Roasted Spiced Salmon

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Restaurant-quality salmon at home is a cinch with this slow-bake method.

Roasted spiced salmon served with rice and spinach.
Photo: Greg DuPree
Hands On Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
40 mins
Yield:
4 serves

Here, roasted spiced salmon relies on a low temperature and a foil-covered water bath to get to a perfectly pink medium in the center. This recipe goes the extra mile to draw flavor from the fish with a compound butter made from turmeric and cumin which infuses each bite with spiced buttery flavor.

You’ll serve this alongside a lemony spinach and a rice pilaf that has juicy pops of golden raisins throughout and a gentle aroma of cinnamon. It’s elegant enough to serve for company, and quick enough to throw together on a weeknight.

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup olive oil, divided

  • 1 cup basmati rice

  • ½ cup golden raisins

  • 1 cinnamon stick

  • 2 ¼ teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

  • ½ teaspoon ground turmeric

  • ½ teaspoon coarsely chopped cumin seeds

  • 4 6-ounce skin-on salmon fillets

  • 4 cups packed fresh baby spinach

  • 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

  • teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium. Add rice, raisins, and cinnamon stick. Cook, stirring often, until rice is fragrant and slightly opaque, about 2 minutes. Stir in 2 cups water and 1½ teaspoons salt; bring to a boil over high. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer, undisturbed, until liquid is absorbed, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, until rice is just tender, about 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork.

  2. Meanwhile, mash butter, turmeric, cumin, and ½ teaspoon salt in a small bowl. Place salmon, skin side down, in a 13-by-9-inch baking dish. Spread butter mixture over salmon; cover with aluminum foil. Bake until salmon is firm when squeezed along sides, 20 to 25 minutes.

  3. Toss spinach, lemon juice, pepper, and remaining 2 tablespoons oil and ¼ teaspoon salt in a medium bowl. Serve salad alongside salmon and rice.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

744 Calories
37g Fat
58g Carbs
44g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Calories 744
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 37g 47%
Cholesterol 138mg 46%
Sodium 1213mg 53%
Total Carbohydrate 58g 21%
Total Sugars 12g
Protein 44g

*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

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