A staple for households across the UK, salmon cooked right is a meal to look forward to. However, you may not know it, but you not only may be cooking your salmon wrong, but under-seasoning it – leaving it rubbery, tasteless, overly oily and an all-round menu skip.
Take it from a child who was fed a dodgy rendition of salmon teriyaki every Wednesday night for six years straight. I love my mother, but after over half a decade of stodgy, soaked and salty salmon – enough was enough, and we endeavoured to solve the problem together. Let me talk you through what we learned.
Pan fry or air fry, don’t bake
Starting with a controversial suggestion, we’re not going to rain hellfire on you if you simply prefer the taste and texture of baked salmon. However, pan or air frying your salmon keeps the fish tender without drying it out and ensures that it’s got that tasty, crispy crust.
Always start with salt and pepper
When working with pre-packaged rubs and spices, it can be easy to forget to season with a simple sprinkle of salt and pepper. An essential first step to producing flavourful food, you’ll never again have dinner guests reaching for additional seasoning before they’ve had their first bite.
You don’t need to saturate the salmon in oil
Since salmon is a naturally very oily fish, pouring a hefty dollop of oil in your pan or baking tray won’t do much to prevent the skin from sticking to the bottom, but it will certainly make your dish unbearably soggy.
Change up your seasoning depending on what you’re serving with
Put your chef’s instincts to work and adapt your seasoning style depending on what you’re serving your salmon with. For instance, a classic lemon and black pepper rub would work brilliantly with a simple green salad. Alternatively, you could experiment with more fiery seasoning if you’re planning on serving your salmon on a bed of plain rice.
Acid
Salmon always tastes better with a bit of citrus. If you’re not incorporating lemon zest into your seasoning, we highly recommend squeezing some on top when serving. If you’re cooking salmon with an Asian fusion recipe in mind, try adding a splash of rice vinegar instead.
To help you along your salmon-cooking journey, we’ve rounded up a selection of the best pre-mixed seasoning options on the market. Keep scrolling to enjoy scrumptious salmon forevermore.
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Just Spices Salmon Seasoning
Whether you’re sprinkling over salmon before searing or mixing with oil to create a juicy marinade, this seasoning has been specially developed with salmon in mind. Featuring fleur de sel sea salt, red onion, red bell pepper, brown mustard seed, fennel seed, leek, ginger, green peppercorns, chilli, lemon and myrtle – this unique blend has a medium-level kick and offers so much more than a classic lemon and pepper mix.
Buy now £4.99, Just Spices
Spice n Tice Fish Seasoning and Rub
A delightfully herby option, this rub is one for the salmon traditionalists. Complete with coriander, parsley, dill, fennel, ginger and more, this mix was blended in the UK and works brilliantly with your favourite fish-based dish – salmon included.
Buy now £14.94, Spice n Tice
Gourmet Spice Company Fiery Togarashi Japanese Seven Spice Seasoning 35 g
A fiery option for fusion experimentalists, the Togarashi Japanese Seven Spice Seasoning certainly has a kick to it. A gluten-free option filled with chilli, orange zest, ginger, Sichuan pepper and seaweed – mix this blend with honey, soy, sake, ginger and garlic to create the ultimate glaze. Serve over a bed of rice, sprinkle with sesame seeds and top with a dollop of teriyaki sauce and you’ve got your new weekly staple.
Buy now £2.99, Amazon
Slap Ya Mama Original Blend Cajun Seasoning
A classic mix crafted specifically for Cajun dishes, Slap Ya Mama contains red pepper, black pepper, salt and garlic. Don’t be fooled by the simplicity of the ingredients, for it most definitely carries a fiery taste.
Buy now £5.95, Amazon
Old Bay Seasoning
If it ain’t broke… Old Bay Seasoning may have been around since 1939, but it’s a simple and reliable way to spice up your weekly salmon dish with ease. Filled with paprika, mustard flour, celery seed, black pepper, cayenne pepper, nutmeg, allspice and more – don’t be fooled by its simplistic exterior, for it contains practically half of your entire spice drawer.
Buy now £2.65, Amazon
Blonde Mermaid BBQ Fish Rub
We’re not sure where exactly the culinary inspiration behind Blonde Mermaid comes from, but we’re big fans nonetheless. A mix of salt, lemon peel, sweet red pepper, brown sugar, ginger, turmeric, fennel and thyme, this slightly aniseedy mixture is tempered with a brilliant level of sweetness and tang for a uniquely delicious salmon dish.
Buy now £7.99, Amazon
Schwartz x Nadiya Mango, Lime & Coriander All Purpose Seasoning Drum, 115g
Featuring a blend of mango powder, dried onion, garlic, cumin, turmeric, coriander and more, this sweet and tangy spice mix is the brainchild of one of the nation’s favourite chefs, Great British Bake Off-winner Nadiya Hussain.
Buy now £2.99, Amazon
