Recipes

Tandoori Salmon (Yogurt-and-Spice-Marinated Salmon)

  • Serves

    serves 4-6

MATT CHAMBERLAIN

These Indian-style salmon filets are marinated in a spice-infused yogurt sauce, then baked until perfectly crisp.

Ingredients

  • 1 (2 1/2-3-lb.) boneless, skin-on salmon filet
  • 6 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 (3") piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
  • Kosher salt, to taste
  • 3 tbsp. canola oil
  • 1 tbsp. white vinegar
  • 1 tbsp. kashmiri red chile powder or paprika, plus more
  • 1 12 tsp. cardamom seeds
  • 1 12 tsp. garlic powder
  • 1 12 tsp. ground bay leaf
  • 1 12 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1 12 tsp. ground cloves
  • 1 12 tsp. ground ginger
  • 2 cups plain yogurt
  • 6 Thai chiles, stemmed and minced
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh cilantro
  • 1 tsp. garam masala
  • 12 small cucumber, peeled, seeded, and minced
  • Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1

Put salmon on an aluminum foil-lined baking sheet and set aside. Puree garlic, ginger, and 1⁄4 cup water in a blender. Using a rubber spatula, smear garlic mixture over flesh of salmon, along with salt, half the oil, vinegar, 1 tsp. chile powder, and half of each of the following: cardamom, garlic powder, bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and ground ginger. Toss to coat; cover salmon with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.

Step 2

Combine 1 cup yogurt, chiles, and remaining oil, chile powder, cardamom, garlic powder, bay leaf, cinnamon, cloves, and ground ginger in a bowl; season with salt. Pour yogurt mixture over salmon and gently massage into flesh. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 more hour. Meanwhile, make the raita sauce: In a small bowl, combine the remaining yogurt, along with the cilantro, garam masala, and cucumbers. Season with salt and pepper and sprinkle some chile powder or paprika over the top; set raita aside.

Step 3

Heat oven to 500. Uncover salmon and bake until fish is crisp, lightly charred, and cooked through, 20-25 minutes. Using a large metal spatula, transfer salmon to a serving platter and serve hot with the raita sauce.

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