How to Cook Whole Salmon in the Oven (Middle Eastern Flavors)

Ever wonder how to cook a whole salmon? I got you covered with this simple and elegant Whole Roasted Salmon with Sumac, Aleppo Pepper and fresh herbs. A classic fish paired with Middle Eastern flavors.

We are entering what is one of my favorite times of year - Salmon season!!! Roasting a whole salmon is easier than you think. Today I'm sharing a simple Whole Roasted Salmon seasoned with Sumac, Aleppo Pepper and fresh herbs. The tangy spices lend themselves well to this meaty fish.

Purchasing a whole fish can be a little costly, but when you realize how much fish you end up with, it's actually more affordable than purchasing fillets. And the flavor is just superb. Let's chat about the types of salmon!

Wild or Farmed?

As you head off to the grocery store in search of your perfect salmon to cook, you'll see different options. The first one you'll be confronted with is WILD or FARMED. I ALWAYS choose wild caught salmon over farmed. Wild Caught salmon is from Alaska. Farmed salmon is associated with farming in pens and overcrowded areas. Leading to disease and bacteria that can be spread to other fish. If you have the choice definitely go with wild!!!

Types of Salmon

There are a variety of salmon in the markets, they will also range significantly in price ands size. I'm using Coho Salmon in my recipe today. I like to stick with Chinook or King, Sockeye or Coho when purchasing salmon over Atlantic. Atlantic salmon is farmed and will often have a pink hue versus a bright red color like Chinook or King, Sockeye or Coho.

Copper River Salmon is some of the finest - you can learn more about the different types here on their site as well.

1. Chinook Salmon/King - Prized for its exceptionally high oil content, succulent texture and rich flavor, this luxury fish literally melts in your mouth. Also known as Chinook, this fish is the largest of the three species and boasts the highest oil content of the three species.
2. Sockeye Salmon - Also known as Red salmon, sockeye is robust and rich in flavor with a firm texture that makes it versatile for any cooking method. Famous for its natural deep red flesh, sockeye is the most abundant species in the Copper River Delta.
3. Coho Salmon - Approachable mild flavor and delicate texture distinguish this affordable, late-season species.

Information sourced from Copper River Salmon

Ingredients for Roasting Whole Salmon

The star of this dish is the salmon itself, I am using 2 whole Coho Salmons on the smaller side. Each was just about 2.5 pounds. These were previously frozen and cooked up beautifully!

• Wild Caught Whole Salmon - I HIGHLY recommend Wild Caught salmon however you choose to cook your fish. It's sustainable and the flavor is unmatched. Be sure to check the tags at your local grocer. When purchasing your salmon, be sure they are gutted and typically they are sold without the head (most ideal). Some may already be descaled but many are not. I'll walk you through descaling your fish - very easy with this simple tool.
• Lemons - Lemons are the perfect accompaniment with any fish. We'll use it in our rub as well as stuff the salmon with extra lemon.
• Sumac - If you are not familiar with sumac spice - you should be!!! It's a Middle Eastern spice that has a bold lemon flavor. It is the perfect spice to enhance our salmon without adding too much liquid. This is one of my favorite brands - it's bold and bright in flavor.
• Aleppo Pepper - Another fun spice if you are not familiar. Aleppo pepper is not extremely spice but has a lovely warm flavor. If you can't find Aleppo pepper, you can sub in some chili powder in it's place.
• Herbs - Parsley & Dill give our rub a nice fresh flavor.
• Garlic - Everything pairs well with garlic, especially lemon and fish! Go wild with your garlic and feel free to sub in toum if you'd like in place of whole garlic cloves.
• Salt, pepper, olive oil - Our basics to never be forgotten! As always, I recommend kosher salt for all my recipes, if using table salt HALF your amount. Diamond kosher salt is my favorite brand!

See recipe card for quantities.

Instructions for Roasting Whole Salmon

Be sure your fish has been gutted and head removed. You can ask your fish monger to also descale, if they can't, this little tool is all you need. It takes a few seconds to ensure scales are removed and your fish skin is perfectly smooth.

Herb Rub

Prepare your rub/marinade by placing the juice of 2 lemons, salt, sumac, Aleppo pepper, black pepper, parsley, dill, garlic and olive oil into a food processer or blender. Be sure to stop and scape sides down as needed. Once combined, set aside and prepare your fish.

Descaling

If you need to descale your fish, set up an area and lay fish on foil or paper bags to descale. Using your tool, slowly move along the skin in the opposite direction of the scales. The scales will begin to pop off exposing the smooth skin. Once you are done on one side, flip and repeat until scales are removed.

With a damp paper towel, wipe the fish down on all sides and place on a foil lined sheet pan ready to prepare and bake.

Preparing to Bake

1. Once your fish is descaled, begin preparing to bake. Prepare a half sheet or ¾ sized sheet pan lined with foil.
   
2. Place your fish lengthwise or diagonal if it's too long. With a sharp fish or chef's knife, make 4-6 incisions on the side of your fish. Incisions should be about ½", just enough to break the skin and allow for a little space for our herb rub. Continue on the 2nd side and 2nd fish if baking two.
   
3. Using clean hands, place spoonfuls of your herb rub on the salmon both inside the cavity and within the slits on the outside. Try to get as much of your rub inside the slits and remaining rub will coat the exterior of your fish. Finally, add additional lemon slices and extra dill inside the fish cavity. You can wrap your fish in butcher's twine if you'd like, but I find it unnecessary.
   
4. Bake your fish in the middle rack for 20-30 minutes at 425 degrees Fahrenheit. The last few minutes you can broil your fish skin for 2-3 minutes to get an extra char. Fish at the thickest point (usually toward the top, just under where head was removed). You want the fish to be between 125°F and 140°F, I aim for about 125°F. 110°F to 125°F (43°C to 52°C ), the fish is medium-rare. Between 125°F and 140°F, it’s medium to well-done. You don’t want it to reach above 140°F (60°C) otherwise it will be overcooked. I love my digital thermometer, a worthy investment for less than $20!!! - More tips on how to tell when salmon is done.
   
5. Remove from oven and allow to rest for 5-10 minutes. Serve with pan juices and extra lemon.

Substitutions

This recipe is fabulous and versatile - it really should give you tips to cooking a whole salmon. Spices and flavors can be adapted to your liking:

• Sumac - Add extra lemon juice to your rub in it's place
• Aleppo Pepper - Chili powder is a great replacement
• Parsley - You can certainly use extra dill in it's place or cilantro
• Dill - Another great herb would be thyme, feel free to experiment

This recipe is naturally gluten free and perfect for pescatarians.

What to Serve With Salmon

There are so many things to serve with salmon. Here are a few of my favorites!

• Vermicelli Rice - If you have not made this Lebanese rice, I URGE you to do so! It's good on it's own but serve alongside of the salmon with an extra squeeze of lemon + salt and it's heavenly!
• Pearl Couscous Salad - This vibrant couscous salad is wonderful to make ahead and add some salmon along side to enjoy delicious meal.
• Niçoise Salad - One of my favorites, this Niçoise salad is a compellation of so many wonderful fresh items. Many use canned salmon but I find adding fresh salmon WAY more appealing.
• Caesar Salad - I LOVE a good Caesar salad and I've created this eggless, yogurt based dressing that you will ADORE! A few simple pantry staples (maybe a few you need to add to your pantry) and you'll fall in love with this easy recipe. Top with salmon or chicken!!

How to Store Salmon

Remove salmon from the bones and remove bones from any salmon pieces. Once you have done this, store salmon in an airtight container in the fridge up to 3 days.

You can also freeze salmon, take fillets or pieces of salmon and place in a freezer safe bag, remove any air and seal for freezer. Good for up to 3 months and perfect for pasta dishes, salmon salad or a salmon bake.

How to Reheat Salmon

My personal preference is to enjoy the leftover salmon cold, especially in a salad - like this Caesar Salad made with Yogurt Dressing. If you'd like to reheat salmon and serve with rice or pasta, heat a bit of butter in a skillet on medium heat, add your salmon and cook slow and low. Add additional lemon, salt and I also love capers with it. Serve with some sautéed vegetables, green beans or asparagus are great this time of year. DO NOT MICROWAVE!

Pro Tip

You don't want your salmon to be overcooked - if your salmon is on the smaller size, begin checking temperature at 15 minutes, if your salmon is larger, it may need some extra time. If you don't have a thermometer, take a small knife and slightly cut into the salmon. You don't want it to begin flaking, but rather be able to break into a chunk. It should still have pink/red color on the inside as well. More tips on how to tell when salmon is done.

I hope you love this recipe as much as my family does, it's a wonderful way to enjoy fish in an affordable way. Be sure to check out our FAVORITE Caesar Salad recipe that we use this salmon with!

As always, I love seeing your creations. Please leave a review or share your dish with me on social media #cosetteskitchen, I love resharing your photos! You can find me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter , Tiktok and Pinterest. For more delicious recipes to your inbox, sign up for my newsletter!

xoxo,
Cosette

Shop this Recipe

This recipe doesn't require much. Here are a few of my favorite tools to help! You can also check out my Amazon Shop Page for all my essentials. I earn a small commission when shopping from these affiliate links at no cost to you!

• Fish Descaler
• Ninja Bullet (smaller sized, great for smoothies & dressings)
• Cuisinart Food Processor (11 cup, great size for most home cooks - this is what I use for making toum)
• Half Sheet Pan (common size)
• ¾ Sheet Pan (larger than half)
• Kitchen Thermometer (so easy to use!!)

Print

Food safety

• Cook to a minimum temperature of 110 °F (43 °C)
• Do not use the same utensils on cooked food, that previously touched raw meat
• Wash hands after touching raw meat
• Don't leave food sitting out at room temperature for extended periods
• Never leave cooking food unattended
• Use oils with high smoking point to avoid harmful compounds
• Always have good ventilation when using a gas stove

See more guidelines at USDA.gov.