Spice Rubbed Easy Slow Roasted Salmon

August 23, 2020

Spice Rubbed Easy Slow Roasted Salmon is a 30-minute healthy dinner idea that’s a foolproof way to cook fish. Your salmon will be flaky to fork and perfectly cooked so your whole family will love this flavorful dish. Even better, I’m sharing how to cook fish without making your home smell!

Gluten Free, Grain Free, Nut Free, Dairy Free, Soy Free, Egg Free

Disclaimer: This post is sponsored by Kvarøy Arctic, but all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make the Chelsey Amer Nutrition blog possible!

I have something to admit… even before I wrote an entire cookbook about fish my husband called me “the fish lady.”

I’m pretty sure I’ve shared this story before, but it all started in Portugal. We were roaming the streets late one night and there was this fish croquette store/stand open. I’m fascinated by old food machines and saw them using some crazy contraption in the window. We went in, I obviously had to try it… and so my late-night fish cake snack led to my name “fish lady.”

Even better, my son is now the “fish boy,” because he takes after his mama. We love fish!

As much as I love my Dijon Salmon, this is my new go-to salmon recipe!

But when talking about salmon, I feel we must address the elephant (or fish) in the room…

What’s the difference between wild-caught fish and farm-raised salmon?

On the most basic level, the difference is between how the fish are raised and caught. Wild-caught salmon are caught from a lake or ocean. Farm-raised salmon is raised on a fish farm, often referred to as “aquaculture.”

Many health experts discuss the health benefits of wild-caught salmon, but neglect the sustainable aquaculture practices that can be just as healthy.

Kvarøy Arctic is one such sustainable high-quality salmon farm.

Kvaroy Arctic is a third-generation family fish farm that’s constantly evolving with the latest technology, keeping sustainability at the forefront of their minds.

What is Sustainable Fish Farming?

One of the reasons I chose to work with Kvaroy Arctic is because of their farming standards. Specifically, how long they let the environment rest between farming to achieve the best conditions. The pens go undisturbed for 6-8 months (longer than required) to allow the surrounding environment to return to its pure, natural state.

Even more, they’re antibiotic-free and serve their salmon the cleanest feeds. Some fatty fish can have high levels of environmental contaminants like PCBs and dioxins because of their feed (smaller fish accumulate these toxins, and as a result the larger fish consume these toxins), but Kvaroy Arctic challenged their “acceptable” feed to make it even better. Their salmon feed is now 339 times cleaner than the FDA specification! WOW! Plus, they derive omega-3s directly from microalgae, a more sustainable practice to prevent overfishing.

Because of these sustainable farming measures, they’ve received the highest ratings and certifications you can get.

Plus, as a result of their good farming practices, the salmon tastes out of this world. Yes, I can notice a difference!

Even my grandma who is usually not a fan of fish LOVED this salmon!

Whole Spice Rubbed Easy Slow Roasted Salmon

Ingredients to Make Easy Slow Roasted Salmon

Can you believe that you only need 7 ingredients to make this easy slow roasted salmon? (And that includes salt and pepper!)

When you use high quality ingredients and easy cooking techniques, you don’t need much to create a deliciously nutritious meal. Plus, I always say that a well-stocked spice cabinet can get you very far when it comes to creating tasty dishes, and this recipe totally proves that!

The base of this recipe is Kvaroy Arctic Salmon.

Salmon is a fatty fish, that when cooked properly, has a buttery texture that just melts in your mouth. My slow roasting technique further enhances this! Kvaroy Arctic’s salmon is just gorgeous too, and since we eat with our eyes first, it’s a WIN-WIN!

Next, to make slow roasted salmon you need some basic spices…

Smoked paprika — make sure you use SMOKED paprika because it adds an extra oomph compared to regular paprika!
Garlic powder – because everything is better with garlic!
Dried oregano – adds a bit of earthiness to the dish.
Salt and pepper – you can’t cook without the classics!

Last, you’ll need brown sugar.

Why am I adding sugar to a basic protein? Is that really necessary, Chelsey? Well, yes it is! When sugar + protein cook something called the Maillard reaction occurs. This is what gives deliciously browned proteins their distinctive flavor. The sugar caramelizes from the heat and it’s just OUT OF THIS WORLD! Try it!

How to Make this Easy Slow Roasted Salmon

This is one of my all-time favorite easy fish recipes I’ve ever created. And that includes all of the fish recipes I developed for my pescatarian cookbook!

I love this recipe because it’s…

SO EASY – like FOOLPROOF
Made with just a handful of ingredients that you likely have in your pantry (all you need is Kvaroy Arctic salmon, which you can order online at FultonFishMarket.com or pick up at select Whole Foods – check the Kvaroy Arctic “Find” page for locations near you!)
SMELL-PROOF – none of that fishy smell taking over your entire house (isn’t that the worst?!)

OK, so here’s what you need to do…

First, place your gorgeous piece of salmon on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. I suggest using parchment paper even over a silicone baking mat because the clean up is soooo easy. Honestly, the skin may stick to a silicone baking mat. If you wish to make this recipe even more sustainable, just add some oil to the skin of the fish so it doesn’t get glued on the baking sheet or silicone baking mat.

Next, sprinkle with the spices. As I mentioned above, you’ll need:

Smoked paprika
Garlic powder
Dried oregano
Salt and pepper

The final step before cooking is to sprinkle brown sugar on top. Now, I know what you’re thinking… “I try to minimize my sugar intake.”

That’s great, and most of us should. But the total amount of sugar used is SO MINIMAL and makes the WORLD of difference in the final flavor. You can substitute coconut sugar or date sugar for a more natural sugar, but please don’t skimp. I can’t guarantee the insane burst of flavor in your mouth without this step!

Then all you must do is BAKE (at 300°F)! This is an easy slow roasted salmon recipe, but since fish cooks so quickly the full cook time is still under 30 minutes!

I like to check the fish at 20 and 25 minutes. The fish should be flaky and opaque. Of course, the final cooking time does depend upon the thickness of your salmon. Twenty-five minutes is the perfect cooking time for salmon that’s about ½-3/4-inch thick.

Once you remove the salmon from the oven, let it sit for a few minutes before serving. I just find the fish needs a couple of minutes to rest.

Kitchen Tools to Make Easy Slow Roasted Salmon

Honestly, you don’t need anything fancy to make this slow roasted salmon. Simply line a baking sheet with parchment paper and you’re good! I like this unbleached parchment paper.

These are the tools I used…

Perfect Side Dishes with Salmon

Personally, I think salmon pairs well with light side dishes. Fish feels like a lighter dinner to me, so I love something that feels refreshing.

In the summer, I paired this slow roasted salmon with a corn salad and mixed greens salad (as you can see in the picture). Once it gets a tad cooler it would also be delicious with roasted butternut squash. Oooohh I can’t wait for that!

I simply mixed together fresh corn kernels with some tomatoes and parsley. Delicious!

This Easy Slow Roasted Salmon Recipe is…

Melt in your mouth delicious
So easy to prepare
Made with just 7 ingredients (including salt and pepper!)
Loaded with omega-3 fatty acids
Packed with protein
DELICIOUS