Parchment Baked Salmon

Ingredients

• 1 (8 oz) salmon fillet
• Salt and ground black pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• Olive oil cooking spray
• 1 lemon, thinly sliced

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Move an oven rack to the lowest position.
2. Place salmon fillet, skin-side down, in the middle of a large piece of parchment paper. Season with salt and black pepper.
3. Cut two 3-inch slits into the fillet with a sharp knife. Stuff chopped basil leaves into the slits.
4. Spray the fillet with cooking spray and arrange lemon slices on top.
5. Fold the edges of parchment paper over the fillet several times to seal it into an airtight packet. Place the sealed packet onto a baking sheet.
6. Bake in the preheated oven on the bottom rack until salmon flakes easily and flesh is pink and opaque with an interior of slightly darker pink color, about 25 minutes. An instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the fillet should read at least 145°F (65°C).
7. To serve, cut open the parchment paper and remove lemon slices before plating.