This Salmon Seasoning is sweet, smoky, and a little salty. Made with just 5 ingredients, it’s super easy to make and has wonderful herbaceous flavors that you’re going to love.
Table Of Contents
Recipe Details
I love this Salmon Seasoning because it doesn’t matter how I plan to cook my fish, this seasoning adds the most wonderful flavor. It’s super convenient, too, as it has a long shelf life, so I can whip up a few batches and store them with my spices until I’m ready to cook. This oven-baked salmon recipe goes perfectly with this seasoning!
- TASTE: Sweet, smoky, and salty, this Salmon Seasoning hits all the right notes. The woodsy flavor of the thyme and heat from the black pepper are so good.
- TEXTURE: The flakier sea salt gives it a little more grit, but this seasoning dissolves easily on your cooking salmon.
- TIME: It takes only a few minutes to combine these ingredients into a mouthwatering rub.
- EASE: Super easy and convenient, this seasoning uses just a few ingredients from your pantry and keeps for at least a year.
What You’ll Need
Ingredient Notes
- Brown sugar- This adds rich sweetness to the seasoning that enhances the other flavors.
- Smoked paprika- This spice has a woodsy, smoky flavor because the peppers are dried over a wood fire.
- Thyme- This earthy and herbaceous spice has hints of peppery flavor in it.
- Sea salt- This type of salt is flakier, making it dissolve more quickly for more of a salty flavor with less used.
- Black pepper- For a little heat.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Add more salt- Saltiness is a preference, so you can always add more salt if you feel there isn’t enough for your liking.
- Add onion or garlic- Granulated garlic and onion powder are also great ways to enhance the flavors of your salmon.
- Skip the brown sugar- If you’re trying to avoid sugar or carbs, then go ahead and leave the sugar out of the mix.
- Add cayenne pepper- Give your rub some real heat by adding some cayenne pepper.
How to Make Salmon Seasoning
- Add the spices to a bowl. In a small prep bowl, add the salt, pepper, thyme, smoked paprika, and brown sugar.
- Combine. Use a small whisk or fork to mix everything together well. Store or coat your salmon before cooking.
Pro Tip: This recipe makes about 3 Tbsp of salmon rub (enough for 1 whole salmon fillet that’s about 2 lbs.).
Recipe Tips
- Make sure your brown sugar is fresh- If you’re brown sugar is dry and hard, it will be hard to mix with the spices and may not be as good. Use soft brown sugar with the texture of wet sand.
- Salt to taste- This salmon seasoning is very lightly salted. You will need to season your salmon with salt before using this salmon rub. It depends on the size of your salmon fillet.
- Store it properly- Make sure that you use an airtight container to keep the spices fresh and the sugar from drying out. Also keep it in a cool, dry place to preserve flavor.
FAQs
In this recipe, we stick with paprika and thyme, as well as salt, pepper, and brown sugar. But salmon works great with lots of spices, including dill, onion powder, garlic powder, parsley, cumin, cayenne pepper, and oregano.
The best time to season salmon is right before you cook it, whether that is on the grill, in the oven, or in an air fryer. Allowing a salty seasoning to sit on it for a while before cooking can cause the salt to break down the proteins and dry the fish out.
Serving Suggestions
This homemade Salmon Seasoning is utterly delicious and a great addition to your meal. Use it with your favorite salmon recipe and serve it with grains, pasta, vegetables, or salads.
- Grains: Lay your salmon on a bed of Wild Rice, Quinoa Fried Rice, or Wild Brown Rice.
- Vegetables: Serve it alongside some Sauteed Garlic Asparagus, Crispy Air Fryer Broccoli, Roasted Brussels Sprouts, or Air Fryer Corn on the Cob.
- Pasta: Pair it with Tri Color Pasta Salad (VIDEO), Asparagus Pasta, Easy Pasta Primavera, or Easy Penne Alla Vodka.
- Salads: Enjoy it with a Spinach Salad, Cucumber Tomato Feta Salad, Avocado Corn Salad, or Chicken Salad With Grapes.
Make This Recipe in Advance
Make ahead: Prepare this mix beforehand and just put it in a jar, ziplock, or airtight container until you’re ready to use it.
Storing: Store this safood seasoning in an airtight container in a cool dry place. It will last for up to a year.
Freeze: If you’d like to keep this seasoning mix longer, place it in a ziplock freezer bag in the freezer for at least 2 years.
More Delicious Salmon Dishes!
Full Recipe Instructions
Instructions
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In a small prep bowl add all the ingredients as listed above (salt, pepper, thyme, smoked paprika, and brown sugar).
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Use a small whisk or fork to mix everything together well. Store in an airtight container in a cool dry place. Note: this recipe makes about 3 Tbsp of salmon rub (enough for 1 whole salmon fillet that’s about 2 lb). Note: This salmon seasoning is very lightly salted. You will need to season your salmon with salt before using this salmon rub. It depends on the size of your salmon fillet.
Nutrition
Calories: 22kcal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 0.2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.2g | Sodium: 2336mg | Potassium: 239mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 16g | Vitamin A: 3989IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg
Hi, I’m Dina, so glad you stopped by! I believe life is too short for bad coffee and boring meals. With my easy to follow step-by-step recipes, you’ll be surprised at how quickly a wholesome and delicious meal can come together. I hope you find something you enjoy!