Wild salmon is flavor-forward all on its own — but if you eat it as much as we do, the more recipes and flavor profiles in your arsenal, the better! Here are wild salmon recipe ideas and inspiration that take their cues from the flavors of the globe:
Salmon Teriyaki
Marinating salmon in homemade teriyaki, a quintessential Japanese sauce, is about as low-maintenance as you can get for a weeknight dinner. You only need to combine three ingredients for the teriyaki: soy sauce, sugar, and mirin (a seasoned Japanese rice wine). After marinating for a half hour or so in the sauce, your fillets of salmon are ready for two minutes in a preheated skillet under a hot broiler. Serve immediately with a side of veggies and rice.
Salmon Curry
Salmon is the perfect counterpart to the savory spice of Thai green curry. The flavors of a Thai curry might be complex, but the dish is quite simple to make when you have the secret weapon: Thai green curry paste from a can or jar. The only other ingredients you’ll need? Coconut milk, some veggies, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice to pull the dish together.
Salmon Tandoori
Tandoori-style salmon in a yogurt marinade is charred and spiced, yet cool and creamy. Save this tandoori salmon recipe for a night when you can plan ahead a bit and spend some time in the kitchen: the salmon fillets are marinated twice in a 10+ ingredient mixture to maximize flavor, baked in a very hot oven, then served with a separate yogurt raita. Note: Cut the cook time in this recipe down to 15 minutes, as wild salmon cooks much faster than farmed fillets.
Salmon Ukha
Fish frames add richness and body to the broth of ukha, a traditional Russian fish soup that can be made with salmon or any other number of ocean fish. The broth takes less than an hour to develop, and the salmon only another 5 minutes to simmer and cook through. Make a big batch of broth if you have space to spare in your freezer — that way, you’re already halfway to your next ukha dinner.
Salmon Onigiri
Onigiri is a Japanese lunchbox staple that's a cinch to make. Try using smoked salmon or even well-seasoned cooked salmon leftover from your last salmon meal to make our recipe for salmon onigiri.
Caribbean Salmon
Poach fillets of salmon in a quick coconut-mango sauce for a recipe inspired by easy, Caribbean cooking. want to spice up this coconut-mango salmon recipe, feel free to add a few slices of spicy peppers into the sauce as it simmers. Serve hot with rice.
Salmon in Bengali Mustard Sauce
A coastal country crossed by several rivers, Bangladesh cuisine revolves around fish. Naturally, they’re masters at the fish curry. You might need to pick up a few spices from the store that aren’t normally in your pantry, but the resulting dish is well worth the effort.
Salmon Moqueca
Ever been to the Bahia region of Brazil? Sitting down to a big bowl of moqueca, a spicy, savory, and tangy fish stew from the Northeastern coast of the country, will make you feel like you have. This delicious recipe for salmon moqueca has been simplified so that any home cook can make it. Serve with rice, and if you’re feeling especially Brazilian, a side of toasted cassava flour called farofa.
Salmon Piccata
A simple Salmon Piccata dresses up your salmon in simple Mediterranean flavors. Lemon, white wine, garlic, and capers are simmered together in the pan juices of seared salmon fillets, then finished with a bit of butter.
Salmon Summer Rolls
This easy recipe for salmon summer rolls is inspired by classic Vietnamese rice paper rolls, filled with crunchy vegetables and fresh herbs. Served with an easy cashew cream sauce, these salmon summer rolls are great for light lunches, snacks, and meals in the park.
Greek Salmon Salad
This Greek salmon salad is a twist on a classic, featuring the rustic flavor of grilled salmon to make it a complete meal. If you haven’t cooked up salmon on the grill, you might be surprised to find out how easy it is to do. No grill? Substitute broiled salmon or salmon roasted on a cast iron grill pan.
