Baked Tandoori Salmon  - This Tandoori Salmon recipe is a quick and easy meal to make during the week. In this recipe, salmon is coated in aromatic indian spices to mimic a tandoori marinade. It is then oven baked (or grilled/air fried) until delicious and flaky. Serve with a mint and coriander chutney, cumin rice or air fryer shoestring fries for a healthy meal.

What is a Tandoor

Tandoori Chicken and Tikka recipes such as Chicken or Paneer Tikka are usually made in a tandoor – a cylindrical shaped clay oven.

The fuel used in a Tandoor is charcoal or firewood. This adds its own smoky flavour to the food.

Baked Tandoori Salmon

So in order to make Tandoori Salmon at home, we will be marinading the Salmon in Yoghurt and the spices that are usually used for Tandoori recipes like lasmcc or lxmcldxclx.

The fish is then cooked till the Salmon is crisp and lightly charred on the outside and tender on the inside. This is easily achieved with an Air Fryer or Oven.

What makes it Healthy?

Salmon is high in Protein, Omega 3 fatty acids, B Vitamins, Selenium and Potassium. It supports Brain and Heart health and is a great source of Astaxanthin which is an antioxidant that may benefit brain, nervous system, and skin health.

Easy Homemade Baked Tandoori Salmon

The Red hue in Tandoori recipes is achieved by using food colouring.

You can use Kashmiri Chilli Powder to add some colour, If you have reservations about using food colouring. This won’t add heat, just colour.

In Tandoori recipes, there is often a double marinade – the first one is made up of salt, garlic ginger paste, chili powder, and lemon juice. 30 minutes later, a second marinade is added with the Yoghurt and Spices.

In this recipe, I skip the first marinade because I don't think it is needed. I add all the flavours in at once.

Ingredients Needed

A simple spiced yoghurt based marinade is basted onto the fish before it is air fried:

Salmon

Boneless, Skinless Salmon - Roughly 125g each.

Yoghurt

I use Plain Yoghurt. This is used for 2 reasons – to tenderise the fish and to help the spices (mariande) cling to it.

Lemon Juice

This adds acidity and a lovely flavour that goes so well with Salmon.

Oil

Mustard Oil is what is traditionally used in Tandoori marinades but you can also use a Vegetable/Rapeseed/Olive/Corn Oil instead.

Ginger and Garlic

Fresh, Defrosted Frozen or a pre made Pastes are fine. Whatever works for you.

Ground Spices/Powders

Turmeric, Salt and Black Pepper, Garam Masala, Coriander Powder and Cumin Powder.

Kashmiri Chilli Powder and Red Chilli Powder

I add some of each. The Kashmiri Chilli adds colour and the Red Chilli adds a slight heat. You can skip the Kashmiri Chilli if you like. In place of the Red Chilli you can use Chilli Flakes or Cayenne Pepper.

How to Make Baked Tandoori Salmon

Make the Marinade

Combine Oil, Yoghurt, Ginger, Garlic, Lemon Juice,Coriander Powder, Cumin Powder, Turmeric Powder, Red Chilli Powder, Kashmiri Chilli Powder, Garam Masala, Salt in a large bowl.

Prep Salmon

Pat Salmon dry with kitchen paper.

Marinade Salmon

Brush marinade all over Salmon.

*Optional - You can at this stage, marinade the fish for 30 minutes in the fridge.

How to Cook

Oven Baked

Heat the oven to 180C/GM 4.

Add fish to an oven proof dish (leaving space between fish) and bake for 10 - 15 minutes.

Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer to 200C/400F.

Place the salmon in the fryer basket (leaving space between fish).

Air fry for 7-8 minutes, depending on the thickness of the Salmon.

Grill

Line a baking tray with baking paper and add Salmon. Grill for 6 - 7 minutes. Timing depends on the thickness of the salmon.

Short Cut Method

You can use 2 tablespoon Tandoori Paste or Powder with the Yoghurt instead for an easy shortcut.

How to serve

This Salmon is delicious served with Cumin Rice and Kachumbur.

You can also serve it with Garlic Mash.

Serve in a grain bowl - with Quinoa, leafy greens, tomatoes, cucumbers, purple cabbage and a chutney.

How to store and reheat Tandoori Salmon

Fridge

Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for up to 3 days in the fridge in a sealed container.

Freezer

Make sure the Salmon is completely cool before freezing.

Then place in an airtight container with baking paper (to stop it from sticking).

To Reheat

Thaw overnight in the fridge. Reheat either in the Microwave or in the Oven. Or Airfry at 180 C for 2 - 3 minutes. Make sure it is hot all the way through before serving.

Tips and FAQ's

Salmon Temperature

You need to cook Salmon for 4 minutes per 1 cm thickness.

Salmon is cooked and ready to serve when the internal temperature reaches 63 C/145F.

Room Temperature

Take the Salmon out of the fridge 15 minutes before cooking.

Skin

I use Skinless Salmon in this recipe. You can use either.

Salmon steaks

Buy pre cut Salmon for ease.

Lemon

Squeeze over some Lemon just before serving for a delicious zing.

Pat dry Fish

Use kitchen paper to pat away excess moisture before marinading.

Marinating time

You can marinade the fish for up to 1.5 hours. Any longer and the fish texture is affected.

Remove the Fish on time or just before

Salmon continues to cook as it rests and overdone Salmon isn’t very nice!

White Ooze

If you notice some white slimy ooze around the edges or on top of the fish, it is a protein in the salmon called albumin that becomes solid when heated. This usually comes out if the temperature of the oven/grill/air fryer is too high.

How do i know the Salmon is cooked?

Aside from the obvious colour change, the best way to check if the salmon is fully cooked through, is to insert a fork into the center of the fillet and slightly twist it.

If it comes out flaky, opaque and moist, then it is ready.

Is Salmon sustainable?

You can check if your Salmon is sustainable by checking out suppliers here.

MSC labelled salmon comes from a fishery that has been independently certified to the MSC Fisheries Standard.

This can be identified via a blue MSC sticker on the outer packaging.

Brands who have committed to selling sustainable salmon in the UK are Aldi, Lidl, and Tesco.

More Delicious Indian Recipes:

Tandoori prawns

Tandoori Chicken Kebab

The BEST Karahi Chicken

Chicken Pulao

Butter Chicken – Chicken Makhani

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