Description
Blackened salmon delivers a spicy, crispy coating that makes dinner seriously delicious right at home. Searing the fish with a bold Cajun-style seasoning blend creates restaurant-quality flavor in just minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 2 salmon fillets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
Seasoning Blend:
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
Finishing Touches:
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 lemon wedges
Instructions
- Combine 1 tbsp paprika, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1 tsp onion powder, ½ tsp cayenne pepper, ½ tsp dried thyme, ½ tsp dried oregano, ½ tsp salt, and ½ tsp black pepper in a small mixing bowl.
- Use paper towels to thoroughly dry your 2 salmon fillets, removing any excess moisture.
- Brush each salmon fillet with ½ tbsp olive oil, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Generously press the spice mixture into both sides of the salmon, creating an even, thick coating.
- Place a skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tbsp unsalted butter, allowing it to melt completely.
- Carefully position the salmon fillets skin-side down in the hot skillet, cooking for exactly 3-4 minutes until edges turn dark and crispy.
- Flip the fillets and cook the opposite side for an additional 3-4 minutes, maintaining medium-high heat.
- Check that your salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145°F for perfect doneness.
- Transfer the blackened salmon to serving plates and garnish with fresh lemon wedges for squeezing.
Notes
- Pat salmon fillets completely dry to help the seasoning stick and create a crisp exterior.
- Use a cast-iron skillet for the most authentic blackened texture and even heat distribution.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity based on your heat tolerance, reducing for milder flavor or increasing for more spice.
- For gluten-free and dairy-free diets, replace butter with olive oil and ensure all spices are certified gluten-free.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Pan-Seared
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2
- Calories: 375 kcal
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
- Fat: 27 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 3 g
- Fiber: 1.5 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg