This Cajun Salmon is seared with a special blend of spices! It comes out crispy, blackened and full of flavor: the perfect light dinner.
Want a salmon recipe to impress? The Cajun salmon is so delicate and full of savory flavors that everyone at the table falls head over heels. This beautiful piece of fish has a crispy, blackened surface seasoned with a special blend of homemade Cajun spices. It packs a little heat, just enough to immediately whet your appetite for another bite. Even better, searing salmon in a pan is the quickest and easiest way to prepare it! Just a few minutes in a hot pan and you have dinner.
The key: Homemade Cajun seasoning
The key to this Cajun salmon? Prepare it with our homemade Cajun seasoning! Although you can find it homemade, this blend is truly unique and brings out the best savory flavor. It also has just the right amount of spiciness, which can vary with store-bought strains.
Every Cajun cook has their own special blend, so there is no “true” definition of what spices should be included. Our research shows that there are some heavyweights in Cajun cooking: peppers, garlic, onions, cumin, and of course, cayenne pepper for spiciness! We added fennel seeds for an even more salty taste. What you need for the Cajun seasoning:
- paprika
- garlic powder
- onion powder
- thyme
- fennel seeds (optional)
- cumin
- cayenne
- salt and black pepper
Best salmon to buy
The other key ingredient in Cajun salmon is, of course, the fish! You will need a good piece of salmon for this recipe. Finding the right strain in-store can be difficult, so here’s what we’re looking for:
- Buy wild salmon. Wild fish caught in your country is generally a sustainable choice. There are also quality options at well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch consumer guide.
- Coho is a good choice. Coho salmon has great flavor and is a good mid-range option. Avoid Atlantic salmon as they are usually farmed.
- Be sure to buy skin. For this recipe you will need salmon with skin.
How to Make Cajun Salmon: The Basic Steps!
Once you have your ingredients, you’re 10 minutes away from a good piece of Cajun salmon. The technique you will use is pan frying: you will fry for a few minutes on each side. It’s also called “blackening” because the salmon has a blackened crust on top! It’s a technique used in Cajun cooking. (See Blackened Salmon for a variation of this recipe that uses less heat.) To prepare Cajun Blackened Salmon:
- Salt the salmon. Soak the salmon in a brine solution for 15 minutes. This also allows the salmon to come to room temperature, which is important for even cooking. If desired, use this time to mix in the Cajun seasoning.
- Add Cajun seasoning. Pat the salmon dry and season with the Cajun seasoning.
- Use an aluminum or cast iron pan! You will achieve the best searing results in a stainless steel or cast iron pan. Do not use non-adhesive ones!
- Fry skin-side down for about 3 minutes, then flip and broil 2 to 5. Fry the fillets over medium-high heat until about halfway through. Then flip and cook until tender and pink in the center (measure with a food thermometer at 130 degrees Fahrenheit). The exact cooking time depends on the thickness of the fish.
Sides to serve with Cajun salmon
Now that you’ve cooked that beautiful piece of Cajun salmon, what side dishes can you associate with salmon to make a healthy dinner? There are plenty of side dishes with a Cajun flavor that would work well here. Here are some of our favourites:
After making Cajun salmon, clean the pan
After you prepare this Cajun salmon, you might notice that the pan has a thin layer of blackened spices on the bottom. It’s all natural! And there is also a completely natural way to clean the pan.
- Deglaze the pan with water. Place the pan with water in it back on the stove and heat over medium-high heat. Use a spatula to gently scrape off the charred bits as they begin to come loose. They should all rise, like using deglazing liquid when cooking.
- Use a non-toxic kitchen cleaner. If you have parts that really stick together, we like to use a cleaner like Bon Ami.
Easier salmon recipes
do you like salmon It is one of the most popular fish in America these days. Here are some simpler ways of cooking that we often find on our table:
This Cajun Salmon Recipe is…
Pescetarian, dairy free and gluten free.
The description
This Cajun Salmon is seared with a special blend of spices! It comes out crispy, blackened and full of flavor: the perfect light dinner.
- 1 supplies wild-caught salmon fillets with skin
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons Homemade Cajun Seasoning
- 1 tbsp butter (or more olive oil for dairy-free)
- 2 tablespoons Olive oil, plus a drizzle
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt the salmon: In a large shallow bowl, whisk together 4 cups room temperature water and 3 tablespoons Kosher salt until dissolved. Put the salmon in the water and wait 15 minutes.
- If you haven’t already, mix in the Cajun seasoning.
- Pat the salmon dry with a clean towel. Rub generously with oil and sprinkle with kosher salt and blackened spices.
- Heat a large skillet (non-stick*) over medium-high heat and add the butter and olive oil. When the butter has melted, add the salmon, skin side up, and cook until cooked, about ½ way from the center of the thick part of the salmon, 2-3 minutes.
- Turn the salmon over (a fish spatula makes it easier). Tilt the pan down slightly and quickly pour the pan juices over the fish a few times. Drizzle with lemon juice and pour in the cooking juice several times. Bake for 2-5 minutes, depending on thickness, until tender and pink in the center (internal temp should be 125-130 degrees Fahrenheit in center after removing). Remove from the stove and serve.
Remarks
* For best searing, use a stainless steel or cast iron skillet.
- Category: main course
- Method: stove
- Kitchen: Cajun inspired
- Diet: Gluten free
