This 10-minute blackened salmon recipe is bold, smoky, crusty and over the top delicious. You only need 2 basic ingredients to make this flavorful Southern-style dish that the entire family is sure to love. Suitable for low carb, keto paleo, and gluten free diets. Post includes Weight Watchers points.
This really may be one of the easiest dinners you will ever make. You only need 10 minutes and 2 basic ingredients – aka salmon fillets and the blackening spice. Throw in a hot cast iron skillet and you are good to go. And as good as this Teriyaki Salmon or Juicy Air Fryer Salmon. BTW, a cast iron skillet is perfectly suited for campfire cooking. It’s versatile and virtually indestructible. You can use it for everything, from whipping up your morning eggs to an easy after-dinner campfire dessert (like these apple crisp foil packets). And since cast iron can handle high temperatures, you can place your cast iron skillet over an open flame, or even directly on top of hot embers or coals without damage. This dish is a staple in southern cuisine and restaurants. But luckily, you can easily make this dish yourself. Bonus points for the fact that it will be so much better because YOU know exactly what YOU put in it.
Why You’ll ♡ This
It is really quick and easy to make from freezer pantry staples.It is a budget-friendly treat the whole family will love.Great for meal prep and for a quick weekday lunch or supper.It is suitable for low carb, keto, and gluten-free diets.Cooked one pan there’s very minimal cleanup after!! #mykindacooking
What Is Blackening?
Blackening is an awesome cooking style associated with Cajun cuisine. It starts with an aromatic blend of blackening spice, which is used to coat protein of your choice. These are then cooked in a sizzling hot skillet until a flavorful caramelized blackened crust develops.
Tools You Need
A large enough skillet for sizzling.Your regular mixing bowl or plate.A slotted turner.This awesome instant-read digital thermometer.
How To Make Blackened Salmon
Dry the salmon fillets and place on a plate or in a mixing bowl.Pat the spice on both sides of the fish till evenly coated. Heat oil a large cast iron skillet over medium high heat.Add the fillets skin side down and cook for 3-4 minutes until salmon is halfway done. You will see the line where it is half cooked and a paler pink shows halfway up the salmon fillet (see pictures after the tips section). Flip the salmon fillets over and cook for another 3-4 minutes till cooked through and a nice brown (but not quite black) crust develops. Please note: thicker fillets may need an extra few minutes to cook and you may need to reduce the heat to prevent the salmon from burning before cooked through.
Recipe Tips
Add a little brown sugar to the recipe to sweeten it a bit and to help the caramelizing process.Thicker salmon fillets may need another 1-2 minutes to cook through. You will see the line where it is half cooked and a paler pink shows halfway up the salmon fillet (see pictures below).
Reduce heat a little bit if the fillets start to burn before they are cooked through.Insert an instant-read digital thermometer into the middle of the fillets. A reading of 120F to 130F for medium-rare or 135°F to 145°F for more cooked.
Blackening Tips
I find that thinner fillets work best as they cook faster and you don’t have to worry about the crust burning.The best results are got using a cast iron pan / skillet as that distributes heat the best along with holding higher temperatures.There will likely be some smoking during cooking so make sure you blacken your food in a well-ventilated space.
Make sure your skillet is hot and don’t overcrowd. If you do the food will start to steam and *wash off the seasoning as well as slowing down the blackening process.Don’t keep flipping the salmon back and forth, try and flip it only once so that the flavourful crust has time to form.
Meal Prep And Prep Ahead
Prep Ahead – That’s another great thing about this southern blackened salmon folks, it’s amaaaaazing for MEAL PREPPING!!! You can absolutely make this ahead of time and store for up to 3 days in the refrigerator.
Campfire Recipe
When it comes to cooking and camping, it’s all about one-pan meals that require minimal ingredients and minimal prep. And that’s exactly what makes Blackened Salmon an ideal campsite recipe. You can prep it ahead of time, pack it along with your cast iron skillet, spend 10 minutes cooking over the campfire, and you’ve got a delicious gourmet meal ready to serve!
Questions You Might Have
What
Is Blackened Salmon Seasoning
This is an easy-to-whip-up blend of spices, herbs and peppers used in Cajun cuisine. The common ingredients are ones you already own in your spice cupboard – aka garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, oregano and thyme, and cayenne pepper. Click over to the Blackened Seasoning post for a complete recipe and lots of tips and variations.
How Will I Know When My Salmon Is Cooked?
Simple. Insert an instant-read digital thermometer into the middle of the fillets. A reading of 120F to 130F for medium-rare or 135F to 145F for more cooked fillets. Alternatively, Salmon flesh will firm up when it’s cooked – so keep an eye on this and carefully touch the top to test for firmness. You can also use a fork and flake the middle part of the salmon. If it flakes easily, it is done. If not, then it needs a little more time.
Cooking For More
You can easily double or triple the recipe to feed a crowd. Just scale up and make sure you have a large enough skillet to cook the salmon in or cook them in batches.
Serving
Suggestions
Easy Squash Casserole.Mashed Potatoes.Instant Pot Mac and Cheese.
More
Southern Recipes You Might Like
Blackened Shrimp.Salmon Croquettes.Smothered Chicken.Smothered Pork Chops.Salmon Tacos. <= plus this one is awesome too
Weight
Watchers Points
If you replace the oil with no-calorie cooking spray, one serving of this blackened salmon will contain 0 Blue Plan SmartPoints. Thank you for reading my easy Southern Blackened Salmon recipe post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, food blog. Get
