Blackened Salmon

By
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
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Updated on 07/26/21
Simple blackened salmon

The Spruce / Elaine Lemm

Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 15 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Yield: 4 fillets
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
348 Calories
21g Fat
7g Carbs
32g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 348
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 4g 21%
Cholesterol 89mg 30%
Sodium 404mg 18%
Total Carbohydrate 7g 2%
Dietary Fiber 1g 4%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 32g
Vitamin C 11mg 53%
Calcium 61mg 5%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 615mg 13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Supper on the table in under 20 minutes is not a dream, it is a possibility. This blackened salmon recipe is just perfect for a quick family meal and not just super-quick, but nutritious, too. The addition of this Cajun-style adds a delicious lightly spiced flavor to the fish.

The spice mix here is simple and straightforward to make using a food processor, but can also be adjusted to your liking. Try this lightly-spicy version and adjust or add to it for future recipes. Salmon works so well with almost all spices and particularly loves warming spice too such as cumin or even a little smoked paprika. Take care to not overpower the delicate flavor of the salmon though.

Ingredients

For the Salmon:

  • 1 lime, juiced

  • 4 (5-ounce) pieces skin-on salmon fillet

  • 1 tablespoon vegetable or rice bran oil

For the Spice Mix:

  • 1 tablespoon onion powder

  • 1/2 tablespoon dried thyme

  • 1/2 tablespoon dried basil

  • 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano

  • 1/2 teaspoon chile flakes

  • 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 1 tablespoon brown sugar

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Lay salmon fillets skin-side down into a shallow ceramic or glass baking dish. Squeeze equal amounts of lime juice over each filet and let sit 5 minutes.

  3. In a food processor, blend onion powder, thyme, basil, oregano, chile, pepper, salt, and sugar until homogeneous. Spread the spices evenly onto a large plate or baking sheet.

  4. Lift salmon fillets from lime juice, then flesh side down into spice mix, pressing very gently to encourage spices to stick to fish. Turn each fillet onto sides and press again.

  5. Heat a large grill pan over medium-high and add some oil to the pan. Once hot, add fillets skin-side down, and cook 4 minutes. Using a spatula, carefully flip and cook for a additional 5 minutes or until cooked through.

What Do You Serve With Blackened Salmon?

The blackened salmon works well with noodles, dirty rice, freshly cooked vegetables, or sweet potato fries.

Recipe Variation

  • Although salmon is a delicately flavored fish, it is also robust and with its slight oiliness is perfect for blackening. If you wish to switch out for another, choose a fish that can stand up equally. Avoid thin fillets such as sea bass or bream, choosing instead a thick piece of cod, haddock, or pollock.