Salmon Pairs Especially Well With One Middle Eastern Spice

Take inspiration from Middle Eastern spices when cooking up your next fish dinner. Kory Foltz, Executive Chef at Sunseeker Resort in Charlotte Harbor, Florida has a few savory suggestions if you're looking to season your salmon with bold flavors. When asked if there are any unexpected seasonings he recommends pairing with salmon, he shared, "Sumac is a cool one, it's a tangy spice with a citrus note to it, adds a bright lemony flavor without the acidity of citrus."

You can find sumac in the spice section of most grocery stores and online. Particularly popular in places like Turkey, Iran, Palestine, and Syria, its tart flavors bring a refreshing, tangy flavor to meals. Commonly used to add character and brightness to chicken, Fattoush salad, and onions. Similarly, salmon pairs exceptionally well with sumac, especially if you incorporate other Middle Eastern flavors like za'atar, which offers more of an earthy flavor with some citrussy notes since it also contains sumac.

After preheating your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, pat the filet dry before rubbing the salmon with olive oil, honey, and equal parts za'atar and sumac. Cook the salmon for eight minutes, allowing for a minute or two of broiling before serving. Keep an eye on it during the broiling process, it's easy to overdo it and make a rookie mistake when cooking salmon.

But what if sumac isn't your jam tonight? Foltz has some other suggestions. "Another one is fennel pollen, can be hard to find but gives a slightly sweet, floral flavor with hints of licorice and anise," he says. "Coffee, miso, coriander, za'atar, etc. are all great with salmon." After picking up a slab of salmon from the Whole Foods counter or your local fishmonger (that is, a fish butcher), head home and get to cooking. Do remember that if you're looking to pick out a quality salmon, its attributes involve more than just color. Past distinct Levantine flavors, fresh herbs bring balance to a fatty cut of salmon. A mix of olive oil, coriander, and garlic on salmon results in a tasty, yet simplistic dish.

Enjoy a more complex, umami-rich salmon by combining miso, soy sauce, brown sugar, lemon, sesame seeds, and sesame oil. Give it a spicy kick by adding wasabi to the mix. For an unusual, but delicious combination try espresso powder to give your salmon even more character. Rub a filet with olive oil, ½ teaspoon of finely ground espresso, sea salt, garlic powder, black pepper, and chili pepper for an earthy, nutty flavor. Shred the salmon with a fork and serve it as tacos and fresh vegetables for a harmonious, fresh meal.