Inspired by Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub, this recipe is a blend of brown sugar, paprika, black pepper, salt, dried thyme, and garlic powder. I particularly love it on Broiled Salmon.
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Since I’ve been cooking a lot more salmon over the past year, I’ve been looking for various ways to spice things up. One of my favorite discoveries is the Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub spice blend. After going through two jars, I thought to myself, “omg wait, can I just make this myself?”
The answer? Yes!! I tested various ratios of ingredients until I found the perfect blend of sugar, salt, and spices. The brown sugar helps the salmon caramelize under high heat, while the paprika and thyme bring warmth and depth of flavor. Continue reading for the recipe.
There’s not much to say here, but I’ll highlight two benefits of making your own Salmon Rub.
1. It’s cheaper. You can make a lot of this spice rub for a fraction of the price of the Trader Joe’s version. I usually have most of the ingredients already in my pantry, and this summer, I’m going to try making my own dried thyme with clippings from the garden.
2. It’s customizable. My version is a tad sweeter than the Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub, because I like how the extra sugar blackens under the broiler. If that’s not your jam, you could totally decrease the brown sugar in the mix. For my next batch, I’m going to try stirring in some smoked paprika and MSG to amp up the savory aspects of the salmon. Start with the blend outlined below, and then riff to your heart's desire!
Salmon Rub
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Add all ingredients to a small bowl or jar, mixing until evenly combined.
- Store at room temperature for up to 6 months.
I’m Brandon: food explorer, recipe curator, cocktail shaker, dessert lover. Kitchen Konfidence is how I document my time spent in my favorite space, the kitchen. Did you make a recipe? Tag @brandiego on Instagram so I can see the how it went!
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