Spice Up Your Salmon: The Top 12 Spices That Pair Perfectly with Salmon

As a seafood lover, salmon is one of my absolute favorite fish to cook and eat. Rich fatty and flavorful, salmon takes well to all different cooking methods like baking, grilling, pan-searing and more.

While salmon tastes delicious on its own, the right spices can take it to the next level The spices complement and enhance the natural flavors of the salmon beautifully

If you’re looking to add more flavor and flair to your salmon dishes, then you’ll want to try cooking it with these 12 spices that pair perfectly with salmon.

Why Salmon and Spices Work So Well Together

Salmon has a naturally rich, smooth, and oily texture that absorbs flavors very well. This makes it an ideal fish to pair with aromatic spices.

The fishy taste of salmon isn’t overpowering, so you can add spices to enhance the flavor rather than mask it. The spices complement the natural salmon taste instead of competing with it.

Salmon also stands up nicely to bolder seasonings compared to more delicate fish like tilapia or cod that would get overpowered.

No matter if you’re baking, grilling, smoking or pan-searing your salmon, a flavorful spice blend or herb crust is a quick and easy way to take it to the next level.

12 Spices That Pair Beautifully with Salmon

Here are 12 of my personal favorite spices to use with salmon:

1. Smoked Paprika

Smoked paprika is made from smoked dried red peppers, giving it a sweet yet smoky and slightly spicy flavor. It adds wonderful depth of flavor to salmon, with a barbecue-like taste that complements the fish perfectly.

Sprinkle smoked paprika on salmon before broiling or baking. You can also rub a smoked paprika blend on salmon before grilling. It provides great flavor without needing to actually smoke the fish.

2. Black Pepper

You can never go wrong seasoning salmon with freshly cracked black pepper. The sharp, spicy hit of the pepper brings out the richness of the salmon.

Grind over salmon fillets just before cooking for maximum flavor. Pepper also pairs well with other salmon seasonings like garlic, lemon and dill.

3. Garam Masala

This aromatic Indian spice blend contains warming spices like cumin, coriander, cinnamon and cardamom. The complex blend of flavors beautifully seasons salmon with a bit of heat.

Coat salmon fillets with garam masala before baking or pan-searing. You can also use it to flavor salmon for curries, salmon cakes or salmon burgers.

4. Fresh Cilantro and Lime Juice

Fresh herbs are a quick and easy way to season salmon. Chopped cilantro has a crisp, citrusy taste that brightens up salmon’s flavor. Splash of lime adds a nice tartness and helps cut the salmon’s oiliness.

Simply sprinkle chopped cilantro over salmon fillets along with some lime juice just before cooking. I love this fast weeknight dinner!

5. Cayenne Pepper

A pinch of cayenne pepper brings mild heat along with a touch of smokiness. It adds depth of flavor and a spicy kick to salmon.

Use just a small amount and add more if you want extra heat. Cayenne pairs well with other spices like paprika, cumin and garlic powder on salmon.

6. Ground Cumin

Cumin is an earthy spice that gives a nutty, slightly smoky taste. It’s commonly used in Mexican, Indian and Middle Eastern cooking. The rich flavor of cumin beautifully seasons salmon.

Cumin can be used in a dry rub, salmon marinade, or even baked right into a salmon cake or salmon burger recipe. A salmon taco seasoned with cumin is amazing!

7. Rosemary and Garlic

Fresh rosemary has piney, woodsy flavors that season salmon nicely. Paired with garlic, it makes a simple yet delicious herb crust for salmon fillets.

Chop rosemary and garlic together and mix with a bit of olive oil. Spread the herb mixture over salmon and bake until flaky – it adds tons of flavor with little effort!

8. Curry Powder

Curry powder contains a blend of spices like turmeric, coriander, cumin, mustard and chili pepper. It adds an aromatic, slightly spicy flavor to salmon when used to coat fish before baking or pan-searing.

Make salmon extra flavorful by marinating it in a yogurt curry marinade before cooking. Curry powder also pairs well with coconut milk in creamy salmon curries.

9. Chili Powder

For salmon with some heat, use chili powder. The blend of ground chilies provides a spicy kick along with a touch of smokiness.

Mix chili powder with olive oil and rub it on salmon before grilling or broiling. You can also sprinkle it on before baking – start with just a teaspoon so the heat doesn’t overpower the salmon.

10. Old Bay Seasoning

Want your salmon to taste like traditional crab cakes? Then Old Bay is the perfect pick! The popular seafood seasoning contains spices like celery salt, paprika, red pepper and bay leaf.

It adds delicious flavor that pairs wonderfully with salmon’s richness. Use it when making salmon patties, salmon cakes, salmon croquettes or smoking salmon.

11. Italian Seasoning

Italian seasoning spice blends typically contain some combo of basil, oregano, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, and parsley. The blend of Italian herbs tastes fantastic on salmon!

Make an Italian breadcrumb topping by combining Italian seasoning with breadcrumbs, parmesan and olive oil. Or simply sprinkle Italian seasoning on before roasting or pan-searing.

12. Everything Bagel Seasoning

This fun, oniony, garlicky blend was designed to taste like an everything bagel – and it’s amazing on salmon too! The blend of sesame seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, poppy seeds and salt flavors salmon perfectly.

Coat salmon fillets with everything bagel seasoning before baking or pan-searing. You can also top cooked salmon with a sprinkle of this tasty seasoning blend.

Tips for Cooking Salmon with Spices

Here are some tips to keep in mind when cooking spice-rubbed salmon:

• Pat salmon fillets dry before seasoning to help them absorb the spices better.

• Rub spices evenly over the flesh side of salmon – don’t put them on the skin side.

• Allow 5-10 minutes for seasoned salmon to marinate before cooking for maximum flavor absorption.

• Oil or butter the pan before searing to prevent seasoning from burning.

• For thicker salmon cuts, pan-sear then finish cooking in the oven at 400°F.

• Watch closely to avoid overcooking – salmon is done when it flakes and reaches an internal temp of 145°F.

• Pair strong spices with heartier salmon like king salmon – use a lighter hand with more delicate varieties.

Simple Salmon Recipes with complementary Spices

Ready to cook up some deliciously seasoned salmon? Here are a few easy recipes to try:

Lemon Garlic Salmon with Rosemary

• Salmon fillets
• Lemon juice
• Minced garlic
• Fresh rosemary
• Salt and pepper

Cumin Lime Salmon

• Salmon fillets
• Ground cumin
• Lime juice
• Olive oil
• Chili powder
• Salt and pepper

Everything Bagel Salmon

• Salmon fillets
• Everything bagel seasoning
• Sliced onions
• Sesame seeds
• Fresh dill

Jerk Salmon

• Salmon fillets
• Caribbean jerk seasoning
• Lime juice
• Cilantro
• Salt and pepper

With the right spices, you can take your salmon up a notch and enjoy flavorful, gourmet-tasting fish any night of the week.

So next time you cook up this amazing fish, reference this guide and experiment with new spice blends to find your favorites!