Recipe

The Best Herbs and Spices For Your Salmon

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Salmon is the culinary chameleon of the seafood world. It goes with everything, from light summer salads to comforting pasta dishes. Need a fast salmon fillet sizzling and without complicated recipes? The secret lies in perfect seasoning.

With the right mixture of salt, aromatic herbs, and spices, you can transform a simple fillet into a gourmet experience. Read on for our specially assembled list of the best seasonings for salmon.

Note: These blends are perfectly portioned for 4 fillets.

1. Lemon Herb Salmon Rub

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Chefs adore the lemon herb rub for elevating salmon dishes. This savory blend mixes lemon zest with herbs like dill, parsley, and thyme, perfectly complementing the fish's natural flavors. 

It excels well when cooked through grilling or baking and creating a delicious crust while tenderizing the fish. To use, pat the salmon dry and coat generously before cooking. The rub's bright, fresh taste makes it ideal for summer grilling, though it's equally delightful year-round.

It transforms simple salmon into a restaurant-worthy meal, impressing diners with its professional flavor and appealing look.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp dried dill
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

2. Cajun Salmon Seasoning

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Cajun Salmon Seasoning kicks with a bold, spicy punch that turns regular salmon into a Southern-inspired joy. It will generally contain paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, and other aromatic spices.

This seasoning is perfect for blackening the salmon in a hot cast-iron skillet to yield a flavorful crust with a delicate interior. But what really makes Cajun seasoning stand apart is that it brings such depth of flavor and spice without overpowering the taste of the salmon.

Pan-searing, grilling, or even air frying - the dish works. And versatility extends to a wide range of options, from creamy grits to crispy coleslaw.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp onion powder
  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp black pepper

3. Mediterranean Salmon Blend

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This classic Mediterranean spice blend features oregano, basil, garlic powder, and thyme. This aromatic fusion smacks well with the beneficial natural oils of salmon, and the taste is elevated without overpowering the fish. 

This blend goes well for grilling or baking the salmon since both of these methods allow herbs to infuse into the flesh. Adding this to salmon will remind you of the culinary traditions of the Mediterranean coast.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

4. Maple Garlic Salmon Mix

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Love salmon? Try the Maple Garlic Salmon Mix! Simply fuse brown sugar, garlic powder, and smoked paprika for this sweet and savory flavor. It is truly life-changing in most salmon dishes.

When ready, mix in some maple syrup. It creates a great glaze, caramelizing while baking or broiling your salmon. The maple syrup brings out a beautifully browned, flavorful crust that would make your mouth water.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Combine all ingredients. Add 1 tbsp maple syrup when applying to salmon.

5. Blackened Salmon Spice

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Try the Blackened Salmon Spice blend! Mix some thyme and oregano with cayenne and paprika to achieve a really flavor-charged explosion in your mouth. Of course, this mix comes into its own when you use it for blackening.

Here's how to get the most from it: First, heat your pan until it is almost smoking; then oil and glaze your salmon with the spice mix. Sear it quickly and watch the magic happen. The spices form a bold, spicy crust on the outside, while the inside stays tender and juicy.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp paprika
  • 1 tsp cayenne pepper
  • 1 tsp dried thyme
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper

6. Honey Mustard Salmon Seasoning

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Try this honey mustard seasoning! Mix the combo of mustard powder, garlic powder, and dill for that nice, zestful flavor profile that just wakes up the senses. This combination is magic on salmon when baking or grilling.

Pro Tip: After seasoning the salmon, drizzle a little honey over it before cooking. The honey melts into the spice to form some sweet and sour sort of glaze impossible to resist. 

As your salmon cooks, the honey caramelizes slightly and you get that beautiful golden-brown finish.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp dried mustard powder
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried dill
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Combine dry ingredients. Mix with 2 tbsp honey when applying.

7. Asian-inspired Ginger Soy Blend

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This is a vibrant mix of zesty dried ginger, pungent garlic powder, and fresh cilantro. What it does to fish is so typically Asian in its aroma and flavor. Bake, grill, or stir-fry - the seasoning does wonders with salmon. 

Here in this seasoning, soy sauce will add that extra punch. The magic begins when the blend oozes into the fish, changing an ordinary fillet into an exotic culinary journey.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp dried ginger
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried cilantro
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • Mix dry ingredients. Combine with 2 tbsp soy sauce before use.

8. Smoky Paprika Salmon Rub

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It's a mix of smoked paprika, brown sugar, and garlic powder, hence the deep, smoky-sweet profile. This goes fantastic with grilled or broiled salmon because the heat caramelizes the sugar while amplifying the smokiness in the paprika.

The special quality here is how it encapsulates the flavor of wood-smoked salmon without needing a smoker.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

9. Dill and Lemon Zest Mix

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Dill and lemon zest mix bring freshness to salmon dishes. This classic blend binds aromatic dried dill with a zesty lemon zest and a hint of garlic powder.

This improves the flavor of salmon without overpowering them, hence it is ideal for those people who want mild seasoning.

This blend really shines when baking, poaching, or grilling fish. Its bright, crisp notes really bring out the salmon quite nicely and give it a nice harmonic balance, through which the quality of the fish comes out.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp dried dill
  • 2 tbsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper

10. Teriyaki Salmon Seasoning

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Teriyaki Salmon Seasoning - the flavor powerhouse that brings Japan to your kitchen. This blend is a dream team of brown sugar, garlic powder, and dried ginger. It's like a flavor bomb waiting to explode on your salmon.

Here's the trick: mix it with soy sauce before you spread it on. This mixture is a match made in culinary heaven for baked or grilled salmon. This blend turns boring weeknight dinners into an umami-packed Asian fusion experience.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tbsp dried ginger
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp black pepper
  • Combine dry ingredients. Mix with 2 tbsp soy sauce before use.

11. Garlic Parmesan Salmon Blend

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The garlic Parmesan salmon blend brings Italian flair to your fish. Grated Parmesan cheese mingles with savory garlic powder and aromatic dried herbs, forming a robust seasoning.

This mix truly gleams when you bake or broil salmon, forming a mouthwatering crust that locks in moisture. The Parmesan's umami punch elevates the salmon's natural richness, resulting in a flavor explosion. 

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 tbsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp dried oregano
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

12. Chili Lime Salmon Rub

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It melds spicy chili powder with zesty lime zest, adding a kick of cayenne pepper. The bold mixture brings forth a spicy-citrus crust that crackles as you grill or pan-sear your salmon.

The bright flavors in this seasoning cut through the richness of fattiness in the fish, creating a mouthwatering contrast. When the rub hits the heat, an irresistible aroma bursts forth, which will make your kitchen smell just like those gourmet restaurants.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp chili powder
  • 1 tbsp lime zest
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper

13. Greek-style Salmon Seasoning

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The Greek-style salmon seasoning blends aromatic oregano and basil with savory garlic powder and dried mint. This Mediterranean-inspired mix works wonders when you grill or bake salmon.

The dried mint sets this seasoning apart, adding an unexpected freshness that complements the fish's natural flavors.

When cooked, herbs release their aromatic oils and fill the salmon with their delightful smell. The following versatile blend turns an ordinary fillet into a Greek-inspired dish, giving your kitchen a touch of Mediterranean flair.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp dried oregano
  • 1 tbsp dried basil
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp onion powder
  • 1 tsp dried mint
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

14. Brown Sugar and Bourbon Salmon Mix

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This brown sugar bourbon salmon mix is a real decadence of flavors. Sweet brown sugar is well balanced with the smoky paprika and savory garlic powder.

Right before cooking, you add bourbon to the mix. It adds complex oaky notes that infuse into this seasoning. The blend really comes alive when baking or broiling salmon.

This blend of aromas takes your salmon from simple to gourmet, tangy, warm, and savory all at once. It is ideal for anyone who wants to take their salmon to the next level of boldness and sophistication.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp brown sugar
  • 1 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • Combine dry ingredients. Mix with 1 tbsp bourbon before applying.

15. Herb de Provence Salmon Blend

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The Herb de Provence Salmon Blend brings French flair to your fish. This mix upgrades the traditional Herbs de Provence by adding garlic powder and lemon zest. It's a winner for both oven-baked and grilled salmon.

What makes this blend unique? Lavender. This startle ingredient gives the condiment a subtle floral kick, setting it apart from run-of-the-mill herb mixes. When you cook salmon with this mixture, you'll get a relish of the French countryside – aromatic, refined, but not overpowering.

Ingredients

  • 2 tbsp Herbs de Provence1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp lemon zest
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

16. Citrus Herb Seasoning

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This mix throws lemon zest, rosemary, and thyme into the ring with an unexpected one-two of sugar and red pepper flakes. It's not picky - grill, bake, or pan-sear, this seasoning plays nice with all methods.

Here's the kicker: it forms a zingy, herb-crusted exterior on your salmon. The sugar helps the lemon zest caramelize, creating a tasty contrast to the fish's natural oils. And those red pepper flakes? They're the secret weapon, adding a sneaky heat that'll wake up your taste buds.

Ingredients

  • ¾ cup coarse salt
  • 2 tbsp finely grated lemon zest
  • 4 tsp dried rosemary
  • 3 tsp dried thyme
  • 3 tsp dried oregano
  • ½ tsp granulated sugar
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes

17. Indian Spiced Salmon

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This is a blend that goes to the party with tamarind paste, lime juice, brown sugar, turmeric, and chili powder. It absolutely shines on either the grill or oven. 

Just as it heats up, the spices start to pop with these fantastic aromas; the tamarind, and the lime, form this tangy glaze that will water your mouth.

What's the big deal? It is salmon with an Indian bent. People don't usually like these flavors together, but it works like magic. Sweet, sour, and spicy - the mixture transforms the bland fish into something exotic.

Ingredients

  • 1 tbsp tamarind paste
  • 1 large lime, juiced
  • 1 tbsp soft light brown sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1 tsp hot chilli powder
  • 2 tsp ground turmeric
  • 2 garlic cloves, grated to a purée
  • 2cm piece ginger, peeled and grated to a purée