Ditch frying pans when cooking salmon for a better method for the 'perfect crisp and char'
Salmon is a versatile fish that can be used in a wide range of dishes, and there's a simple way to get the 'perfect crisp' on it.
Salmon is an ideal option for a speedy midweek dinner or if you're looking for a showstopping centrepiece to wow family and friends. It has a remarkable ability to absorb a vast array of flavours, and can be wonderfully flaky.
Imran Ali, better known as What In The Chef, recently revealed his secret to the ultimate tandoori salmon. And you certainly won't require a tandoori oven to recreate this recipe. Rather than cooking salmon in a frying pan or roasting it in the oven, Imran recommended another much-loved kitchen appliance for the task.
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To achieve the "perfect char" on salmon, consider using an air fryer instead, reports The Mirror.
In a TikTok video for Channel 4's Served, Imran said: "Perfect crisp. Perfect char. Done in the air fryer, this tandoori salmon with pilau rice. Watch how easy it is."
To give the salmon that rich, aromatic depth of flavour, you'll need to prepare a tandoori marinade. Imran continued: "Once you make this, you don't understand how much flavour there is in this, man."
To intensify the flavour of the salmon further, you can leave it to marinate for several hours prior to cooking. The salmon requires just 10 to 12 minutes in the air fryer before it's ready to serve.
@channel4served Listen up... you can make tandoori salmon in the air fryer! @whatinthechef ♬ original sound - Channel 4 Served
Imran said: "And look how good that looks. Woo! Wow. That was done in a flippin' air fryer."
Served's video has already garnered over 88,300 views, receiving 5,781 likes and 32 comments. One person said: "Your vids have been saved pregnancy craving now best ring my other half and tell him to get some salmon." Dilly wrote: "This guy kills it. Defo trying this."
Shez Cooks commented, "This might convince me to like salmon it looks soooo frickin good," while Sam said, "Wow I have to make this!!!"
So if you're after a fragrant salmon dish that you can effortlessly prepare in the air fryer, here's how you can recreate Imran's recipe at home.
Air fryer tandoori salmon
Ingredients
For the tandoori salmon
- Two salmon fillets
- Two garlic cloves, grated
- ½ tsp ginger paste or fresh ginger, grated
- One tbsp natural yoghurt
- 0.25 tsp turmeric
- ½ tsp cumin powder
- ½ tsp coriander powder
- ½ tsp garam masala
- 0.25 tablespoon tandoori masala powder
- 0.25 tsp Kashmiri chilli powder
- ½ tsp onion powder
- Pinch of kasuri methi
- Wedge of lemon
- One tbsp olive oil
- ½ tsp mint sauce
- ½ tsp red food colouring
- 0.25 tsp salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- Fresh coriander, chopped
For the pilau rice
- 100g extra-long grain basmati
- One tbsp ghee
- Two cardamom pods
- Two whole cloves
- One small star anise
- ½ tsp turmeric
- One cup boiling water
- Pinch of salt
Method
Combine yoghurt (one tbsp), garlic (two cloves), ginger (0.5 tsp), turmeric (0.25 tsp), cumin (0.5 tsp), coriander (0.5 tsp), garam masala (0.5 tsp), tandoori masala (0.25 tbsp), chilli powder (0.25 tsp), onion powder (0.5 tsp), kasuri methi (pinch), lemon (wedge), olive oil (one tbsp) and mint sauce (0.5 tsp). Mix thoroughly, then add red food colouring (0.5 tsp, optional).
Add salmon (two fillets), salt (0.25 tsp) and black pepper (pinch) and coat completely. Marinate for at least 20 minutes.
Wash rice (100g). Heat ghee (one tbsp), add cardamom (two), cloves (two), star anise (one) and turmeric (0.5 tsp) and cook for one minute. Add rice and salt (pinch), then pour in water (240ml). Simmer covered for 15 minutes, then rest for 15 minutes.
Place salmon on oiled paper, drizzle with olive oil and air fry at 190°C for 10–12 minutes.
Top with coriander and serve alongside pilau rice.
