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A perfectly cooked piece of blackened salmon with a dark, spiced crust.

Proven way to grow a perfect Blackened Salmon meal

This recipe guides you through creating a perfectly seasoned and seared blackened salmon with a crispy crust and tender, flaky interior. It's a quick and flavorful meal perfect for any night of the week.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings: 2 fillets
Calories: 400
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Blackened Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper or more, to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Other Ingredients
  • 2 each salmon fillets about 6 oz each, skin on or off
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil high smoke point oil recommended
Garnish (Optional)
  • lemon wedges for serving
  • fresh parsley or cilantro chopped

Equipment

  • small bowl
  • paper towels
  • pastry brush
  • cast-iron skillet
  • tongs or spatula

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Combine all blackened seasoning ingredients in a small bowl and mix well.
  2. Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels; brush both sides with melted butter.
Seasoning & Cooking
  1. Generously coat all sides of the salmon fillets with the blackened seasoning.
  2. Heat a cast-iron skillet over high heat with olive oil until very hot and smoking.
  3. Carefully place salmon, presentation side down, in the hot skillet and cook for 3-5 minutes until a dark crust forms.
  4. Flip the salmon and cook for another 3-5 minutes on the other side, or until cooked through to your desired doneness.
Serving
  1. Remove salmon from the skillet and serve immediately with lemon wedges and fresh herbs, if desired.

Notes

For extra flavor, let the seasoned salmon sit for 10-15 minutes before cooking. Adjust cayenne pepper to your spice preference. Ensure good ventilation as blackening can produce smoke.