If you love spicy seafood then you absolutely need to Incorporate this tasty blackened salmon fillets that are coated in a hot Cajun style dry rub and air fried to eliminate the use of excess oil. This 3 ingredient recipe only takes less than 20 minutes to prepare and cook.

If you didn't know by now I'm a huge seafood lover. When I'm out and about with friends or family I am the first person to suggest fine dining at a seafood restaurant.

One of my favourite stateside cuisines is Creole/Cajun food so I just had to do a homemade version of Blackened Cajun Air Fried Salmon.

This is the runner up to my Cajun Chicken Breast with Zoodles dish.

It's so darn flavoursome with a spicy and smokey crust. Trust me you will want seconds and thirds on this seafood dish.

What is blackened salmon.

It's a culinary technique associated with seafood and other general foods.

Melted butter is applied to the food which is then sprinkled with an array of herbs and spices i.e thyme, garlic, onion powder, black pepper, oregano and so fourth.

Once the food is generously seasoned it is pan fried at high temperature on a cast iron skillet. This high temperature cooking results in a black/brown crust from the charred spices.

You could also try mixing things up a little by adding my Seafood Seasoning Recipe to the mix as well.

Ingredients you will need

Salmon fillets: I used fillets that had some type of depth to them. I'm talking about on average of 1 to 1 ½'' thickness.
Cajun seasoning: Use some dry rub. Here is the recipe Cajun Seasoning Blend that I used.
Dairy free butter: I'm a huge fan of Vitalite's dairy free butter. The butter needs to be melted so it thoroughly coats each fillet.

How to make Blackened Cajun Air Fried Salmon

Lightly spray the air fryer basket with oil
Place the salmon fillets in a medium sized bowl (picture 1)
Brush each salmon fillet with the melted butter, coating both sides. (picture 2)
Place the seasoning in a bowl and either press the salmon onto the seasoning. Do this to both sides so the fillet is evenly and completely coated or sprinkle it on both sides for a lighter coating.
Repeat this step with the other fillet(s)
Place the salmon fillet(s) in the air fryer basket. (picture 3)
Set the temperate to 180c/375f and cook for 6-8 minutes and turn half way through.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need an air fryer to make this recipe?

Yes, no you can use a grill/broiler or oven bake the salmon at the same temperate with the only exception being that the cooking time may vary.

Can I freeze the salmon once it is cooked?

No. you can let it rest and re-heat but it won't hold up to freezing.

Can I use fresh or frozen salmon?

Yes, make sure the frozen salmon is thoroughly thawed out and blotted dry.

Serving suggestion

Salad
Brown Rice
Sweet Potato Mash or Green Banana Mash
Yucca Fries
Herb Cauliflower Rice
Salsa
Vegetables i.e Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, Steamed Cabbage

Notes and Tips

Make sure the fillets are rinsed and blotted dry with a paper towel.
Use thick cuts of fillets if possible about 1-1 ½''
Be sure that the salmon is skinless prior to coating because the seasoning won't adhere very well to the skin.
Most salmon fillets will be deboned by the fishmonger before purchasing however on the odd occasion, you could find a small pinbone. Grab some stainless steel pin tweezers and run your finger along the thickest part of the fillet as that is where the tip of a pinbone is likely to be exposed.
Use the entire batch of homemade Cajun seasoning. The recipe doesn't create a huge batch, you can season up to 4 fillets with the mix. I made 2 fillets with it but feel free up increase the recipe to 4 fillets instead.
Once the fillet have been coated with butter make sure the fillet is covered with season straight away and air fried because the butter will return to its solid state and the seasoning won't stick

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