Quick Tandoori Salmon Recipe in Oven and Air Fryer

Quick Tandoori Salmon Recipe: a restaurant-style salmon recipe that absolutely ‘melts-in-your-mouth’. Made using homemade Indian tandoori masala, yogurt, fresh ginger-garlic paste, and Indian spices. Made in kitchen oven and Air Fryer.

Quick Tandoori Salmon

This Quick Tandoori Salmon Recipe is by far our FAVORITE recipe using salmon and also for date nights.

It has just the right hint of spiciness along with some tartness from lemon and literally melts in every bite. You can Make it ahead of time and serve with choice of side. 

I’m listing both the instructions to make it in Kitchen Oven and an Air Fryer.

Ingredients for Tandoori Salmon:

  • Salmon (fillet or chunks)
  • Yogurt (curd)
  • Tandoori Spice (homemade or storebought)
  • Lemon Juice
  • Oil

How to Make Tandoori Salmon

I mean what can be simpler than marinated and baked meals where the dish looks straight out of a certified restaurant yet you spent less than 20 minutes making it 😉

The marination process remains the same for any medium you choose to cook the salmon.

tandoori salmon ingredients

Seriously, 20 minutes is all you need to mix, prep and marinate these gorgeous fillets with a quick homemade Indian spice mix called ‘ Tandoori Masala’ and your lovely recipe is ready to bake.

For Air Fryer Tandoori Salmon: follow the instructions below and air fry for 15 minutes after marinating the salmon.

What is Tandoori Masala / Spice Made Of?

It’s a mix of Indian garam masala with lemon juice, ginger + garlic paste, red/orange food coloring, and chili powder.

I usually make my own tandoori masala at home however, you can find them really easily in any Indian grocery store.

They are usually in the spices aisle and there are some really great brands (if you need suggestions, drop me a message below).

This masala/spice-mix is really very easy and you can make a huge batch and keep for later.

Oven Baked Tandoori Salmon Recipe

Now, if you’re a fan of Indian cooking or have eaten at any North Indian restaurant, you must have come across the term – Tandoori!

All ‘Tandoori’ recipes are spiced with an orange-colored spice+yogurt marinate and cooked in a clay pot deep oven called ‘Tandoor’ in India (hence the literal translation tandoori).

However, these days, we seldom have tandoors at home (seriously takes 40 minutes to prep a tandoor using coals) nor the time and energy to prep one (even if we have a huge grill at home).

So I’ve improvised and used a bake+broil method to get a similar texture with our sweet home ovens.

I really don’t have much to write about the process of this recipe as it’s literally that easy and quick 🙂 But I can definitely go on and on about its taste.

So, I’d rather take a leave and let you make this ASAP and try this deliciousness for yourself.

It’s also featured many times on our Valentine’s Day meal too, so go ahead and give it a try.

Some Helpful Notes About This Recipe:

How Long to cook Tandoori Salmon:
I cook the salmon for 10 minutes in the oven.

What to Serve with Tandoori Salmon:
I usually serve it with fresh lime/lemon wedges or a light salad or cilantro chutney or roasted seasonal veggies or cauliflower rice or any rice pilaf/pulao.

What Wine to Serve with Salmon:
I like serving it with a dry Pinot Gris or a Pinot Noir. But sometimes during brunches, I’ve also served it with a Chardonnay.

 

As always, I Looove when you try my recipes and send me pictures & feedback.

You can tag my recipes tried by you using #easycookingwithmolly on:

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Quick Tandoori Salmon Recipe

 

Here are some other Fish Recipes you can Try:

Amritsari Fish (Indian style battered fish)

Air Fryer Fish Recipe (Air Fryer Tilapia)

Tandoori Fish Tikka (Made in Oven)

 

Yield: 2 Salmon Fillet

Quick Tandoori Salmon Recipe - Baked & Air Fryer Recipe

tandoori salmon on a white plate with vegetables on side

Quick Tandoori Salmon Recipe: a restaurant-style salmon recipe that absolutely 'melts-in-your-mouth'. Made using homemade Indian tandoori masala, yogurt, fresh ginger-garlic paste, and Indian spices. Baked & Air Fryer Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 14 minutes
Total Time 29 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 Salmon Fillets - medium size
  • 1 Tsp Ginger+Garlic Paste
  • 1/2 Cup Greek Plain Yogurt - or any thick yogurt
  • 2 Tsp Olive Oil - or any light oil
  • 1/2 Lemon Juice

Spices for Tandoori Masala *

  • 1/8 Tsp Turmeric Powder
  • 1 Tsp Red Kashmiri Mirch Powder - red kashmiri chili is used for color n less heat.**
  • Pinch of Orange Color - optional
  • 1 Tsp Coriander Powder
  • 1 Tsp Cumin Powder
  • 1 Tsp Garam Masala - mix of cloves, pepper, cardamoms, cinnamon / or buy at Indian store
  • 1 Tsp Dry Fenugreek Leaves - optional
  • Salt - as per taste

Instructions

How to Make Quick Tandoori Salmon - Oven

  1. In a large bowl, mix yogurt, ginger+garlic paste, lemon juice, and all spices together.
  2. Add Salmon and keep aside for 10 minutes (more if you have time)
  3. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F.
  4. Line a baking tray with foil and spray cooking oil.
  5. Place the marinated salmon on the tray and bake for 10 minutes in the oven.
  6. Then turn up the heat to broil and cook for 3-4 minutes until it starts to char on the surface.
  7. KEEP an EYE as this can burn quickly.
  8. Turn off the oven and remove the baking tray.
  9. Transfer the salmon to serving dishes and serve immediately with mint chutney and vegetables.
  10. (You can serve this dish with any side of choice).


Air Fryer Tandoori Salmon Recipe:

  1. In a large bowl, mix yogurt, ginger+garlic paste, lemon juice, and all spices together.
  2. Add Salmon and keep aside for 10 minutes (more if you have time)
  3. Preheat the Air Fryer for 3 minutes
  4. Remove the Air Fryer basket and place 1 marinated salmon fillet in it and spray with olive oil.
  5. Air Fry at 350F for 10 minutes setting.
  6. Remove the basket, flip the fish to the other side and air-fry for another 5 minutes.
  7. Similarly, air-fry the other marinated salmon fillet and transfer to a serving dish.
  8. Serve with choice of salad and green chutney.

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

2

Serving Size:

1

Amount Per Serving: Calories: 275Total Fat: 43gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 31gCholesterol: 90mgSodium: 300mgCarbohydrates: 16gFiber: 3gSugar: 10gProtein: 59g

44 Replies to "Quick Tandoori Salmon Recipe in Oven and Air Fryer"

  • Carolyn Wood February 6, 2020 (3:59 pm)

    Do you include any of the marinade with the salmon when you place it on the foil to cook?

    • Molly Kumar February 10, 2020 (3:18 pm)

      Hello Carolyn, you can add a little marinade in the salmon on the foil but not much of it. If the marinade is too much, it will spill all over while cooking.

  • Manpreet January 18, 2020 (12:35 pm)

    Extremely delicious and we are going to make it again soon!!!

  • Joan Pal February 6, 2019 (2:53 pm)

    I’ve baked salmon with butter, lime & garlic . It was not so interesting. Thought of using Tandoori masala to compliment the delicate taste of salmon. We use tandoori masala regularly with chicken.Found your recipe online today & tried it. It was amazing ! Will make it again when I have friends over for dinner!

    • Molly Kumar March 17, 2019 (10:11 pm)

      Hi Joan, thanks so much for trying our recipe 🙂

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