At a glance
Preheat a cast iron pan in the pizza oven with the stone at 600°F to 700°F. Add oil and the dry, seasoned salmon fillets skin side down and cook for 3 minutes. Brush them with honey garlic glaze and cook for 2 to 4 minutes more. The USDA recommends 145°F for fish, but many cooks pull salmon at 125°F to 130°F for a moister fillet.
A pizza oven is not just for pizza. Its intense, all round heat cooks salmon in under 10 minutes, crisping the skin from below while the top picks up a little char. A sticky honey garlic glaze caramelizes in seconds, and the whole thing is done before you could preheat a kitchen oven.
Why use a cast iron pan?
Salmon skin sticks to a pizza stone and the oil and juices stain it. A preheated cast iron pan gives the skin the direct heat it needs to crisp and makes the fillets easy to move in and out of the oven. It is the same method we use for pizza oven shrimp and chicken thighs.
Managing the heat
Full pizza heat, often over 850°F, will burn the glaze before the salmon is cooked. Turn the flame down so the stone reads 600°F to 700°F and rotate the pan halfway through. If you are new to controlling your oven's temperature, our Ooni 101 guide covers the basics.
Recipe
Pizza Oven Salmon
- Prep
- 10 min
- Cook
- 10 min
- Total
- 20 min
- Makes
- 4 servings
- Stone at about 600°F to 700°F (315°C to 370°C)
- Preheat the pan in the oven
- Cook to 125°F to 145°F (52°C to 63°C)
Ingredients
Salmon
- 4 skin-on salmon fillets, about 6 oz (170 g) each and 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick
- 1 tbsp high smoke point oil
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- Lemon wedges and chopped dill, to serve
Honey garlic glaze
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp melted butter
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1 tsp lemon juice
Equipment
- Pizza oven
- Cast iron skillet that fits the oven
- Pizza peel or heat resistant gloves
- Instant read thermometer
Method
- Pat the salmon very dry, especially the skin. Season both sides with salt and pepper.
- Heat the pizza oven, then lower the flame until the stone reads about 600°F to 700°F (315°C to 370°C).
- Put the cast iron pan in the oven to preheat for 5 minutes.
- Mix the glaze ingredients.
- Add the oil to the hot pan, then lay the salmon in skin side down. Return the pan to the oven.
- Cook for 3 minutes, then brush the tops with glaze and turn the pan for even cooking.
- Cook for another 2 to 4 minutes, until the glaze is bubbling and lightly charred and the thickest part reaches your preferred temperature.
- Rest for 2 minutes, then serve with lemon and dill.
Notes
- The glaze contains honey and burns quickly. Add it partway through, not at the start.
- Thinner fillets cook in as little as 4 to 5 minutes.
What temperature should salmon be?
The USDA recommends cooking fish to 145°F, when the flesh is opaque and flakes easily. Many cooks prefer to pull salmon at 125°F to 130°F, when the center is still slightly translucent and very moist. Choose the doneness you are comfortable with.
Serving ideas
- With pizza oven roasted vegetables.
- Over rice with cucumber salad and sesame seeds.
- Flaked into tacos with slaw and lime crema.
Frequently asked questions
How long does salmon take in a pizza oven?
About 5 to 7 minutes for a 1 inch fillet in a preheated pan with the stone at 600°F to 700°F.
Can I cook salmon on a cedar plank in a pizza oven?
Only at a much lower heat. Planks catch fire at pizza oven temperatures, so let the oven cool to around 450°F and soak the plank well first.
Should I cook salmon skin side up or down?
Skin side down, in a hot pan, so the skin crisps and protects the flesh.
Sources: USDA safe minimum internal temperatures.