Learn How to Make the Base Recipe
This is a variation of our salmon with yogurt sauce base recipe. This Moroccan salmon with lemon dill yogurt sauce is rich in aromatic spices and herbs, full of both flavor, and loaded with nutrition. Try it out and let us know what you think!
Three Must-Know Culinary Skills
For recipe success, learn how to:
Culinary Tips for the Best Moroccan Salmon
When cooking any type of fish in the oven, a good rule of thumb is to heat your oven to 400° F and cook fish for 10 minutes for every inch of thickness, as described in our roasted fish base recipe.
Skin on or off? For this recipe, it doesn’t matter. When you roast/bake fish in the oven with the skin side down, the skin doesn’t get crispy, so it’s not very appealing to eat. However, it does separate easily from the fish once cooked.
Remove small pin bones using fish bone tweezers before cooking; these are no fun to bite into!
A good fishmonger at your local grocery store can help you with the pin bones and skin. Don’t be shy to ask for help!
If you have time, let the spices sit on the salmon for ~15 minutes before cooking for increased flavor development.
Ingredient Substitutions
- Salmon: substitute arctic char or steelhead trout.
- Moroccan Spice Blend: use any store-bought blend or make your own by combining the following ingredients:
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon coriander
- ¼ teaspoon ginger
- ¼ teaspoon turmeric
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon cayenne
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
- Greek Yogurt: use any fat percentage that fits within your diet. You can substitute regular plain yogurt if not too thin, but note that it might be a little runny.
- Fresh Dill: substitute 1 teaspoon dried dill or 2 teaspoons chopped fresh cilantro.
- Garlic: substitute ½ teaspoon pre-minced garlic, ½ teaspoon garlic flakes, ¼ teaspoon granulated garlic, or ⅛ teaspoon garlic powder.
- Lemon Juice: substitute bottled lemon juice or lime juice.
Recipe Variations
Change up this recipe by baking the salmon first then adding the yogurt sauce. This creates a slightly different taste and texture but is still equally delicious!
Want some salmon recipe inspiration?
Use our salmon with yogurt sauce base recipe as a guide, or try out these other variations!
Equipment Recommendations
Use these kitchen tools for recipe success:
- Cutting Board
- Chef’s Knife
- Measuring Cups & Spoons
- Small Prep Bowls
- Whisk
- Baking Sheet
- Small Spatula/Spreader
- Turner
- Thermometer
Find all of our favorite kitchen tools here!
Health Benefits of Moroccan Spiced Salmon
This is a nutrient-packed dinner recipe! The American Heart Association recommends eating two, 3.5-ounce servings of fish per week, and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend 8 total ounces per week for the general population. This Moroccan spiced salmon features fish, Greek yogurt, and flavorful spices.
Salmon
Fish is a quality source of protein that is rich in vitamins and minerals. Fatty fish, like salmon, is high in EPA and DHA omega-3 fatty acids, which is good for heart and brain health.
Confused about which salmon to purchase? Wild-caught is known for having a higher omega-3 content, but surprisingly, that’s not always the case! We recommend consulting the Monterrey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch app to help guide your seafood purchasing decisions.
Greek Yogurt
Greek yogurt is a great source of B vitamins, calcium, protein, and probiotics. Select a fat content that works with your overall diet. If you tend to consume a lot of foods high in saturated fat, a low-fat or fat-free variety is your best choice. If you limit saturated fat in your diet, full-fat varieties are okay.
Spices
Using spices decreases the need for salt, which may help reduce hypertension risk and therefore promote heart health. Additionally, the garam masala contains powerful antioxidants which may help reduce inflammation in the body. Learn about the health benefits of spices in this article!
Read more about health benefits of different foods in our book, To Your Taste!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this Moroccan salmon with a whole grain such as millet or quinoa and roasted cauliflower to make a beautiful Whole Life Plate!. Since the salmon is heavily spiced, keep the flavors of the sides mild so that you don’t overpower your palate!
This Moroccan salmon recipe also pairs well with a grain salad, such as our Mediterranean barley salad!
Storage Tips for Leftover Moroccan Salmon
Cool leftover salmon completely, then store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
Serve leftover salmon on top of a green salad or reheat in the microwave.
Looking for more salmon recipes?
Try out these tried and true recipes!
Moroccan Salmon with Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce
Ingredients
Moroccan Salmon
- ~1 pound salmon filets, with skin
- 2 teaspoons Moroccan spice blend, such as ras el hanout*
Lemon Dill Yogurt Sauce
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
- 2 Tablespoons chopped fresh dill (~1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 small garlic clove, minced (~½ teaspon)
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice
- ¼ teaspoon lemon zest
- Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Prepare a baking sheet with parchment paper, nonstick spray, or a light brush of oil.
- Place salmon skin side down on the baking sheet. Rub spice blend onto the top and sides of the filets.
- In a small bowl, whisk together yogurt, dill, garlic, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Spread sauce over salmon (you might have extra depending on amount of salmon). Bake for ~10 minutes per inch of thickness or until salmon flakes easily when tested with a fork or internal temperature reaches 145ºF. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
FAQ Questions:
What is Moroccan salmon?
Moroccan salmon is a baked salmon recipe seasoned with a Moroccan spice blend, such as ras el hanout, and paired with a fresh yogurt sauce. The warm spices, combined with lemon and dill, create a flavorful Mediterranean-inspired meal.
Can I use frozen salmon for this recipe?
Yes. Frozen salmon works well as long as it is fully thawed and patted dry before seasoning. Removing excess moisture helps the spices stick better and allows the salmon to roast evenly.
What can I use instead of ras el hanout?
If you don’t have ras el hanout, make a simple Moroccan-inspired blend using cumin, coriander, cinnamon, ginger, turmeric, black pepper, cayenne, and salt. This creates a similar warm and aromatic flavor profile.
Can I make the lemon dill yogurt sauce ahead of time?
Yes. You can prepare the yogurt sauce up to 2 days in advance and keep it refrigerated in an airtight container. The flavors become even more vibrant as they sit.
This Post Has 2 Comments
This was a great addition to our brunch menu!
So glad to hear that, and agree it’s a perfect brunch menu item. We love the creaminess the yogurt provides 🙂