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Oven-baked salmon fillet with dill and Finnish kermaviili sauce, served with roasted carrots and sliced potatoes.

Finnish Oven-Baked Salmon with Kermaviili (Sour Cream) Sauce

This classic Finnish-style salmon is simple, light, and full of clean, fresh flavors. The creamy kermaviilikastike (sour cream sauce) with dill, mustard, and lemon balances the richness of the salmon beautifully. It’s a dish that feels comforting yet elegant — perfect for a cozy weekday dinner or a relaxed weekend meal.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Marinating time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 45 minutes
Course Main Course
Cuisine Finnish, Scandinavian

Ingredients
  

For the Salmon

  • 1 salmon fillet about 1 kg
  • 1 - 2 tsp salt
  • Freshly ground black pepper
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice

For the Kermaviili (Sour Cream) Sauce

  • 200 g kermaviili or 100 g sour cream and 100 g light cream
  • 1 tsp wholegrain mustard
  • 1-2 tsp lemon juice to taste
  • 1 tbsp finely chopped fresh dill
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • ½ tsp sugar
  • A pinch of freshly ground black pepper

Instructions
 

Prepare the Salmon

  • Line a baking dish with parchment paper and place the salmon fillet skin-side down on top.
  • Sprinkle evenly with salt and let it rest for about 1 hour at room temperature.
  • Just before baking, drizzle with lemon juice and add a light grind of black pepper on top.

Bake

  • Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F).
  • Bake the salmon for 25–30 minutes, depending on thickness, until just cooked through but still moist.
  • Let rest for a few minutes before serving.

Make the Kermaviili Sauce

  • In a small bowl, combine kermaviili, mustard, lemon juice, dill, salt, sugar, and pepper.
  • Mix gently until smooth.
  • Taste and adjust, add more lemon for brightness or mustard for a bit more depth.
  • Serve the salmon warm with the Kermaviili Sauce on the side. It pairs beautifully with oven-baked potatoes, honey-roasted carrots, and steamed green beans for a colorful Nordic-inspired meal.

Notes

What is Kermaviili?
Kermaviili is a Finnish cultured dairy product, similar to sour cream but with a slightly lighter texture and milder flavor. It’s made from fermented cream and often used as a base for sauces, dips, and dressings in Finnish cooking.
Substitutions:
If you don’t have kermaviili, you can make a good substitute by mixing:
  • 100 g sour cream or crème fraîche
  • 100 ml light cream (10–15%)
This creates a texture and flavor close to kermaviili — lightly tangy, creamy, and smooth. You can also use Greek yogurt.
Keyword baked salmon fillet, creamy dill sauce for salmon, Easy salmon fillet recipe, Finnish salmon recipe, kermaviili sauce, Nordic Salmon dish, oven-baked salmon, Scandinavian cuisine​, traditional Finnish recipes