A chef from Delish has shared a simple salmon recipe that promises extra flavour and juiciness with just one ingredient: harissa paste. This North African red chilli paste, made from chillies, garlic, olive oil, citrus, and spices, adds a mildly sweet, smoky, tangy, and spicy kick to the fish.
According to the Mediterranean Dish, harissa paste can be found in most supermarkets like Tesco and Sainsbury's for under £2. The chef explained: "I fell in love with harissa roasted salmon when developing my recipe for everything bagel crusted salmon, and this version is even simpler, coming together in a single skillet in the oven with only five minutes of prep."
Simple Preparation Steps
To make this low-lift, 25-minute dinner main, salmon fillets are dusted with cumin and paprika, rubbed with spicy harissa paste, and roasted alongside cherry tomatoes, shallots, and garlic. The dish is then topped with fresh dill and creamy feta.
Ingredients include four skinless salmon fillets, half a teaspoon of ground cumin, half a teaspoon of sweet paprika, two and a quarter teaspoons of kosher salt, one tablespoon of harissa paste, one shallot, three garlic cloves, eight ounces of cherry tomatoes, three tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil, two tablespoons of crumbled feta or goat cheese, and one tablespoon of chopped fresh dill.
Cooking Method
Start by positioning an oven rack in the middle and a large stainless steel or cast-iron skillet on it. Preheat the oven to 230°C. Pat the salmon fillets dry with kitchen paper, then season both sides with cumin, paprika, and one and a half teaspoons of salt. Coat one side of each fillet with harissa paste.
Finely chop the shallot and thinly slice the garlic cloves. Combine them with the tomatoes in a medium bowl. Drizzle with one tablespoon of olive oil, season with the remaining salt, and toss to coat. Carefully remove the hot skillet from the oven and pour in two tablespoons of olive oil. Place the salmon fillets in the skillet with the harissa-coated side up, then distribute the tomato mixture around them.
Return the skillet to the oven and cook for 9–11 minutes. Once done, remove from the oven and scatter crumbled feta and chopped dill over the salmon and tomatoes. Serve immediately.
