Salmon Seasoning
The Wide World Of Salmon Seasoning
If salmon seasoning is a challenge, it's not because there is one way and one way only to do it right, it's because the possibilities are, if not limitless, very great. The challenge, if you want to call it that, lies in trying to pick out a seasoning that is pleasing to the palate from a wide variety of choices.
Browsing the Internet will yield more ideas for salmon seasoning that one would ever hope to be able to try. So what to do? Pick one that looks like it will be delicious and try it. It's possible that there may be several different salmon seasonings worth trying on different occasions, although we are creatures of habit and if we find one that we like we tend to stick with it.
Because of its rather robust flavor, salmon lends itself to seasoning much more so than most other kinds of seafood. That also means that salmon tends to be a little more forgiving if you don't get the ingredients for the seasoning down quite right, since the seasoning will seldom overpower the flavor of the salmon no matter how hard you try.
To Salt Or Not To Salt? - A mistake than many make in preparing salmon seasoning is to leave out the salt. One reason for this is we read that too much salt in our diet is not good for us. There is truth to this, and there are certainly those who have to watch their salt intake rather carefully. Another reason is that since the salmon is a saltwater fish (except for the landlocked varieties) we figure it is already salty enough.
Granted, if someone in the household, or a guest, should be avoiding salt altogether, it might be best to stick with a seasoning that contains none, but we all need some salt in our diet, although most of what we need comes naturally with the foods we eat. We really have little need for the salt shaker.
So why bother with salt at all? The answer is simple. Salt brings out flavor, and it will do so with salmon as much as it will for most any other type of food. We salt our food for the flavor it brings out. Unless you have grilled salmon every day, chances are seasoning with a little salt in it isn't going to hurt you, but you or your doctor have to make that decision. Bottom line - don't neglect using salt unless you absolutely have to.
Standard Salmon Seasoning Ingredients - The usual way to prepare salmon, especially if it is to be grilled, is to rub down the meat with salt, pepper, and/or spices. Shredded or finely sliced garlic or shallot onions will add a great deal, as will dill. Many who prepare a salmon seasoning wouldn't think of leaving out lemon slices or butter, especially if the salmon is to be cooked in foil. Just experimenting with these ingredients alone should yield a number of tasty possibilities.
Try An Ethnic Seasoning - Going beyond the basics, one can always go the ethic route, using Mexican, French, Italian or Asian influenced ingredients. Olive oil should be a staple when making a seasoning sauce or marinade, and peppers, spicy or not, can add a great deal to any sauce. Asian influenced seasonings often include ginger, sesame seeds, teriyaki sauce, and sometimes fruit, in the ingredients, while the French tend to favor the use of wines or vinaigrettes, and mustard (Dijon of course).
One can always find a recipe which will tell how much of this and how much of that to use. That's usually a good way to get started. But just experimenting can be half the fun, and it's more difficult to make really bad salmon seasoning than one might think. If in doubt, just add salt.