This quick and easy recipe for Salmon Rub is made with five simple ingredients you most likely have on hand. Savory, smoky and sweet, this combo accentuates wild salmon’s fresh flavor. + 25+ Amazing Salmon Recipes!
It’s officially salmon season, and wild salmon is abundant here in the Northwest. This Northwest Salmon Rub is especially delicious on wild salmon and is made with only five simple ingredients. I can’t take credit for this recipe- many of you who live in the Northwest will recognize it from Tom Douglas’s former restaurant, Etta’s Seafood. You can purchase his original rub called Rub with Love, or make a similar version at home.
This salmon rub is smoky, and sweet with the perfect amount of salt, really highlighting fresh wild salmon’s flavor. Over the last 20 years, I’ve fiddled with the recipe, adding garlic powder, onion powder, other herbs, and less sugar- all to regret it and come back to this simpler version- it’s just way better! Sometimes simple truly is BEST.
Ingredients in Salmon Rub
- Brown Sugar
- Smoked Paprika
- Dried Thyme
- Salt
- Pepper
How to Make Salmon Rub
Place all the ingredients in a jar, and stir with a spoon. So easy. It will keep 6 to 12 months.
Ways to use Salmon Rub
On Grilled Salmon: brush olive oil all over the salmon, then rub the Northwest Salmon Rub on all sides. Try our on a cedar plank salmon, or our perfect grilled salmon.
Baked Salmon: Coat salmon with olive oil and sprinkle with the Salmon rub. Bake at 350 until internal temp reaches 130F. Broil for 1-2 minutes until sugars caramelize. Top with thyme.
Pan-seared Salmon: Sprinkle all sides of salmon with the rub. Heat olive in a skillet over medium heat, pan and sear each side until beautifully golden and internal temp reaches 130F ( medium). Top with fresh thyme.
Expert Tip
Because the salmon rub contains brown sugar, ideally, you’ll want to caramelize it. So after grilling or baking, broil it in the oven (or use a cooking torch) until the sugars caramelize. This will add exquisite flavor and texture (like when making Creme Brulee). When pan searing, the sugars will automatically caramelize in the pan.
Gift It!
This would make a great hostess or birthday gift for a salmon lover. I love using little weck spice jars and these black labels. Or use a mason jar and make a label. Tie the jar up with twine and tuck in a little wooden spoon. Gift it like that or pair it with a fish spatula, cedar planks and wrap it up in a cute kitchen towel– what a nice gift!
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Salmon Rub
- Prep Time: 5
- Total Time: 5 minutes
- Yield: ½ cup 1x
- Category: spices
- Method: stirred
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
This quick and easy recipe for Salmon Rub is made with five simple ingredients you most likely have on hand. Savory, smoky and sweet, this combo accentuates wild salmon’s fresh flavor. Inspired by Tom Douglas’s Rub with Love.
Ingredients
- 4 1/2 tablespoons brown sugar (or maple sugar)
- 3 tablespoons smoked paprika
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons fresh cracked peppercorns
- 1 1/2 teaspoons dried thyme
Instructions
Place everything in a jar and stir.
Notes
The salmon rub will keep for 6-12 months if sealed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 tablespoon
- Calories: 28
- Sugar: 5.2 g
- Sodium: 439.3 mg
- Fat: 0.4 g
- Saturated Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 6.8 g
- Fiber: 1.1 g
- Protein: 0.4 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
THIS! So easy, tastes perfect on my wild salmon. Carefully pulled it from the oven at 120 deg and it was the best salmon we’ve ever eaten. Used to buy the popular rub by our local celebrity chef, but now I know how easy it is to make at home. Inspired by your website.
Awesome Kate, so glad to hear you enjoyed!
fabulous
Yay! Glad you enjoyed Gaye.
Wow!! Worked so well on salmon, elevated a basic salmon from regular grocery store to a very tasty meal. Ty!
Perfect, so happy you enjoyed Megan!
What a wonderful flavor bomb!
Thanks Helen! Glad you enjoyed this!