Salmon is flavourful and so flaky ‘it would make Gordon Ramsay proud’
This salmon recipe is perfect for when you’re in a rush, and is a twist on a viral recipe that’s taken the world by storm
This salmon recipe is perfect for when you’re in a rush, and is a twist on a viral recipe that’s taken the world by storm(Image: Getty Images)
Salmon is a staple ingredient to use in any dinner, especially if you’re looking for something simple. It also happens to be the centrepiece ingredient of one of the best recipes of 2025.
Ryan Miller, better known as Foodiligence on TikTok, has been recreating the top 50 recipes from the New York Times’ Most Popular Recipes list of 2025. In his most recent video, he tested out the recipe that landed in 32nd place, and it’s all about the salmon.
He said: “You shouldn’t make this unless you’re ready to get hitched.” Marry Me Salmon, a twist on the viral Marry Me Chicken recipe.
Marry Me sauce is a creamy and savoury Italian-style sauce made from sun-dried tomatoes, cream, parmesan cheese, garlic, and herbs.
The sauce is supposed to be so delicious and easy to make that it’s said to inspire marriage proposals. This twist was coined by recipe developer Eric Kim.
It details the best way to get the perfect crispy skin on the salmon while keeping the flesh juicy. Ryan said that this technique would make “Gordon Ramsay proud.”
All it takes is 30 minutes of your time, so it makes it the perfect recipe to rustle up after a busy day at work. Eric described the recipe: “A take on Marry Me Chicken, this dish is the weeknight fish you cook for your future life partner.
“Perfectly seared salmon bathed in a creamy sun-dried tomato gravy is anchored by the familiar one-two punch of dried oregano and crushed red pepper.
“By cooking the fish mostly on the skin side, then gently poaching the flesh side in sauce, you get shattering skin yielding to plush salmon. Bottled clam juice, readily available at the grocery store, gives the creamy red sauce a seafood taste.
“Serve with crusty, fluffy Italian bread or your favourite pasta tossed with a dribble of oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes.”
Ryan was so happy with the recipe, he said: “Probably the best meal I made last month.”
Ryan’s video has already been viewed over 51,000 times, receiving 2,354 likes and six comments. So if you’re after a quick and simple recipe to elevate your next salmon dinner to impress your other half, here’s how you can make Eric’s recipe at home.
Marry Me Salmon
Ingredients
- Two salmon fillets, preferably skin-on (10 ounces total)
- Salt and black pepper
- ¼ cup thinly sliced oil-packed sun-dried tomatoes, plus two tbsp oil from the jar
- ½ medium yellow onion, finely chopped
- One tsp dried oregano, plus more to taste
- ½ to one tsp crushed red pepper, plus more to taste
- Two tbsp tomato paste
- One (eight-ounce) bottle clam juice (one cup)
- ½ cup double cream
- Fresh basil leaves, for serving (optional)
Method
Pat the salmon dry and lightly sprinkle salt and pepper all over. Heat a medium nonstick or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat, then add one tbsp of oil from the jar of sun-dried tomatoes.
Sear the salmon skin side down until the skin is browned and crisp, and the flesh is opaque about three-quarters of the way up, five to seven minutes. Reduce the heat if the skin starts to burn.
Transfer to a plate, skin side up. (The fish will finish cooking in the sauce later.)
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the onion to the skillet and season with salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened considerably, five to seven minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium-low. Add the remaining one tbsp of sun-dried tomato oil to the skillet.
Add the oregano and crushed red pepper, stirring for a few seconds to bloom them and open up their flavours. Add the tomato paste and stir frequently until a shade darker in colour, about three minutes.
Add the clam juice and raise the heat to medium-high. Cook, stirring occasionally, until reduced by half, four to five minutes.
Reduce the heat to medium-low, add the cream and sun-dried tomatoes and cook, stirring constantly, until slightly reduced, about five minutes. Taste and add more salt, pepper, oregano and crushed red pepper as desired.
Return the salmon to the skillet, flesh side down, without getting sauce on the crispy skin, then reduce the heat to low. Simmer until the salmon is cooked through, about one minute.
It will continue to cook as it sits. To serve, top with basil leaves, if using.
