A healthy, delicious recipe for Moroccan Salmon, pan-seared (or baked) with simple Moroccan spices. A fast and easy dinner idea in under 20 minutes.
When I look inside and see that I am nothing, that is wisdom. When I look outside and see that I am everything, that is love. And in-between these two, my life turns. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaji
I love this Moroccan Salmon recipe, and I can’t wait for you to try it- it’s so easy! It comes together in under 20 minutes and doesn’t lack in flavor! We love paring this Moroccan Salmon with this quinoa salad with blood oranges, almonds, olives, and mint; it is such a great combo! It also pairs well with Grain-Free Moroccan Cauliflower Couscous!
Easy enough for a busy weeknight, tasty enough for company- I know you’ll enjoy this!
Moroccan Salmon Ingredeints
- Salmon- skinless, thicker cuts work best here!
- Spices – cumin, cinnamon, cayenne (or smoked paprika)
- Salt, pepper, and sugar
- Orange zest
How to make Moroccan Salmon:
- Rub the salmon on both sides with a simple blend of Moroccan spices.
- Heat a skillet with olive oil, and pan sear each side until perfectly golden.
- Finish cooking in a warm oven, or lower the heat on the stove and cook through.
- Sprinkle with fresh orange zest and a little juice if you like, enjoy!
Serve Moroccan Salmon with:
- Moroccan Salad with Blood Oranges, Quinoa, Olives, Almonds and Mint
- Grain-Free Moroccan Cauliflower “Couscous”
- Couscous
- Meltingly Tender Moroccan Eggplant
Storage
Moroccan Salmon will keep up to 3 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. It’s delicious cold, served over a salad!
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Moroccan Salmon Recipe
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 12 mins
- Total Time: 17 mins
- Yield: 2 1x
- Category: fish, dinner idea
- Method: stovetop, oven
- Cuisine: moroccan
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
A simple healthy salmon recipe with Moroccan spices, can be made on the stovetop or oven! Serve this with Moroccan Quinoa with oranges, almonds olives and mint, or Moroccan Couscous. Fast and easy!
Ingredients
- 2 (thick) salmon filets 4- 6 ounces each
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 teaspoon sugar (or brown sugar)
- pinch cayenne or smoked paprika
- 1 tablespoon oil for searing
- Garnish- orange zest
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350F
- In a small bowl, combine cinnamon, cumin, salt, sugar and cayenne.
- Sprinkle over both sides of the salmon.
- Heat oil in an oven-proof skillet (cast iron) over medium heat. Sear salmon on both sides 2-3 minutes on each side, just until perfectly golden, then place in the warm oven to finish for 5 minutes or to the desired doneness. (Or continue on the stovetop, lowering the heat to low, until cooked to 130F (medium) or desired doneness.
- Garnish with orange zest!
Notes
Leftover salmon will keep up to 3 days in a sealed container in the fridge.
If you prefer to bake the salmon, after coating it with the spice mix, spray with spray olive oil and place on a parchment-lined sheet pan, bake for 10-12 minutes, or the desired doneness.
If you prefer using the stovetop method all the way through, continue cooking salmon after flipping, lowering heat to med low heat, til cooked through.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6 ounces salmon
- Calories: 297
- Sugar: 1.7 g
- Sodium: 716.1 mg
- Fat: 15.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 2.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 3.2 g
- Fiber: 0.9 g
- Protein: 38.2 g
- Cholesterol: 86.9 mg
Do you have an air fryer recommendation for this? I’m trying to avoid frying our foods. Thank you for so many amazing, delicious recipes.
Hi Terri- this is baked in the oven not fried? but if I were going to do it in the air fryer, set to 375 for 7-10 minutes, depending on thickness.
Sorry to waste your time Sylvia, I was thinking of the searing. Do you sear without any oil?
You are not wasting my time! I use oil, to get a little caramelization. You can also use spray olive oil in a non stick pan, if you want to go lighter.
Delicious spice blend! I will try this again as my first attempt (with salmon steak, what I happened to have) could have turned out better…some of the spices burned while searing so next time I will lower the heat during this step.
Yes, searing may burn the spices, so you could add at the end. This is designed for baking. 🙂
I come back to this salmon recipe again and again and again! The quinoa salad is lovely with it but have been absolutely obsessed with having it with a garlicky sweet potato mash and sautéed tender stem broccoli ❤️ Tysm for yet another gorgeous recipe!
Sounds fabulous!
Wow. Couldn’t be any more simple. Done quickly and only used small bowl and cast iron skillet. What’s not to like? Definitely will make again. Leftover salmon going in today’s lunch added to mixed greens salad. Thank you.
Great to hear Tanene!
Recently I made this recipe for my husband. We could simply not believe how delicious it was and with so few ingredients. It is certainly restaurant quality. This week I am making it for a dear friends birthday dinner and cant wait to share yet another culinary delight of Sylvia!!
Thanks so much – I love when simple recipes work, and this one really couldnt be any simpler!
I keep coming back to this dish over and over. It’s just so gorgeous and equally delicious!!
Even more so than anything I ate in Morocco on my visit this past year.
Thnaks and Great to hear!
Absolutely delicious, loved the different spices that you don’t usually find with salmon. I followed the directions explicitly with perfect results. Served with the celery and lentil salad. Thank you as always, your site is my primary recipe resource
Thanks Ashley!
I’m definitely going to make this dish. I have everything on hand, and I love mixing up new spice rubs. I’ll have to sub Valencia oranges for the blood oranges, but I’m sure that will be fine.
Great to hear, let us know what you think!
The Simple Moroccan Salmon recipe sounds simple enough. I already have all the ingredients in my pantry except for the salmon! I will cook this for dinner tonight. 🙂
Perfect!
Delicious and super super easy! Couldn’t believe how fast this came together. I may have overcooked it by a minute or so, probably just bc of the thinner cut of my fish – so may be worth checking a minute or two before time is up. Still tasty and I’ll definitely make this again 🙂
Thanks, Katie- glad you liked this!
I want to make tonight, but where’s all the sodium coming from?
From the salt- you can add less if you want.
Love this recipe, especially paired with the Moroccan quinoa. Just make it again tonight.
Great to hear Jeanna!
Delicious, simple, fast. Just brilliant
Absolutely great dish easy to prepare and very enjoyable to eat
I’m going to try the seasoning for the fish – I think it will work really well.
Thank you.
Janet
perfect!
Good alternative salmon recipe. I loved the quinoa also. Thank you.
I am looking forward to trying this recipe! Do you remove the skin from the salmon fillets before searing?
It is easiest if you do!
I did usually when I prepare salmon in the frying pan I eat the skin as it can be very crispy
So easy and absolutely delicious!
Your blog is my new go to site when I can’t think of what to make for dinner. Thank you!
Thanks Amy and So happy you liked this!
Very tasty. Can’t have enough great salmon recipes and this one hits the spot!
Wonderful recipe… appreciate the instructions specific to searing the salmon and then finishing the cooking in the warm oven. Worked beautifully to perfectly cook the fish. You must make this with the incredible quinoa recipe… added some chopped dates and substituted toasted pistachios for the almonds and used a pink red type of orange because my market did not have blood oranges; it came out unusual and really tastey!
Awesome Susan, Glad you it turned out and love your adaptions!
We tested the salmon this evening with the salad and it was superb ! I’ll do it again for sure.
It also a recipe that you can do when you invite people over to dinner.
LOOKS AMAZING! I’ve just landed in Morocco and after I inevitably get hooked on all the amazing flavors here I’ll look forward to creating this dish in my kitchen at home!
This salmon was amazing, I will definitely make this again along with the salad. Thanks for the recipe!
This dish looks absolutely delicious! I’m definitely bookmarking this for later 🙂
Thanks Nita!
Sylvia, first of all the beautiful colors in this dish really pull you in! I love salmon and Moroccan favors & am looking forward to giving this a try!