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 fish for good reason. Its pinkish-orange flesh has a rich, fatty texture that is perfectly complemented by the right spices. Salmon fillets take beautifully to pan frying, grilling, baking, or broiling, making this fish extremely versatile. With just a small amount of aromatic spices, you can take your salmon from bland to grand.
In this article, we will explore the 12 best spices that pair wonderfully with salmon to draw out its natural flavors and add an extra pop of taste. Whether you enjoy your salmon simply seasoned with just salt and pepper or elaborately spiced, these spices for salmon will elevate any recipe.
Smoked Paprika
Smoked paprika deserves the number one spot on the list of spices for salmon. The deep reddish-brown paprika powder made from smoked dried peppers has an irresistible smoky-sweet flavor. It provides a lovely charred taste and aroma that intensifies the richness of salmon.
Smoked paprika works well in dry rubs and marinades for salmon. Simply coat your salmon fillets with olive oil and generously sprinkle smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. The salmon picks up the sweet smokiness beautifully when pan-seared, roasted, or grilled.
Black Pepper
You can never go wrong seasoning salmon with freshly cracked black pepper, The sharp heat and citrusy bite of black peppercorns enhances the flavor of the salmon’s oils, Coating salmon with coarsely ground black pepper just before cooking gives you the most impact
For an easy weeknight salmon dish, top fillets with lemon slices and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. The salmon gets a bright pop of flavor from the pepper and lemon that cuts through the fish’s fattiness.
Garam Masala
This aromatic Indian spice blend makes for incredibly flavorful salmon. Garam masala typically contains cumin, coriander, cardamom, cinnamon, and peppercorns for a warm, earthy taste The blend adds depth and sophistication to simple sautéed or baked salmon fillets.
Mix brown sugar, salt, pepper, and garam masala powder together to make a quick rub. Coat salmon fillets with the rub and pan-fry until crispy. The sweet and savory tastes of the garam masala go well with the salmon.
Cilantro with Lime Juice
Fresh cilantro and lime juice brighten up rich salmon fillets for a delicious meal. Chopped cilantro leaves lend grassy herbal notes while the lime juice provides tartness to cut through the salmon’s fattiness.
Try making a quick marinade with olive oil, lime juice, minced garlic, cilantro, and diced jalapeño. Let the salmon soak for just 10-15 minutes to pick up the flavors before grilling or broiling until browned on top. The cilantro and lime give a fresh taste and vibrancy.
Cayenne Pepper
A very small amount of cayenne pepper powder can really spice up salmon fillets. The ground red pepper adds instant heat and a touch of smokiness. It gives a spicy kick that counters the oiliness of salmon perfectly.
Simply season salmon with salt, pepper, and just a pinch or two of cayenne pepper before pan-frying. You’ll get a nice bit of heat to complement the crisp, browned exterior of the pan-fried salmon. Cayenne pepper brings warmth and mild smoke that intensifies the overall flavor.
Ground Cumin
Earthy, nutty cumin is an ideal spice for heartier salmon dishes and preparations. It adds incredible depth of flavor and works well with creamy sauces and marinades for salmon.
Make a simple roasted cumin yogurt sauce by whisking Greek yogurt with olive oil, lemon juice, minced garlic, and 1-2 teaspoons of ground cumin. Spoon it over baked salmon fillets for an easy, elegant meal. The cumin’s earthiness balances the richness of the yogurt and salmon beautifully.
Rosemary with Garlic
Fresh rosemary and garlic make a powerhouse combination with salmon. Rosemary smells strongly of woodsy pine, and garlic gives salmon a sharp bite that cuts through its richness.
Rub a mixture of minced garlic, chopped rosemary leaves, olive oil, salt, and pepper over salmon portions before broiling or baking. The salmon picks up the bright herbal-garlic flavors beautifully for a quick yet impressive dish. Try preparing the salmon on a cedar plank for even more smoky rosemary-garlic goodness.
Curry Powder
The blend of spices in curry powder, like coriander, turmeric, and fenugreek, add incredible exotic flair to salmon. It provides a burst of warm, bright flavor that pairs delectably with the salmon’s fatty texture.
Whisk together Greek yogurt, olive oil, curry powder, lime juice, cilantro, and minced garlic for an easy curry yogurt marinade. Let salmon fillets soak for 10-20 minutes to allow the flavors to penetrate before baking. The yogurt and spices complement and balance the salmon perfectly.
Dill
Fresh dill has a distinctive grassy, anise-like flavor that tastes wonderful with salmon. It adds a nice aromatic quality that brightens up rich salmon fillets or patties. Chopped fresh dill works well in sauces and compound butters for salmon.
Mix some softened butter with chopped fresh dill, lemon zest, salt, and pepper to make a dill compound butter. Top your cooked salmon fillets with slices of the flavored butter so it melts over the fish. Dill and lemon zest give it a lovely fresh taste.
Mustard Seeds
Toasted mustard seeds add a delightfully nutty, peppery crunch coating for salmon. Their robust flavor stands up well to the salmon’s richness. Use yellow, brown, or black mustard seeds for their sharp heat.
Try making a mustard seed crust on salmon fillets by coating them with Dijon mustard, pressing toasted mustard seeds into the top, and pan-searing. The seeds get crispy while the salmon stays moist and flavorful. Mustard seeds give salmon fillets incredible texture.
Thyme
Thyme has an assertive earthy, herbal quality that pairs nicely with salmon’s flavor. Rubbing salmon fillets with fresh or dried thyme before cooking imparts a wonderful woodsy aroma and savory taste.
Season salmon portions all over with olive oil, salt, pepper, and lots of dried thyme leaves. The thyme provides a lovely herbal note to the crispy skin when roasted or baked. For even more flavor, try cooking the salmon on a bed of fresh thyme sprigs.
Oregano
Fresh or dried oregano can give your salmon a flavor upgrade with its aromatic, slightly minty quality. It has a pleasant peppery bite that offsets the fattiness of salmon perfectly.
Make a quick marinade with olive oil, lemon juice, minced shallot, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Let salmon soak for 15-30 minutes before grilling or broiling for the best flavor. Oregano’s minty pepperiness gives the salmon a fantastic herbal taste.
Take Your Salmon to New Flavor Heights
Salmon deserves more than just a boring dusting of salt and pepper. With its rich, fatty texture, salmon can handle and benefit from bold, assertive seasoning. The next time you cook up a salmon fillet, try amping up the flavor with one of these 12 spices.
From the smoky sweetness of paprika to the woodsy notes of rosemary and garlic, these spices for salmon will bring out the very best in this fish. Use them in rubs, marinades, sauces or compound butters to make your salmon dishes truly special.
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!
What to Serve with Seasoned Salmon
- Whisk. Easily mixes all the spices together.
- Glass Jars. These glass spice jars can be used again and again and are great for dry rubs and homemade seasonings.
- Measuring Spoons. These spoons have magnets that keep them together during storage.
The Best Salmon You’ll Ever Make (Restaurant-Quality) | Epicurious 101
FAQ
What should you season salmon with?
Which spice is good for salmon?
What does Gordon Ramsay season salmon with?
What spices go with salmon reddit?
What seasoning goes best with salmon?
An important component for the best salmon seasoning. It adds sweetness and creates scrumptious caramelization on the salmon. Dry Mustard Powder. 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.
Is smoked salmon good for you?
Salmon is a source of high-quality protein, magnesium, and selenium. In addition, it provides healthy fatty acids for the body. It contains large amounts of omega 3, which prevents cardiovascular diseases, has anti-inflammatory properties, and prevents certain types of Cancer.
What Herb goes well with salmon?
Dill is a classic herb that pairs perfectly with salmon. Its fresh and slightly tangy flavor complements the richness of the fish. Whether you use fresh dill or dried dill, it adds a burst of aromatic flavor to your salmon dishes. Thyme is a versatile herb that works well with many types of fish, including salmon.
What is a good complement to salmon?
Spiciness is a great complementary note for salmon. While you can get that heat from black pepper and chilies, you can also get it from horseradish. Horseradish gets its heat from a compound called allyl isothiocyanate, and it is somewhat different from the types of heat that piperine and capsaicin provide.
How much seasoning do you add to salmon?
For spicy seasoning, add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper or ground chipotle pepper. Use About 1 Tablespoon Seasoning per 8 Ounces of Salmon. Don’t worry if you use a little more or a little less. Just make sure the salmon has a nice coating of seasoning and your results will be delicious. The best salmon seasoning rub!
Can you use cardamom instead of Allspice in salmon?
For example, you can use cardamom or cloves in place of the allspice. For spicy seasoning, add 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper or ground chipotle pepper. Use About 1 Tablespoon Seasoning per 8 Ounces of Salmon. Don’t worry if you use a little more or a little less.