Whether you are a grizzly bear or a person, salmon is one of the tastiest and healthiest fish to come from the waters of the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans. You can also find salmon in the Great Lakes of Michigan as well as several other kinds of fresh water lakes all around the world. This global presence means that you can find fresh fish for your salmon recipe almost anywhere in the world.

However, be careful you don't use farmed salmon. As for farm raised salmon, their fish feed is laced with astaxanthin, the same chemical that turns shrimp pink. These salmon are also fed steroids and growth hormones to make them unnaturally fat for more meat. Most grocery stores or supermarkets will note whether it is wild or farmed.

This pink color is not the normal white color of salmon. Some wild salmon will still be a little pink because they eat a lot of shrimp. Don't be fooled by the pretty color of the farmed salmon at the grocery store. It is not healthy for you to ingest.

Salmon Recipe Preparations

Salmon is a relatively firm flesh fish which makes it a candidate for a good grilling salmon recipe. There is something about cooking over an open flame that brings out the wholesome flavor of the fish. Of course, there is something to be said for pan searing a salmon fillet to retain the entire fish flavor as well as seal in the juices for moisture.

You might find a salmon recipe or two that requires boiling this fish. Boiling does not retain the flavor as much as baking or broiling and is typically done just to cook the fish so that it can be flaked or shredded for seafood salads or even croquettes.

Because there are a number of varieties of salmon out in the oceans, your salmon recipe will dictate what cut of fish you are planning to cook. Fillets generally will have the skin still intact on one side. This makes for easy smoking, grilling and baking. Steaks are firmer and more substantial against an open flame in the barbecue pit.

A Basic Baked Salmon Recipe

When it comes to baked salmon, choose your favorite cut of wild fish. Prepare a shallow baking pan and line it with foil, then lightly grease with a cooking spray or vegetable shortening. Don't forget to pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees Farenheit.

Your ingredients will be:

* Olive oil

* Seasonings (choose from a particular cuisine like Mexican or Italian)

* Minced Onion

* Minced Garlic

In a small bowl, pour enough olive oil to adequately coat the fish on both sides. Mix in with the olive oil your favorite spices. Choose basil, oregano, marjoram and minced garlic for an Italian flair of this salmon recipe. For a Mexican flair, add a little freshly chopped cilantro along with a little oregano along with chipolte pepper, comino and minced garlic.

Once all of the spices and the olive oil have been mixed together, you will want to place your salmon in the baking pan. Spread the olive oil mixture on the top of the fish and bake for approximately 30 minutes, depending on the thickness of the filet. Your salmon recipe is done if you can easily flake the fish with a fork.