this and drive you crazy??) walks out of our walk in closet and stares at me laying face down, prone on the floor, half naked. Then he proceeds to bust up laughing while I sob and rub my head – which is already developing a decent sized goose egg.

Which bring us full circle. I’m sitting here, writing this post about one of my all time favorite dishes, gulping down two Ibuprofen and nursing an ice pack on the top of my head. Thank you Rosemary Balsamic Salmon.

But seriously – let’s talk about this dish. This dream team of ingredients is packed with nutrients as well as flavor. The crispy broccoli with a hint of spice and plump juicy cherry tomatoes lend such a burst of flavor to this dish that your taste buds will be dancing in your mouth begging for more. Not to mention the delectable (yet treacherous) balsamic reduction that you drizzle over the top. One good lick of that stuff and you’re done.

My favorite part of this dish is how easy it is to make. Hardly any prep. You just wash your cherry tomatoes and broccoli (cut any large pieces in half length-wise) and throw 6 ingredients into a saucepan to simmer and reduce while the rest of the ingredients cook on your sheet pan in the oven. You do have to put the broccoli in the oven for a little bit first by itself so that it has long enough to crisp up and then add in your tomatoes and salmon about half way through to finish cooking.

Thirty minutes later – Voilà! Dinner is served.

Sheet Pan Rosemary Balsamic Salmon

A simple and delicious one Sheet Pan Rosemary Balsamic Salmon with crispy broccoli and blistered tomatoes for an easy and healthy weeknight meal.

• Author: The Saucy Fig
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 30 minutes
• Total Time: 45 minutes
• Category: Dinner

Scale 1x2x3x

Ingredients

Balsamic Rosemary Glaze

• 1 cup balsamic vinegar
• 1/2 cup chicken broth or white wine
• 4 Tablespoons maple syrup or honey
• 3 Tablespoon dijon mustard
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2–3 sprigs of rosemary

Other Ingredients

• 3–4 fillets of salmon (thawed if frozen)
• 2–3 cups of broccoli
• 1 package cherry tomatoes
• 1 lemon, thin circular slices
• 1/4 cup pine nuts
• 4–5 tablespoons olive oil
• 3–4 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 pinches red pepper flakes
• 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
• salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Balsamic Rosemary Glaze

1. In a medium saucepan, combine all ingredients for the balsamic reduction: balsamic vinegar, chicken broth, honey, dijon mustard, garlic, and rosemary.
2. Over medium high heat bring to a roiling boil, boil for two minutes, then reduce the heat and simmer on medium-low for 30-45 minutes (while the sheet pan dinner is cooking) until it reduced to about half the amount starting with and thickened.
3. Remove from heat and allow to cook (will continue to thicken while cooling.)

Sheet Pan Salmon, Broccoli & Cherry Tomatoes

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees Fahrenheit. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Wash the broccoli and cut into 1/4 inch steaks (thin slices). This is optional, you can just throw it on the pan if in a hurry but I feel like it cooks through better and gets a little crispier when cut.
3. Place the broccoli on your sheet pan, drizzle with olive oil (about 3 tablespoons).  Add garlic, red pepper flacks, and onion powder on top and toss with your hands till the broccoli is coated with oil and spices are distributed evenly. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
4. Cook broccoli in oven for about 13-14 minutes.
5. While the broccoli is cooking wash your tomatoes and place them in a medium bowl.  Drizzle with olive oil (about 2 tablespoons) and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
6. Remove the broccoli from the oven and flip.  Add in the tomatoes and distribute evenly.
7. Clear a space in the middle of the pan and add your salmon.  Brush or drizzle with a little olive oil if desired and sprinkle with salt and pepper.  Top with thin slices of lemon and chopped rosemary. Sprinkle pan with pine nuts or sliced almonds (optional).
8. Cook sheet pan in the oven until salmon is cooked through, about 12-14 minutes.
9. Remove from oven and serve with rice, quinoa, potatoes or whatever sides you like.  You can either drizzle the balsamic glaze on top or serve on the side.

Notes

Balsamic Rosemary Glaze Adapted from Cooking Classy

Keywords: salmon, sheet pan, broccoli, cherry tomatoes, balsamic rosemary glaze

You can also find great recipes at The SITS Girls.

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