In the Oven

• Seasoned extra-virgin olive oil serves as a no-fuss marinade for salmon; mix in the herbs and spices of your choice, brush the marinade onto all sides of the fish and chill for about 30 minutes before grilling your fillets. Then, you can oven roast or bake your salmon, adding a brush or drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil-based vinaigrette dressing before cooking.

On the Stove Top

• Extra-virgin olive oil's smoke point is about 320 to 375 degrees Fahrenheit -- something to keep in mind when preparing stove top. Although extra-virgin olive oil does not lend itself to frying, you can pan-sear or blacken salmon by coating your pan lightly with olive oil; begin on medium-high heat and reduce the heat to medium. Each side of the fillet only takes about one to three minutes to cook for these higher heat methods. You can also season and simmer the olive oil over medium heat then add a fish fillet for a classic poached salmon dish.

Taste, Texture and Effect

• Extra-virgin olive oil also provides a pleasing flavor pairing with salmon. Salmon features a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids, giving it a moist, almost silky texture that naturally complements smooth olive oils. The creamy and subtle fish flavor of salmon also provides a tasty contrast to the sharper, earthier taste of extra-virgin olive oil.

Accenting with Herbs

• Time-tested herbs and spices such as minced garlic, thyme, salt and pepper work well as seasonings for olive oil marinades or poaching, lending your salmon a lightly savory flavor. For a tangier kick, add a dash of chopped cilantro, lemon zest or lime zest to the oil, or turn to parsley and basil for cooler tones. For a salmon-friendly vinaigrette, add champagne vinegar, lemon juice, shallots, Dijon mustard or tarragon. “Fine Cooking” magazine recommends pairing extra-virgin olive oil poached salmon with an Indian spice rub of cumin, coriander, garlic, kosher salt and cayenne pepper.

More to Consider

• As a general rule of thumb, olive oils produced in Northern Italy pair well with seafood such as salmon, as the olives feature a mild, subtly nutty flavor. No matter what sort of extra-virgin oil you choose, fresher oil makes for more intense flavor and more health benefits. If you have olive oil flavored with herbs and spices, strain them out before using it to prepare the salmon, unless you wish to use those spices as part of the recipe.