Jamaican Jerk Salmon

Content… What Is Jerk Seasoning? Recipe Ingredients How to Make It Recipe Variations Tips and Tricks Make-Ahead Instructions Serving and Storage Instructions FAQs What to Serve More Mouthwatering Fish Recipes to Try Conclusion

What Is Jerk Seasoning?

Jerk seasoning is a blend of spices that ramp up chicken, fish, pork, and even tofu. The primary ingredients are hot pepper, thyme, and allspice, but other ingredients include ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, paprika, garlic, and onion, depending on your palate. It’s easy and fun to customize the spices to make your jerk seasoning as spicy, garlicky, or smokey as your taste buds desire!

Recipe Ingredients

1. Salmon Steaks – The superstar of our dish, this superfood is delicious and nutritious!
2. Jerk Seasoning – Spicy, sweet, smokey, and herby, homemade jerk seasoning packs a wallop of flavors.
3. Pineapple Juice – The main ingredient in our glaze, pineapple juice makes the salmon tender and provides a bright, fruity flavor pop. Canned or fresh juice work equally well.
4. Rum – Adds a complex, smokey-sweet flavor to the glaze.
5. Brown Sugar – Gives warm, caramel-y notes to the glaze. You can also use raw sugar. But brown sugar has more molasses for a slightly stronger taste.
6. Sriracha adds some tang and a kick of garlic.
7. Potatoes – Lightly flavored with jerk seasoning and baked until crispy, these potatoes complement the salmon.
8. Spinach – A fast and healthy side dish to complete the meal!

How to Make Jerk Salmon

The Salmon

• Make the Glaze – Add all the ingredients in a saucepan; pineapple juice, butter, brown sugar, and rum. Cook on medium heat, stirring occasionally until thick and syrupy, about 6 to 10 minutes. Whisk vigorously if the sauce separates. (Photos 1-2)
• Season the Salmon – Lightly brush salmon with the oil, then season with salt, pepper, and jerk seasoning. (Photo 3)
• Cook – Preheat a large, heavy skillet or grill pan over medium heat for about 2 minutes. Add salmon to pan; cook salmon for 3-4 minutes on each side or until the desired degree of doneness is reached. OK, so I cheated and used the air fryer 😉 (Photo 4)

Veggies

• Prepare – Scrub potatoes, clean and cut them into the desired shape – the thinner the cut, the less time to cook – make sure they are even for even cooking.
• Coat – In a large bowl, mix with potato starch until thoroughly combined. Remove and shake off the excess potato starch. Add the oil and toss to combine. (Photo 5)
• Bake – Spread the potatoes in a single layer over a baking sheet. You may have to use two, depending on the quantity. Bake the potatoes for 25-35 minutes, flipping them every 15 minutes with a spatula until they’re evenly browned and crispy, according to preference. After 25 minutes, you have to check on them every 5 minutes. (Photo 6)
• Cool – Allow to cool slightly and serve immediately.
• Spinach – Place a skillet over medium heat and add oil. Then add spinach to the pan, and turn the spinach around until it is wilted. It takes less than 2 minutes. If making a large amount, or using a small skillet, then you have to do so in batches. Remove, add salt and pepper, then serve warm. (Photos 7-8)

Recipe Variations

1. Fish Swap – Substitute the salmon with halibut, cod, tuna, or trout, depending on what’s available.
2. Grill It – Make cedar plank jerk salmon on the BBQ. Simply soak cedar planks in water for 2-12 hours, lay the planks on the grill, and cook the salmon on top of the planks, skin side down.
3. Spice Switch – Replace the jerk seasoning with blackened seasoning. It has equally complex flavors but is milder than jerk seasoning.

Tips and Tricks

1. Pat your salmon steaks dry with a paper towel before seasoning them so they’re evenly coated. That will make the oil and seasonings easier to stick to every nook and cranny of the steaks.
2. You’ll know the salmon is done if it easily flakes with a fork or when it reaches an internal temperature of 145F. The rub will also be nice and crusty but not burned.

Make-Ahead Instructions

This dish comes together easy-peasy if you have all the ingredients on hand. Making a big batch of jerk seasoning and storing it in a jar in the pantry is a great timesaver.

You can also season the salmon steaks ahead of time and freeze them. Put the seasoned steaks on a tray and freeze them for an hour or two to freeze the rub onto the fish. Then put the steaks in a freezer bag and freeze them for up to a month. Thaw the salmon on the counter for three to four hours before cooking.

Serving and Storage Instructions

Leftover salmon is a dream served either hot or cold! Refrigerate leftover jerk salmon for up to three days in an airtight container or freeze them for two months.

Reheat the leftover salmon in the oven for 10 to 12 minutes at 275℉/135℃. Or reheat it in the microwave for 30-second intervals until heated through.

Cold salmon is also a great addition to a salad as a quick and healthy lunch option.

FAQs

What to Serve With Jerk Salmon

I treat my family to this jerk salmon with baked jerk potatoes and wilted spinach. Refreshing and vibrant mango salsa is another great partner for the salmon. Or serve it with a shaved Brussels sprouts salad for a cool meal on a hot day!

More Mouthwatering Fish Recipes to Try

1. Whole Baked Sea Bass
2. Fried Catfish Nuggets
3. Blackened Catfish with Shrimp Sauce
4. Jamaican Escovitch Fish
5. Salmon Salad

Conclusion

If you’re looking for a simple and flavorful dinner option, look no further than this super tasty jerk salmon. Hungry for more fast and healthy dinner ideas? Follow me on Instagram to get new ideas every week!

This blog post was originally published in June 2015 and has been updated with additional information.