Spiced caramelised salmon served on a bed of savoury rice with feta and veggies. This Sugar Spiced Salmon with Fancy Rice is colourful, healthy and delicious!.
Spread sugar on fish and grill it. That’s the best way to get my husband to eat it. As long as it comes with cheese-mixed rice, I know he won’t mind. The fact that it’s a pretty healthy meal with salmon and vegetables doesn’t even matter to him.
Chris, I’m sorry I sound like I need to trick you into eating healthy food. I know you’re a grown man really.
This is true even if you just bought an X-Box and some Lego (for yourself, of course) and your new favorite TV show is Phineus and Ferb. Playing fight and making plans with your kids to put ice cubes down my top will still be fun.
Coming back to the recipe, this dinner is seriously tasty. The coating on top of the salmon is sweet, sticky and just a little bit crisp. The salmon is also kept safe from the heat of the cooking process. This makes the middle of the salmon nice and juicy.
The rice is also a little spicy (but not hot-chilli-spicy). It’s made with easy-cook rice – which I only EVER use for this dish. Easy cook rice doesn’t stick together as much, so it works better in this dish where you don’t want it to. Dotted with peppers, tomatoes and feta it’s yummy enough to eat on it’s own.
That being said, it’s hard not to eat everything, but if you do, the salmon and rice are great cold the next day.
I served this meal with the Peach
I really hope you try this Sugar Spiced Salmon with Fancy Rice. Who knows, maybe you can even get your meat-eaters to like fish!
If that doesn’t work, you can always stick to the meat and try the coffee instead. Co recently:
Rice is a versatile base for many dishes, but pairing it with salmon takes the flavor to the next level. The key is properly seasoning the rice to complement the rich, tender salmon fillet With the right combination of herbs, spices, and ingredients, you can make rice that brings out the best in your salmon dinner. In this article, we’ll explore foolproof ways to season rice for salmon
Why Season Rice for Salmon
Salmon has a natural subtly sweet fatty flavor that pairs well with a variety of seasonings. Plain steamed rice would overwhelm the delicate taste of salmon. Taking the time to season rice adds flavor complexity and gives the salmon flavor profile a foundation to shine.
The steaming process of cooking rice dilutes its natural flavor. Well-seasoned rice makes the whole dish taste better and keeps the meal from being bland or one-dimensional. It gives plain rice smells, feels, and tastes better in ways that plain rice alone can’t.
Complementing Salmon’s Natural Flavors
Salmon meat has a rich, fatty taste that is balanced by a mild, slightly sweet taste. When we season rice, we want to use things that bring out the natural flavor of the salmon without overpowering it.
Some classic seasonings that achieve this goal include lemon, parsley, dill, garlic, ginger, soy sauce, olive oil, and black pepper. These components add brightness, herbaceous notes, and savoriness that complements salmon perfectly.
Spices like cumin, paprika, and cayenne can also add warmth and depth to rice that pairs nicely with salmon’s flavor profile. Just use a delicate hand so the seasonings don’t overwhelm the dish.
Quick and Easy Ways to Season Rice
There are quick and easy ways to season rice for salmon that will never go wrong:
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Stir in pesto or herb paste – Stirring a dollop of store-bought pesto or herb paste like sundried tomato or basil into the finished rice adds a flavor punch.
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Use broth or stock – Cooking the rice in chicken or vegetable broth instead of water imparts extra flavor into the grains.
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Add lime or lemon juice – A squirt of citrus juice just before serving gives the rice a bright, fresh taste.
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Flavor with oil – Cook the rice in a tablespoon of oil like avocado, walnut, or sesame to add richness.
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Grate in ginger – Grated fresh ginger adds a little spicy kick and warmth to the rice.
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Top with fresh herbs – Chopped soft herbs like dill, cilantro, or parsley tossed with cooked rice lend fresh herbal flavor.
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Sprinkle on spices – Smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, and chili powder can quickly spice up plain rice.
Infusing Maximum Flavor Into Rice
For the best flavor infusion, seasoned rice for salmon benefits from certain cooking techniques. Here are great ways to incorporate seasoning and inject maximum flavor:
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Bloom spices in oil – Blooming dried spices like cumin, coriander, and mustard seeds in oil before adding the rice intensifies their flavor.
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Use flavorful liquids – Opt for broth, juice, wine, or coconut milk instead of plain water to cook the rice.
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Sauté fresh aromatics – Cooking minced garlic, ginger, onions, orshallots in oil for a couple minutes before adding rice gives a flavor base.
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Cook in flavorful oil – Using a flavored oil like sesame, walnut, or avocado to cook the rice imparts extra richness.
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Finish with acidic components – Adding a squeeze of lemon or lime juice just before serving helps all the flavors pop.
10 Best Seasonings for Salmon Rice
If you’re unsure where to start with seasoning your rice, here are 10 foolproof flavor additions perfect for salmon:
Lemon – Brightens with citrus and cuts through salmon’s fattiness. Add zest, juice, slices or even lemon-pepper seasoning.
Dill – Fresh or dried dill has an anise-like quality that pairs beautifully with salmon.
Parsley – Fresh parsley’s clean, fresh bite offsets salmon’s richness.
Garlic – Sautéed or raw garlic adds a subtle pungency salmon can handle.
Ginger – The spicy warmth of fresh grated ginger cuts through the fish’s fattiness.
Soy Sauce – A splash while cooking or as a finish adds a savory umami boost.
Olive Oil – Drizzle while cooking or add chopped olives for a peppery punch.
Black Pepper – A sprinkle of freshly cracked pepper balances salmon’s flavors.
Curry powder – A pinch lends a warm, subtly spicy element and golden hue.
Coconut Milk – Adds mild sweetness and richness when used as the rice cooking liquid.
Full-Flavored Rice Recipes for Salmon
To take the guesswork out of properly seasoning rice for salmon, here are a couple fully-developed recipe ideas you can rely on:
Curry Rice
- Sauté diced onion, carrots and garlic in oil
- Add curry powder and rice, stir to coat
- Cook rice in combination of broth and coconut milk
- Finish with chopped cilantro
Lemon-Dill Rice
- Cook rice in chicken broth seasoned with lemon zest
- Stir in lemon juice once cooked
- Fold in fresh dill and parsley
- Add olive oil or butter for richness
Sesame-Ginger Rice
- Sauté grated ginger in sesame oil
- Add rice and soy sauce, stir to coat
- Cook rice in broth
- Top with toasted sesame seeds
The possibilities are endless when it comes to seasoning rice for salmon. Follow your tastebuds and get creative with herbs, spices, aromatics, acids, oils, and more to build the perfect flavor base for your salmon dinner. Properly seasoned rice takes your meal from bland and boring to delicious and rich.
The Sugar Spiced Salmon with Fancy Rice Recipe:
Let’s Cook with Me || Teriyaki Salmon and Seasoning Rice || TERRI-ANN’S KITCHEN
FAQ
Why salmon and rice go so well together?
What kind of rice do you use for salmon?
For the rice, we recommend Basmati or Jasmine rice (though of course a short grain white rice is also fine). Do not use brown rice or wild rice, as those require a longer cook time. The salmon would be overcooked by the time the rice was tender. To season the rice: lots of fresh herbs! Dill, parsley, and cilantro.
What are the benefits of smoked salmon over raw salmon?
It actually has the same characteristics as raw salmon, being relatively low in calories, it is an excellent source of protein, good fat and several vitamins and minerals. The smoking process just adds an aroma.
How do you cook salmon with rice?
Gently place the seared salmon fillets on top of the rice. Cover the skillet with a lid and let it cook over low heat for about 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through and the salmon is flaky. Once everything is cooked, drizzle lemon juice over the salmon and rice. Check for seasoning and adjust if needed.
How do you reheat salmon rice?
For more protein, top your salmon rice bowl with a za’atar fried egg or some sliced fried boiled eggs ! Store leftovers separately in airtight containers in the fridge. Reheat the rice and vegetables together on the stove over medium heat, and flake leftover salmon over afterward. It is tough to reheat salmon without it becoming rubbery.