Sweet and smoky, this Salmon Seasoning brings out the very best of this delicious fish.
Food without seasoning is like a day without sunshine. Pardon the cliché, but it works here: you’ll be fine on a day without sunshine, but not nearly as joyful as you will be on a day filled with beautiful, bright, natural light. It’s the same with food. Salmon by itself is fine—you can eat and enjoy it—but salmon cooked with this beautiful, bright, and deeply flavorful salmon seasoning will leave you reeling with joy.
That might sound overly dramatic, but it pretty much describes how I felt the first time I used this seasoning blend on salmon fillets. Prior, I’d always been a bit afraid to do too much to salmon beyond the classic salt, pepper, lemon, and maybe a sprig of dill because I didn’t want anything to get in the way of salmon’s delicious flavor. But then I tried this blend of rich brown sugar, granulated onion and garlic, oregano, paprika, salt, and pepper, and lo and behold, that combination of flavors not only added this sweet and smoky deliciousness to my favorite fish, but it also allowed the salmon’s distinctive taste to shine through. What could be more joyous?
Salmon seasoning not only tastes amazing, but it also brings a delicate, appealing layer of texture to the soft salmon. It brings a wow factor, too, in terms of presentation. The colors in this mix are a thing of beauty. And salmon seasoning could not be easier to make. You probably have all of the ingredients in your pantry already (but, if not, none of them are hard to find at the store), and all you have to do is mix them together and then put them in an airtight jar. It’s a good thing that salmon seasoning is so simple to put together because even though it does last for a very long time, if you’re like me and use it really often, you’ll be making it again and again.
Onion and garlic: granulated vs. powder vs. salt
In the spice aisle, you will find both of these favorite aromatics in granulated, powder, and salt forms, but what is the difference between them?
Let’s explore, starting with what we are using in today’s recipe for salmon seasoning: granulated onion and garlic. Made from dehydrated onions and garlic, the granulated version has a coarse texture, making it ideal for spice blends or dry rubs because it mixes more evenly with the other ingredients. The granulated versions also adhere really well to the salmon: you can actually see them in the finished product. Onion and garlic powders are ground into a finer texture. While you can use granulated and powder interchangeably in many recipes, know that the powders have a more potent flavor because they are more concentrated, so you might have to adjust amounts. Finally, we come to onion and garlic salt, which are just what they sound like: ground dehydrated onion or garlic mixed with salt.
How do I store leftovers?
In addition to being able to store salmon seasoning in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months, you can also store it this way in the freezer for up to 2 years.
Serving suggestions
You know how I love to put together menus of dishes that share the same or similar ingredients, and salmon seasoning offers me many possibilities. If I use the seasoning on Best Baked Salmon, and serve it with Garlic Mashed Potatoes and Roasted Peppers, I’ve got garlic and oregano in all three dishes. To create a sweet and savory meal, I love to use the brown sugar-based salmon seasoning on Dijon Baked Salmon and then pair it with Honey-Glazed Carrots and these sweet and spicy Corn Fritters.
Salmon seasoning, with its array of flavors, is also great on things other than salmon. It’s really delicious on Bone-In Pork Chops, Juicy Baked Chicken Breast, and enhances the flavors from ketchup and Worcestershire sauce in Salisbury Steak. You can also toss salmon seasoning with just-out-of-the-oven Sweet Potato Fries, sprinkle it over Roasted Kabocha Squash, or see the magic it creates with a mélange of vegetables when you add it to this Savory Vegetable Crisp.
Salmon Seasoning
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons granulated onion
- 5 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 5 tablespoons paprika
- 4 tablespoons dried oregano
- 4 teaspoons black pepper
- 2 tablespoons salt
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
Instructions
- Add all of the ingredients to a small bowl. Stir until the spices are evenly mixed.
- Use the seasoning immediately on salmon fillets or store it in an airtight jar in a cool, dry place for up to 6 months.
Leave a Comment