A salmon fillet can turn out either incredibly well or horribly wrong, and I’ve found that the key factor is the seasoning.
Most of the subpar salmon I’ve tasted in the past have one common denominator: they all lacked flavor.
So, when I discovered Trader Joe’s salmon rub, I decided to incorporate it into my recipes, and it made a world of difference.
What Makes This Salmon Rub So Delicious?
Here’s why I love this salmon seasoning so much:
- There’s a perfect balance of sweet, savory, smoky, and herby flavors that don’t overpower the dish, but rather complement it.
- It doesn’t contain any chemicals, and its ingredient list is straightforward.
- When cooked just right, the rub forms a nice crust on the salmon that adds a pop of texture to every bite.
6 Ingredients To Make Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub at Home
While Trader Joe’s salmon seasoning is easy to find, I decided to recreate it at home to save myself the trip to the store and back.
And if you want to do the same, you’ll need these 6 ingredients: brown sugar, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, dried thyme, and rice concentrate.
These are pretty simple ingredients, most of which you can find in your pantry. The only one that might be a bit harder to find is the rice concentrate.
So, I like to substitute it with oat fiber or ground flaxseed, but you can totally skip it altogether if you prefer. After all, the main purpose of rice concentrate is to add fiber and improve texture.
Using The Rub To Make Maple-Glazed Salmon
Once you’ve gathered all the ingredients, simply mix them in a bowl, and you’ve got a DIY Trader Joe’s salmon rub!
I like to use this seasoning to make a maple-glazed salmon recipe. Here’s what you’ll need: besides your homemade rub, get a salmon fillet, oil, and maple syrup.
The process is pretty easy: wipe your fillet dry with a paper towel. Then, brush it lightly with some oil before seasoning it with your spice mix.
Brush your fish with maple syrup before placing it in the oven to bake. Once it’s finished cooking, transfer it to a serving platter and drizzle more syrup on top.
And now, you have a quick and super tasty salmon dish!
DIY Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub With Maple-Glazed Salmon
Say goodbye to dry and bland salmon. With this homemade spice rub and maple glaze recipe, you can level up your subpar salmon to superb territory!
Ingredients
For your Trader Joe’s-inspired Salmon Rub:
- 1 tablespoon of brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon of smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon of kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon of coarse black pepper
- ¼ teaspoon of rice concentrate (use oat fiber or ground flaxseed as a substitute)
For your Maple-Glazed Salmon:
- 1 pound of salmon fillet
- 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons of your homemade salmon rub blend
- 2 tablespoons of maple syrup (+ extra to drizzle after baking)
Instructions
- First up, make your salmon rub: Simply mix all the ingredients in a small bowl until they’re well combined. Then, set it aside.
- Turn on your oven to 325° F. While that’s heating up, grab a baking sheet and line it with parchment paper.
- Take your salmon fillet out of the fridge and pat it dry with a paper towel. Brush it with your olive oil before sprinkling some of your homemade seasoning on top.
- Next, brush your seasoned fish with some maple syrup to seal in all the flavors before transferring it to your lined baking dish (skin-side down).
- Place the baking dish in the oven to bake for about 20 minutes. You can use a thermometer to check if your fish is cooked through. Pro Tip: If you want a perfectly cooked salmon fillet, the temperature should read 145°F.
- Once your salmon is finished cooking, take it out of the oven and carefully transfer it to a serving platter. Get your leftover maple syrup and drizzle it on top.
- Now, your delicious maple-glazed salmon is ready to serve!
Notes
Image credit to @tastytwistrecipes.
Featured image credit to @thekeystonutrition.
