Spice Rubbed Salmon (Roasted in Olive Oil)

Spice Rubbed Salmon that’s roasted in olive oil is easy to make, loaded with flavor, and it’s delicious with the optional Tzatziki sauce. And this perfect recipe for cooking salmon is extra low in carbs, high in protein, and gluten-free!

PIN the Spice Rubbed Salmon to try it later!

If you’re someone who enjoys roasted salmon, maybe this Spice Rubbed Salmon (Roasted in Olive Oil) will be the recipe that will get you to try the middle eastern spice called Sumac (soo-mak) and if so, you can thank me for bringing this wonderful new flavor into your life. I’ve been using Sumac for years now and I absolutely love the flavor it adds to so many dishes.

And if you’ve been in a middle eastern restaurant and seen a shaker jar of a bright maroon spice on the table, that was Sumac. Ground Sumac tastes a bit like lemon, which might be why the idea popped into my head to try it rubbed on roasted salmon, and oh my, was that idea ever a winner!

But if you don’t want to buy a new spice you can certainly use paprika instead for this recipe. I’d recommend sharp Hungarian paprika if you have that, but any kind of paprika will absolutely work. Or see a list of suggestions below for other spices to rub on salmon.

What ingredients do you need for this recipe?

(This is only a list of ingredients; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

• skinless salmon pieces
• Olive Oil (affiliate link)
• Szeged Fish Rub (affiliate link), or other fish rub of your choice
• Sumac (affiliate link), optional, but recommended

How low in carbs is the Spice Rubbed Salmon?

This tasty salmon that’s roasted in olive oil only has 1 net carb per serving and 21 grams of protein.

Why is this method for olive oil roasted salmon so good?

This method of roasted salmon in olive oil in a pre-heated cast iron pan was inspired by a recipe from famous chef Mark Bittman, and it’s pretty foolproof! He roasted the salmon with butter, but I felt that might burn (although half butter and half olive oil might be a good compromise.) The hot pan cooks the fish quickly without drying it out, and it creates just a slight “crust” on the fish that’s delightful.

What other spices can you use for the Spice Rubbed Salmon?

This salmon that’s roasted in olive oil is rubbed with the middle eastern spice called Sumac (affiliate link) and rubbed with my all-time favorite Szeged Fish Rub (affiliate link). But if you don’t have those spices and don’t want to buy them you can use any brand of fish rub and sharp paprika or smoked paprika is a good substitute for Sumac. Or use a blend of individual spices that are good on fish such as dill, cumin, garlic, basil, thyme, coriander, or fennel powder.

What else is good with Sumac?

• Whipped Feta Dip with Sumac
• Chicken Shawarma Wrap
• Spicy Baked Shrimp with Garlic
• Fattoush Lebanese Salad
• Mediterranean Salad Dressing

How to Make Spice Rubbed Salmon (Roasted in Olive Oil):

(This is only a summary of the steps for the recipe; please scroll down for complete printable recipe. Or if you use the JUMP TO RECIPE link at the top of the page, it will take you directly to the complete recipe.)

1. I love both Sumac and the Szeged Fish Rub we used on the salmon, but if you don’t have those I hope you’ll still try this roasting technique with whatever spice you have that taste good on salmon.
2. Preheat the oven to 450F/230C. 
3. You need a large, heavy pan that can be heated in the oven to make this roasted salmon, preferably a cast iron frying pan if you have one.
4. Brush a generous amount of olive oil on the pan and when your fish is room temperature, heat the pan about 5 minutes in the hot oven.
5. Once the fish is room temperature, rub each side with a generous amount of olive oil and sprinkle with fish rub and Sumac (or whatever seasonings you’re using), rubbing the seasonings around a little so they stick to the fish.
6. When the pan is hot, put the salmon top side down in the hot pan and roast about 5 minutes.
7. Here’s how the top looked when I turned the salmon over.
8. Put back in the oven to roast about 3 more minutes, or slightly less depending on how thick your salmon pieces are.
9. Serve the Spice Rubbed Salmon hot, with Tzatziki Sauce if desired.

Make it a Low-Carb Meal:

When I posted this recipe for Spice Rubbed Salmon I served it with Easy Pesto Lemon Rice, which was delicious but definitely not low in carbs! Now I would eat it with something like Stir-Fried Spinach with Garlic and Parmesan, Cauliflower Rice with Basil, Parmesan, and Pine Nuts, or Pan-Fried Broccoli with Pine Nuts and Parmesan.

More Salmon for Dinner:

• Slow Cooked Salmon with Butter, Garlic, Capers, and Lemon
• Maple-Glazed Salmon (Three Ways)
• Air Fryer Salmon with Mustard Herb Sauce
• Pecan-Crusted Salmon
• Salmon with Tomato Olive Relish

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Yield: 2 servings

Spice Rubbed Salmon (Roasted in Olive Oil)

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 8 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

This Spice Rubbed Salmon that's Roasted in Olive Oil is easy to make and loaded with flavor, and you can use any seasonings you enjoy on fish if you don't have the Sumac and Fish Rub that I used!

Ingredients

• 2 pieces of skinless salmon, about 6 oz. each
• about 2 tsp. olive oil, plus more for oiling the pan (use extra virgin olive oil for best flavor)
• about 2 tsp. Szeged fish rub (see notes)
• about 1 T Sumac (see notes)

Instructions

1. Remove salmon from the fridge and let it come to room temperature.
2. Preheat the oven to 450F/230C.
3. Brush a large oven-proof frying pan with a generous amount of olive oil.  (A heavy cast iron pan is best.)
4. When the fish is room temperature, put the pan in the oven and heat it for 5 minutes.
5. Rub the salmon pieces on both sides with olive oil and sprinkle generously with Szeged Fish Rub (affiliate link) and Sumac (or whatever seasonings you have). Use your fingers to rub the spices around a little so they stick to the salmon.
6. After the pan has heated for 5 minutes, put the salmon top side down in the frying pan and roast 5 minutes.
7. Carefully turn over and roast about 3 minutes more, depending on how thick your salmon pieces are.
8. Serve the Spice Rubbed Salmon hot, with Tzatziki Sauce if desired.

Notes

This recipe makes 2 servings but can easily be doubled.

I love Szeged Fish Rub (affiliate link) but you can use any seasonings that are good on fish.

If you don't have Sumac (affiliate link) I would use Sharp Hungarian Paprika (affiliate link) or any Paprika you have on hand.

Nutritional information does not include optional Tzatziki Sauce.

This recipe created by Kalyn.

Nutrition Information

Yield

2

Serving Size

1
Amount Per Serving Calories 232Total Fat 16gSaturated Fat 3gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 56mgSodium 169mgCarbohydrates 2gFiber 1gSugar 0gProtein 21g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated by the Recipe Plug-In I am using. I am not a nutritionist and cannot guarantee 100% accuracy, since many variables affect those calculations.

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Low-Carb Diet / Low-Glycemic Diet / South Beach Diet Suggestions:
Everything about this Spice Rubbed Salmon that’s cooked in olive oil is perfect for a low-carb and Keto meal, and this is also a great choice for any phase of the original South Beach Diet.

Find More Recipes Like This One:
Use Oven Dinners to find more recipes like this one. Use the Diet Type Index to find recipes suitable for a specific eating plan. You might also like to follow Kalyn’s Kitchen on Pinterest, on Facebook, on Instagram, on TikTok, or on YouTube to see all the good recipes I’m sharing there.

Historical Notes for this Recipe:
This easy roasted salmon recipe that’s rubbed with spices was first posted in 2014. The recipe was last updated with more information in 2025.

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