Easy Cajun Salmon Fillet with Lemon

If you like Cajun cuisine and salmon, you will love this simple and delicious recipe. Or if you are new to Cajun cuisine and looking for different ways to make salmon, I would encourage you to try this. Spiced to perfection, it’s super easy and tastes amazing!

Salmon & The Three Omegas

Salmon is very high in “body-ready” Omega 3 essential fatty acids. What I mean by body-ready is that this type of Omega 3 comes in a form that the body can use right away—precious gems for our brain, hormones, nervous system and heart health that can lower inflammation and soooo much more.

There are three main types of Omega 3’s (EPA, DHA and ALA), but only EPA and DHA arrive in a “body-ready” form. ALA can eventually get there too, but it first needs a little assistance from our bodies to convert it into EPA or DHA.

ALA is mostly found in plants and abundantly found in flax and chia seeds. EPA and DHA, meanwhile, are found in fatty fish like salmon, herrings and sardines.

The good news is they are also found in algae (which is plant-based), which fish feed on, which is why they are so rich in Omega 3’s.

Algae makes an excellent source of those EPA/DHA “body-ready” essential fatty acids for vegans and vegetarians. It also makes a great fish oil replacement, if cleanly sourced (tested to ensure heavy metals/toxins are removed). That, in turn, also helps to offset the overfishing that’s done just to make fish oils!

These Omega 3’s, by the way, are considered “essential fats” to our diet for a good reason—our body can’t manufacture them on its own! And what better way to absorb them than a really nice salmon filet, Cajun style!

When Buying Salmon

I always look for salmon caught in the wild rather than farmed, since they get their deeper reddish/orange colour naturally from the carotenoids consumed by a diet high in shrimp and krill, and just taste richer.

What Pairs Well With Cajun Salmon 

Salmon is so versatile and goes with pretty much anything. Being a nice fatty fish and rich in flavour, though, I like to pair it with roasted veggies and roasted lemon potatoes in the winter. In the summer, I love spicy salmon with either a fresh fruit salsa (like mango or pineapple) and grilled veggies (including grilled leafy veggies like endives) or, when corn is in season, a nice, non-GMO grilled fresh corn on the cob with sea salt and a dollop of grass-fed butter. Finish it off with a watermelon salad!

Let me know what you think and what your favourite pairings are!

Love to hear from you!!

And if you love salmon and pesto, check out this Cheese-free Pesto and Salmon recipe here.