Blackened Salmon Recipe

This easy and pan seared blackened salmon recipe uses a homemade spice blend for crispy, flavorful fish. Make this 15 minute recipe for a delicious dinner!

Quick and easy recipes are perfect for busy weeknights or full weekends. Being busy shouldn’t prevent you from enjoying a healthy meal that’s full of flavor.

This blackened salmon really ticks all the boxes as it uses spices that are pantry staples and it takes only 15 minutes to make.

Salmon is such a simple protein to make and is rich in healthy fats, making it’s a great choice for any meal! Salmon is also rich in Omega-3 fatty acids and rich in protein. Even better, if you have cut fillets frozen in your freezer, it doesn’t take long to thaw it in cold water if you’ve forgotten to put it in the fridge the night before!

If you are looking for more salmon recipes, please try these ones too: How to Cook Salmon in the Oven, Easy Broiled Salmon Recipe, and Garlic Butter Baked Salmon.

What are blackening spices?

Blackening Seasoning is a specific seasoning blend, similar to Cajun or Creole seasoning. The spices used will vary by recipe, but the overall flavors are savory with a bit of heat.

However, the term blackening ALSO refers to the cooking process that is used to make the dish.

To blacken food is to cook it over high heat after applying the blackening spices. Essentially, the spices are burned, creating a black crust with smoky flavour on the outside of the food.

How to keep the seasoning on

Be sure you pat dry the salmon before you season it. Since you are brushing oil onto the fillet first, the water would prevent the oil from coating the salmon. Once you’ve pat it dry, the oil and seasoning will stick much better.

What is that white stuff that comes out of salmon?

Sometimes while salmon cooks, there’s some white liquid that comes out of the salmon fillets. It might look weird but not to worry, it’s perfectly fine to eat.

The white stuff is called “albumin” and it’s just protein that solidifies as salmon cooks. If it bothers you, you can scrape it off.

Should I remove the skin from the salmon before cooking?

There’s no need to remove the skin before you cook it! The skin gets so crispy and is so tasty! For the crispiest skin, cook the salmon skin side down first. It’s also easier to flip the fish with there’s a layer of skin on it.

How do you know when salmon is fully cooked?

This particular blackened salmon recipe is fairly mild in flavor. To boost the spice level, add some cayenne pepper to the spice blend.

For this recipe, you’ll need just salmon fillets, olive oil and your favorite spices.

How to make blackened salmon

Coat the fish in oil and spices, then sear over high heat to form a nice crust. Then, cook until the fish is cooked through and serve with your favorite sides.

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Make the spice blend: Combine all of the spices in a small bowl and mix together well. Be sure to measure them all out so the flavor balance is just right. This spice mixture will make your salmon very flavourful. 
2. Prep the fish: Next, pour oil over the fillets and coat one side with the blackening spices. Gently pat the fish with your fingers so the fish is evenly covered.
3. Cook the salmon: Heat oil in the pan until it’s shimmering and hot. Add the fish with the spice side down and sear until the spices are blackened. Then, reduce heat, flip, and cook until opaque and flakey. Top with parsley and fresh lemon wedges (optional) before serving. If you wish, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top of salmon.before serving. 
4. If you wish, squeeze some fresh lemon juice on top of salmon.

Recipe notes

• Proper tools – It’s important to use a good spatula to flip the salmon so it doesn’t break apart. Fish spatulas are designed specifically for this purpose, but a wide flat spatula will work just as well.
• Cooking pans – Because of the high temperature needed, a large cast iron skillet is the best pan to use. If you don’t have one, stainless steel is the next best choice. Non-stick pans can be used, but the fish won’t get as black as with the other pans.
• Storage – Transfer leftover salmon fillets to an airtight glass container and keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Or, portion them out into meal prep containers to have for lunches throughout the week.
• Reheating – For best results, heat in a pan on the stove so the blackened salmon stays crispy. You can also heat in the microwave along with some sides for a full meal at once.

Ways to use this salmon

If you have leftover salmon and want to change things up, here’s some ways to enjoy the salmon:

• salmon tacos: shred the salmon up and serve it in a taco with a delicious salad on the side. 
• salmon pasta: roughly chop up the salmon and add it to a pasta. Pour some  olive oil on top of your salmon pasta and it will be amazing.  
• salmon salad: break up the salmon and toss it in a leafy salad or greek salad. This Salmon Chopped Salad and Easy Salmon Salad Recipe is also really good.
• salmon fried rice: break up the salmon and toss it in some fried rice
• You can make salmon meal-prep for your lunch week since salmon stays go in the fridge for up 4 days.
• You can also make salmon patties. These are delicious and easy to make.
• You can swap the spicy salmon for this blackened one in this Spicy Salmon Sweet Potato Skillet.

Other Salmon recipes to try:

All of these recipes are just as easy to make as the blackened salmon recipe, and there are a variety of flavors to choose from!

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