Pan Seared Salmon With Spice Rub – quick and easy salmon with pantry staple dry rub ready in no time. A low-carb meal that uses minimal ingredients with maximum taste!
Salmon recipes are my fave ones whenever I want to shed off some pounds before a big day or right after the holidays. And since we’re two months away before the holidays, I’m re-sharing this quick and easy LOW CARB salmon dish for you to add in your recipe box. And oh, this is also great especially during busy nights.
How to pan sear salmon?
Cooking salmon is somehow tricky. I’d bet that you have eaten overcooked salmon in your lifetime. It’s one of those fish recipes that will make you shed some tears and sweat. Don’t worry, I’ve been there and thankfully I’ve passed that stage.
The goal in searing a salmon is to achieve an opaque pink in the middle, tender and flaky juicy meat. It’s like hugging every salmon flakes in your mouth and savoring all the beautiful medley of flavors.
To start, make sure that your salmon filets are in room temperature and pat them dry with a paper towel. Next is to heat your skillet first before adding the oil. It also helps to use a good quality non-stick pan to avoid unnecessary stress of salmon skin sticking to your pan.
And the most important of them all is to press down firmly the fish once you place it in the pan. This ensures that the ends of the fish won’t curl up which is a major reason for uneven cooking.
How long do you pan sear salmon?
I’ve tried this recipe using skinless and skin-on salmon filets. One thing that you need to know by heart though is when you sear a skin-on salmon, you need to sear it with the skin-side up first and cook it for about 3-4 minutes on each side or depending on your preferred doneness. You shouldn’t take your eyes off of the fish as this cooks quickly.
You can mix ahead the dry rub in this recipe so you can easily season your salmon or any fish you love any time you like to. All of the ingredients are sitting right there in your pantry. Trust me, this dry rub will make you fall in love head over heels with this dish.
This pan-seared salmon is an easy, quick, yet flavorful way of making salmon. It only takes about 20 minutes from start to finish and you are set. Pair it with this spinach brown rice or with salad. It’s totally an amazing dish using pantry staple ingredients!
Want to have more salmon recipes? Check it out HERE.
Enjoy!
Watch How To Make It
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This recipe was first published on January 2015 and has been updated with new photos and write up.
Pan Seared Salmon With Spice Rub Recipe
Ingredients
- 3-4 Salmon steaks room temperature (4-6 ounce)
- 1-2 Tablespoons cooking oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 ½ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon thyme
- ½ teaspoon bouillon powder optional
- ¼ cayenne pepper optional
Instructions
- Combine the onion, garlic, paprika, thyme, and bouillon powder.
- Brush salmon lightly with the oil, then season with salt and pepper. Followed by the spice rub.
- Preheat a large heavy skillet or grill pan over medium heat for about about 2 minutes , then add enough oil to coat the bottom of the pan, about 1-2 tablespoon.
- Add salmon to pan skin side up seared for about 3 minutes, then flip and sear the other side about 4-5 minutes, depending on the thickness of salmon or until desired degree of doneness is reached
- Remove and serve with salad or side
Tips & Notes:
- Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.
Nutrition Information:
How to Make Pan Seared Salmon
In a small bowl combine the dry ingredients ; the onion, garlic, paprika, thyme and bouillon powder.
Brush salmon lightly with the oil.
Then season ever inch of the fish with salt and pepper. Followed by the spice rub.
Preheat a large heavy skillet or grill pan over medium heat for about 2 minutes, add oil . Oil must be hot to ensure crispness
Place salmon skin up and cook for about about 3 minutes, then flip and cook for 4-5 minutes on the skin side or until desired degree of doneness is reached.
Certified Chef Yuland Hall says
I approve of this recipe. I’m all for Flava. The combination of herbs and spices awakens the tongue and pallet and gives the mouth a song.
Thank You
Imma says
Oh great to hear that. Thank you so much!
Dan smith says
Can I add some butter to this
imma africanbites says
Hi, Dan. Yes, you may add butter to this.
Belinda says
Do I the salmon have to have the skin on
Immaculate Bites says
Hi Belinda! You may use either skinless or skin-on. Just make sure to keep an eye on the post I’ve mentioned about the difference of pan searing skinless and with skin 🙂 Enjoy!
Pamela Brunelle says
A great recipe !!!!!! this was my first time ever making salmon. i dont eat fish but my husband does and absolutely loved it.. this is becoming a regular in my home..
Immaculate Bites says
Aw that it sweet! Glad your husband loved this, Pamela. Thank you for giving this a try 🙂
Charlotte says
Delicious! I followed the recipe exactly except I cooked it in my air fryer for 9 minutes. It was perfect, will definitely make this again. Thanks for sharing!
Immaculate Bites says
So yummy! Thank you for sharing, Charlotte!
Paul Morton says
Am going to use it tonight with 2 Atlantic salmon, however they are flat not chunky do you still cook same way
ImmaculateBites says
Yes you do. However, the cooking time will differ, according to the thickness of the salmon- a few minutes less.
Ashleigh says
WOW!!!!! This was amazing!!!! Definitely will be making this again!!! Soooo delicious!!!
Amanda Williams says
Hello I never ate salmon before but I really wanted to try this recipe for my husband but I only have beef bouillon and I don’t have any thyme to season it with do you think this will still taste good with the beef bouillon and without the thyme?
ImmaculateBites says
Hi Amanda, yes it is fine. But you can also substitute it with Oregano. 🙂
AJ Williams says
This is probably the best salmon recipe I’ve tried! Amazing flavor. And so easy! This will be added to my meal prep weekly. Thank you!
ImmaculateBites says
So happy to hear this . Thanks so much.