5 Ingredient Scandinavian Salmon Rub Recipe (2024)

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Although my mom and dad are both half-Danish,growing up in my family wasnot a immersive Scandinavian experience. However, I do remember my family’sannual Danish Christmas rituals. This included weaving those red and white paper hearts, rollingkransekage cookies, and preparing lefse (a potato flatbread filled with a decadent butter/sugar/cinnamon mixture).

I also remember hearing stories about my Danish great-grandmother on my mom’s side, who lived to be 107. My mom would always describe her grandma with admiration for this tenacious, independent woman whoworked tirelessly on own her farm in Denmark while raising her family. Even though my Great Grandma Elsiepassed when I was very young, I grew up with reverence for her, and a sense that she isa powerful heroine in my lineage.

Recently, I felt inspired to connect more deeply with my Scandinavian roots on a whim, I perused into the Scandinavian store that is near my home. Along with some frozen ligonberries, a pint of pickled herring, some table linens, I picked up a stunning cookbook called Kitchen of Light: The New Scandinavian Cooking by Andreas Viestad. The first recipe I tried was a Spice Crusted Salmon,from which this salmon recipe is heavily inspired.

With delight, I realized that most savory Danish dishes fit into my grain-free diet with little or no modification, especially now that I have been able to re-introduce specific types of dairy into my diet. (Only the Danish pastries will require some significant tweaking.)

Danish foodrelies heavily on seafood, especially cold-water oily fish. Other stapes include root vegetables (lots of beets!), cabbage, cultured dairy, and meats.

I look forward to my continuedadventures in grain-free Danish cooking and sharing more recipes with you along the way!

A note on sourcing spices: I encourage you to always get organic herbs/spices, since conventional options are often irradiated to prolong shelf life. I believe the irradiation can compromise the integrity of the botanicals.

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5-Ingredient Salmon Rub Recipe

Author:Lauren

Serves:Makes enough rub for 2 pounds of salmon

This dynamic spice blend beautifully compliments the rich silkiness of a wild salmon fillet. Don't be intimidated if the spice combination sounds unusual to you - I promise, the flavors meld in an extraordinary way to create a savory, deep profile. The cumin is not overpowering, either. This recipe is inspired by the Spice Coated Salmon recipe in Kitchen of Light by Andreas Viesad. I've added salt to the recipe and added the step of grinding the spices after the toasting step.

Ingredients

  • 2 tsp. cumin seeds
  • 2 tsp. coriander seeds
  • 2 tsp. dill seeds (available here)
  • 2 tsp. fennel seeds
  • 1 tsp. coarse sea salt or ½ tsp. finely ground salt

Special equipment

  • A mortar and pestle or coffee grinder/spice grinder

Instructions

  1. Place the spices in a sauté pan and toast them over medium heat until fragrant, stirring frequently, about 2-3 minutes. Toasting activates and heightens the flavor of the spices.
  2. Place the toasted spices, along with the salt, in a mortar and pestle and work until coarsely ground. Alternatively, use a spice grinder or (clean) coffee grinder, which will create a spice rub with a fine texture.
  3. Generously pat onto both sides of a salmon fillet and sauté, bake or broil as desired.
  4. The rub is best the week it is prepared, however it keeps well in the pantry. Store the ground spice mixture in an airtight container.

Notes

Feel free to double the recipe. Store leftover ground spice rub in an airtight container.

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Reader Interactions

7 Comments

  1. 5 Ingredient Scandinavian Salmon Rub Recipe (8)Dawn Thomsen Minenga

    Hi, Lauren. I’ve followed you for the last couple of years, because we have many of the same health issues, and I’ve gained wisdom from you and Gutsy in your journeys. I also grew up Danish, and am heartened that Danish foods fit well with a grain-free diet. I have many old recipes from my grandmother and great-grandmother that I will have to pull out and re-explore.

    Thank you. For me, food is the best connection to old family remembrances, tugging at the nostalgia of younger years. Peace.

    reply to this comment

  2. 5 Ingredient Scandinavian Salmon Rub Recipe (9)sophia lalli

    sure would be helpful if recipes could be printed.

    reply to this comment

  3. 5 Ingredient Scandinavian Salmon Rub Recipe (11)Stephanie

    Hi Lauren,
    What kind of salmon is this? I have tried to eat more wild sockeye salmon,
    But it tastes so fishy/strong to me and am looking for ways to prepare it so
    It tastes good. Thank you.

    reply to this comment

  4. 5 Ingredient Scandinavian Salmon Rub Recipe (12)Rande | RandeMoss.com

    This sounds amazing and I happened to buy salmon this week too!

    reply to this comment

  5. 5 Ingredient Scandinavian Salmon Rub Recipe (14)Ashley

    Do you think this could work with essential oils? I have all of those flavors in my essential oils but not entirely sure of the amount I would use. What do you think?

    reply to this comment

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5 Ingredient Scandinavian Salmon Rub Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is in Scandinavian seasoning? ›

Scandinavian Land & Sea Seasoning Contains: California Salt, Garlic, Sugar, Black Pepper, Red Bell Pepper, Ginger, Dill, Cinnamon, Parsley, Bay Leaf, Orange Peel.

What is the best seasoning to use on salmon? ›

Just about all flavors work with salmon. Because salmon is high in fat content and a firm fish, it has its own flavor that can hold up to strong flavors like garlic, ginger, hot pepper, and others. But like all fish, salmon is a little delicate, and also works well with more subtle flavors like fresh herbs and citrus.

What to put on salmon before cooking? ›

Seasoning salmon with salt and pepper for baking is exactly like seasoning it for any other cooking process: Pat it dry, sprinkle all sides with salt and pepper (including skin if your fish has it) and use a lighter touch if you're adding salty or peppery ingredients later.

What is the best cooking method for salmon? ›

Pan-frying or pan-searing is one of the best ways to cook salmon fillets. It's quick, easy, and gives the fish that perfect crispy, crunchy skin. A simple pan-fried salmon is the secret to a flavorful and healthy weeknight dinner in 30 minutes or less.

What are the special ingredients used in Scandinavian cuisine? ›

Fish and Seafood: Given the proximity to the sea, fish and seafood play a significant role in Scandinavian cuisine. Common varieties include salmon, herring, cod, mackerel, and shrimp. Root Vegetables: Root vegetables such as potatoes, carrots, turnips, and beets are staples in Scandinavian cooking.

What are the four basic types of seasoning ingredients? ›

There are four basic types of seasoning ingredients: • Salt • Pepper ⚫ Sugar and light-flavored sweeteners • Acids When you season a food, you add just enough of one or more of these ingredients to change the food's basic taste, but not enough to add a whole new taste.

What brings out the flavor of salmon? ›

Here are some of the best spices to sprinkle on top of your salmon:
  • Cajun seasoning. ...
  • Curry spices. ...
  • Cumin + smoked hot paprika. ...
  • Classic salt and pepper + aromatic herbs and lemon. ...
  • Sweet and spicy flavor punch. ...
  • Subtle rub with garam masala. ...
  • Garlic marinade. ...
  • Honey and soy marinade.

What makes salmon taste better? ›

Sugar + acid is your friend.

There's a reason for it! For one, it's delicious. But from a scientific standpoint, the sugar and acid cut through salmon's fishiness. Glazes add a ton of flavor while taming the salmon.

Should I oil salmon before seasoning? ›

Use Fresh Herbs

Rub your fish with a little bit of olive oil to give the herbs something to stick to. Season your salmon filets with minced garlic, lemon zest, chopped fresh rosemary and a little salt and pepper. Fresh parsley, dill, and basil are also great choices.

Should I rinse salmon before cooking? ›

Salmon does not need to be rinsed; in fact, rinsing the fish can lead to contamination. Salmon is an increasingly popular fish that's easy to prepare at home with minimal fuss. It's an oily fish loaded with omega-3 fatty acids.

What is a good sauce to eat with salmon? ›

7 Easy Sauces for Salmon
  • Creamy Horseradish Dill Sauce.
  • Spicy Maple Mustard Sauce.
  • Hot Honey Butter Sauce.
  • Brown Sugar Teriyaki Sauce.
  • Miso Lemon Butter Sauce.
  • Buttery Caper Sauce.
  • Caramelized Honey Miso Sauce.
Feb 6, 2023

Is it better to pan fry or oven cook salmon? ›

For smaller, crispy, skin-on Salmon; a crispy pan sear is recommended. For bigger fillets, and succulent, skin-off King Salmon; the best method would be cooking in an oven.

Does salmon taste better cooked in oil or butter? ›

A seared fish necessity. Butter + Oil. Butter makes everything better, and the oil is key for helping create the crispy exterior.

What Flavours are in Scandinavia? ›

scandinavian flavours
  • Roasted Almond Filled Semlor.
  • Hake, Celeriac Puree, Mustard Leek Sauce.
  • Nordic Rye Sourdough Rolls.
  • Swedish Sourdough Skorpor – (Rusks)
  • Spiced Pear & Rye Cake.
  • Swedish Fishballs – Fiskbullar.
  • Swedish Apple Cake (Äppelkaka)
  • Fluffy Swedish Cinnamon Buns.

What are common Scandinavian herbs? ›

Some of the herbs that are commonly used to brew the Scandinavians tea:
  • Cloudberry. Cloudberry, also known as 'bakeapple', is a rare and highly prized fruit that grows in the Arctic regions of Scandinavia. ...
  • Nettle. ...
  • Garden Angelica Leaf. ...
  • Pine Needle. ...
  • Young Spruce Tip. ...
  • Rosebay Willowherb. ...
  • Heather Flower. ...
  • Lingonberry.
Mar 14, 2023

What are Nordic ingredients? ›

For centuries, people of the north consumed the same ingredients that have eventually shaped the distinct Nordic Cuisine; ingredients such as fish (mostly salmon, cod and herring), oyster, mussels, wild birds, deer, elk, berries, cheese, butter, cabbage, onions, potatoes, beets, apples, cucumber, dill, horseradish, and ...

What are Norwegian spices? ›

If you go back 100 years, or so, Norwegian cuisine used a rather limited selection of herbs. Salt and pepper were the used the most, although sparing use of cayenne, dill, allspice, nutmeg, thyme, parsley, dried ginger, laurel and cloves was found.

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