A few common pantry spices are mixed together in this easy Salmon Seasoning to make a sweet, smoky, and mild mix that will help you cook seriously delicious salmon any night of the week. Call it kitchen magic!.
Salmon is one of the most popular and versatile fish to cook. With its rich fatty texture and mild flavor it pairs well with a variety of seasonings. But with so many options to choose from, it can be tricky to figure out what seasonings go best with salmon.
In this article, we’ll explore 12 delicious seasoning ideas that will take your salmon from bland to flavorful in no time. Whether you prefer baking, grilling, broiling or pan searing your salmon, these seasonings will make it shine.
Why Season Salmon?
Salmon has a relatively mild taste on its own. Even though the fish itself has healthy fats like omega-3s, the taste isn’t very good. This makes it an ideal canvas for seasoning mixes and rubs.
Adding seasoning to salmon serves several purposes:
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Enhances flavor – Most seasonings contain a blend of spices and herbs that layer the salmon with more complex, aromatic flavors.
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Forms a crust – Dry seasoning rubs help form a tasty, textured crust on the fish as it cooks
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Adds moisture – Wet marinades allow seasonings to penetrate the salmon and keep it tender during cooking
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Fits the cooking method—Some seasonings work better for grilling than for baking, for example. baking.
Overall, seasoning gives you the ability to control the salmon’s final flavor profile. Thoughtfully chosen seasonings can take your fish from zero to hero at dinnertime.
12 Best Seasonings for Salmon
From classic herb blends to spicy rubs, here are 12 delicious ways to season your salmon fillets:
1. Lemon Pepper
This combo brings together bright, citrusy lemon and sharp black pepper. Sprinkle it on before broiling or baking. The lemon brightens up the salmon’s natural fattiness.
Good for: broiling, baking
2. Everything Bagel
Capture the flavors of an everything bagel by blending sesame seeds, dried onion, garlic, and poppy seeds. Layer on top of salmon before baking or air frying.
Good for: baking, air frying
3. Brown Sugar & Chili Powder
For a sweet and spicy crust, coat salmon with a mix of brown sugar, chili powder, salt and pepper before pan searing. The brown sugar caramelizes beautifully.
Good for: pan searing
4. Cajun Spice
Cajun seasoning contains a bold blend of paprika, garlic, onion, cayenne and other spices. Rub it on salmon before blackening in a cast iron skillet for an easy weeknight meal.
Good for: pan searing
5. Lemon Herb
Blend lemon zest with dried herbs like dill, parsley, basil and tarragon. Sprinkle over salmon before roasting or baking. The bright flavors complement the richness of the fish.
Good for: roasting, baking
6. Teriyaki
For an easy teriyaki glaze, simmer soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, ginger and sesame oil. Brush onto salmon fillets before broiling or grilling. It makes the fish caramelized and sticky.
Good for: broiling, grilling
7. Jerk Spice
Traditional Jamaican jerk seasoning contains a hot blend of allspice, cloves, cinnamon, thyme and other spices. Rub onto salmon before grilling for an aggressively spiced fish.
Good for: grilling
8. Italian Herbs
An Italian herb blend of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme and garlic adds big Mediterranean flavor. Try sprinkling on salmon before roasting with lemon slices and olive oil.
Good for: roasting
9. Smoked Paprika
For savory smokiness without an actual smoker, dust salmon fillets with smoked paprika before pan frying or baking. The rich flavor enhances the fish’s natural oils.
Good for: pan frying, baking
10. Mustard Dill
Combine Dijon mustard, dried dill, lemon zest, garlic and black pepper for a quick wet marinade. Let salmon soak for 15-20 minutes before cooking for added moisture.
Good for: pan searing, grilling, baking
11. Chili Lime
Liven up your salmon with a blend of chili powder, cumin, cayenne, brown sugar and lime zest. Rub it onto the fish before grilling or broiling to form a spicy, tangy crust.
Good for: grilling, broiling
12. Mediterranean
Bring Mediterranean flavors to your salmon with a blend of garlic, sumac, oregano, thyme and crushed fennel. Generously season salmon fillets before baking or pan roasting.
Good for: baking, pan roasting
Tips for Cooking Perfectly Seasoned Salmon
Follow these simple tips to get the most out of your salmon seasoning:
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Dry fish thoroughly – Rub fish with paper towels before seasoning so the mix sticks properly.
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Use a light hand – Don’t overdo it on strongly flavored seasonings like cayenne or garlic powder.
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Season just before cooking – For maximum flavor impact, season salmon right before throwing it on the grill or in the oven.
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Get good color – Browning the spices creates tons of flavor. Use high heat and minimal flipping.
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Check for doneness – Salmon is best cooked to medium doneness. Check for opaque, flaky flesh.
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Let it rest – Give the salmon a few minutes after cooking so the seasoning flavors set into the flesh.
The Best Homemade Salmon Seasoning
Want to whip up your own signature salmon seasoning? It’s easier than you think.
Here’s a basic formula for a well-balanced homemade blend:
Salt – 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Sweet – 1 teaspoon brown sugar
Smoky – 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
Savory – 1/2 teaspoon each of garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard
Spicy (optional) – 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Mix the ingredients together in a small bowl. Adjust to taste, adding more of your favorite flavors. Store leftovers in an airtight container.
Rub this mix generously over salmon fillets just before cooking. It adds delicious complexity and balances salty, sweet, savory and spicy flavors.
Simple Ways to Use Homemade Salmon Seasoning
A homemade seasoning blend offers tons of versatility. Try these easy ideas:
- Baked salmon – Top fillets with seasoning before baking
- Grilled salmon – Brush oil on fish and coat with seasoning
- Salmon burgers – Mix seasoning right into the salmon patty meat
- Salmon tacos – Sprinkle on blackened or grilled salmon for fish tacos
- Salmon salad – Toss cooked, flaked salmon with seasoning for an easy protein salad
- Smoked salmon – Dust seasoning onto smoked salmon for next-level flavor
With endless ways to use it, a homemade blend is a salmon game changer. The options are limitless once you master a good seasoning recipe.
Elevate Your Salmon with Bold, Balanced Flavors
Now there’s no reason to settle for bland salmon again. With such a wide world of seasonings and endless ways to use them, you can reinvent your fish every time.
Whether you stick with tried-and-true herb blends or get creative with spicy rubs, properly seasoned salmon is a totally different ballgame. So amplify your omega-3s with big, bold flavors. Your tastebuds will thank you.
Why You’ll Love this Salmon Seasoning Rub Recipe
- Use it for Any Salmon Cooking Method. There is no better salmon seasoning than this. You can bake, grill, pan sear, broil, air fry, or even smoke salmon with it. (Psst—you can even use it for pork!).
- Salty, Sweet, and Smoky. It only takes 5 minutes to make this simple salmon seasoning, but it has lots of different flavors that make your salmon taste even better. We use it to season our salmon, and you’ll love it in your kitchen too!
- Pantry Spices. Most likely, you already have everything you need to make this easy salmon seasoning recipe if you cook a lot.
- Reasonable Yield. This recipe is scaled for 1 1/2 pounds of salmon, which is enough for 4 to 6 servings. Most seasoning mixes make a HUGE batch. You can make more of it for later use if you want to. The point is, the choice is YOURS to make.
- Gives You More Reasons to Cook Salmon. Salmon is good for you because it is a good source of protein and many nutrients. With this tasty salmon seasoning, you’ll want to cook salmon even more often!
Meal Prep Tip
Add seasoning to your spice cabinet for easy, quick dinners. You can make as many of these seasonings as you want and store them with your other spices in a container or jar that won’t let air in.
THE BEST SALMON EVER | Ray Mack’s Kitchen and Grill
FAQ
How to add more flavour to salmon?
Should I season both sides of salmon?
What spices go with salmon reddit?
What spices go best with salmon?
When it comes to what herbs and spices go best with salmon, dry mustard is at the top of the list. It pairs wonderfully with salmon and gives the seasoning a hint of tang. Smoked Paprika. For a touch of smokiness. Salt. A must-have in any delicious seasoning. Cumin. Adds earthiness to the mixture. Ginger. A warm, earthy spice with a bit of zip.
What healthy seasonings can I use this new year?
All natural seasonings are healthy, like onions, garlic, herbs, dried herbs and their mixtures. My favorites are thyme, rosemary, garlic, onion, freshly ground pepper and curry.
What herbs should I use to flavor salmon fillets?
However, the best herbs to use with salmon are dill, fennel, tarragon, parsley, sage, basil, bay leaves, thyme, rosemary and ground coriander. Deciding which herbs to use to flavor your salmon fillets will also depend on how you are cooking them. To further understand which herbs to use to flavor your salmon fillets, here is an explanation of each.
Is salmon a good seasoning?
Salmon is a delicious ingredient packed with heart-healthy Omega 3 fats. A great salmon seasoning adds an amazing depth of flavor to your dishes. If salmon is an ingredient that hasn’t really got your favor, we’re here to conquer this culinary fear with these easy, perfect, salmon seasoning ideas. Why making your own Salmon seasoning?