Growing up, I was very lucky to have been exposed to a wide variety of cuisines. I can thank my mom for introducing me to a world of flavors, all before I could reach the kitchen counter top without the help of a stool. Surprisingly enough, however, there are some foods I just didn't really get introduced to until later in life. This was mainly due to either my mom or dad's taste preferences. The list, while very short, included salmon, mushrooms and tomatoes.
My mom doesn't care for mushrooms or raw tomatoes (stewed or cooked tomatoes pass her test!) so very rarely did we see those making an appearance on the dinner table. My dad's list is also very short, but for as long as I can remember consists of: mint, melon, and SALMON.
Salmon has long been a neglected protein in my rotation of meals. This changed, however, when I began dating my boyfriend who happens to love salmon. He grew up eating it regularly - quite the opposite of my young culinary career. Recently he requested we have salmon for dinner, and when asked how he wanted it prepared he replied with "do you have Cajun rub?".
My spice cabinet is overflowing with jars of spices. I guarantee I'll have almost ANYTHING you are looking for. His cabinet consists of 2 jars of pre-made spice blends: Cowboy Rub and Cajun Seasoning. To his disappointment, I informed him that I did not have the pre-made Cajun spice blend. As a consolation, I offered to make an even BETTER blend. This salmon is healthy, easy to prepare and takes almost no time to bake!
Lucky for me, this recipe passed the test of The Salmon Man.
Cajun Baked Salmon
Prep Time: 5 Minutes
Bake Time: 20-25 minutes
Servings: 2-4
Ingredients:
- 1 lb skin-on-salmon fillet
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 lemon
- Cajun spice blend
Cajun Spice Blend
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp oregano
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp pepper
Kitchen Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Parchment paper or aluminum foil
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Line baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil. Mix spices together for the Cajun spice blend and set aside.
- Place the salmon, skin side down, on the prepared baking sheet. Drizzle olive oil over salmon and squeeze lemon juice over top. Spread garlic over the fillet. Cover the salmon fillet evenly with the spice blend and massage into the salmon a bit, ensuring to cover the entire piece of fish.
- Bake for 20-25 minutes. Depending on the thickness of your fillet, it could take more or less time. Keep an eye on the salmon and check after 15 minutes. When the thickest part of the salmon is easily flaked with a fork, the salmon is done cooking. Remove from oven and serve immediately.
Nutritional Information (one-4 oz serving, recipe makes four-4 oz servings)
150 calories - 23 g Protein, 0 g Carbohydrates, 6 g Fat