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Cocoa Spiced Salmon

Featured in Ocean-Fresh Seafood Made Simple.

This Cocoa Orange Salmon has layers of bold flavors. It’s got a spicy cocoa-cayenne rub, baked with orange for a touch of sweetness. A perfect pick for a flavorful meal, it pairs great with your favorite sides like veggies or a crisp salad.

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Updated on Thu, 10 Apr 2025 19:31:48 GMT
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Cocoa Orange Salmon | linacooks.com
This unique Chocolate-Spiked Fish dish puts a fun spin on traditional baked salmon by mixing cocoa, cayenne, and cinnamon for a sweet-meets-spicy taste adventure. It's great for anyone wanting to jazz up their seafood, balancing savory elements with sweet notes and fresh citrus from orange slices.

What You'll Need

  • Fresh OJ: Gives a tangy kick that softens the fish and brings out its flavor.
  • Salmon Pieces (4 ounces each): Full of healthy omega-3s, this main ingredient works amazingly with our special chocolate spice mix.
  • Packed Brown Sugar: Adds sweetness to cut the heat, and turns slightly gooey as the fish cooks for a rich taste.
  • White Sugar: Boosts the sweet notes and helps create that lovely golden color on your fish.
  • Unsweetened Cocoa: Brings deepness and a subtle chocolate hint, making the spice mix more interesting.
  • Cayenne: Delivers that gentle heat that works against the sugars and richness of the chocolate.
  • Cinnamon: Plays well with cocoa and cayenne, adding warmth and spice to the mix.
  • Salt: Boosts all the tastes, balancing sweetness and making the salmon pop.
  • Pepper: Gives a mild bite, teaming up with cayenne for just the right amount of spice.
  • Sliced Navel Orange: Fresh slices laid on the fish add bright citrus smell and flavor.
  • Melted Butter: Brushed over everything to add richness and keep the salmon juicy while it cooks.

Directions

Step 1: Get Your Oven Ready
Turn your oven to 400°F (200°C) and put parchment on a baking tray so nothing sticks.
Step 2: Soak the Fish
Pour OJ in a flat dish and put salmon in it with skin facing up. Let it sit at room temp for about 15 minutes so the juice flavors can soak into the fish.
Step 3: Mix Your Spices
Grab a small bowl and stir together brown sugar, white sugar, cocoa, cayenne, cinnamon, salt, and pepper until everything's well blended.
Step 4: Flavor Your Fish
Take the salmon out of the juice and put it skin-side down on your baking sheet. Rub plenty of the spice mix on top of each piece to make a tasty crust.
Step 5: Top with Extras
Put a thin orange slice on each piece of salmon, then brush melted butter over everything to make it rich and moist.
Step 6: Cook It Up
Stick the salmon in your hot oven for 20-25 minutes, until it breaks apart easily with a fork. The butter and spices will make a yummy crust while the orange adds freshness.
Step 7: Ready to Eat
Take it out and let it cool a bit before eating. This tastes great with roasted veggies, a green salad, or some wild rice on the side.

How to Serve and Store

  • Enjoy this Chocolate-Spiced Fish while it's warm alongside some roasted veggies or wild rice for a tasty complete meal.
  • Add some more orange slices or sprinkle fresh parsley or cilantro on top for color and freshness.
  • Got leftovers? Keep them in a sealed container in the fridge for up to 2 days.
  • When reheating, warm it slowly in a 300°F oven with a cover to keep it moist, or eat it cold on top of greens for lunch.

Quick Tips

  • Want it less spicy? Just use less cayenne or skip it completely for a gentler flavor.
  • Try sprinkling some toasted almonds or walnuts on top before serving for a nice crunch.
  • Don't have salmon? This works great with other fish like trout or cod too.

Expert Advice

  • Bobby Flay says coating fish with melted butter helps create that gorgeous brown crust when baking.
  • Yotam Ottolenghi always puts citrus in his marinades to brighten up and balance savory foods.
  • Thomas Keller thinks letting fish sit at room temp with flavors before cooking helps everything taste better.

What Makes This Special

  • This Chocolate-Spiced Salmon gives you a one-of-a-kind bold taste that mixes sweet, spicy, and citrus notes.
  • It's super fast and simple, so it works for both busy weeknights and fancy dinner parties.
  • The chocolate and cayenne combo creates an unexpected twist that makes this fish truly stand out.

Mix It Up

  • Try drizzling some honey over the fish right before baking for extra sweetness.
  • Play around with other spices like smoked paprika or allspice to create your own special rub.
  • Switch the orange slices for lemon or lime if you want a different citrus kick.

Cocoa Spiced Salmon

Try this cocoa-cayenne salmon. It’s got sweet orange, a bit of heat, and bold flavor to make your dinner shine.

Prep Time
15 Minutes
Cook Time
25 Minutes
Total Time
40 Minutes
By: Paolina

Category: Seafood

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings (4 fillets)

Dietary: Low-Carb, Gluten-Free

Ingredients

01 1 teaspoon of baking cocoa.
02 1/2 cup of orange juice.
03 4 tablespoons of melted butter.
04 1 tablespoon of packed brown sugar.
05 4 salmon fillets, 4 ounces each.
06 2 teaspoons of regular sugar.
07 1/8 teaspoon of black pepper.
08 1/8 teaspoon of salt.
09 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
10 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
11 1 medium orange, sliced thinly.

Instructions

Step 01

Set your oven to heat up to 400°F (200°C).

Step 02

Put the orange juice in a dish and place the salmon in it, skin-side up. Let it sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes.

Step 03

Stir together the sugars, cocoa, cayenne, cinnamon, salt, and pepper in a small bowl.

Step 04

Take the salmon out of the juice and arrange it, skin-side down, on a baking tray lined with parchment.

Step 05

Coat the salmon fillets with the spice mix and lay an orange slice on each one.

Step 06

Use the melted butter to brush over the salmon for extra flavor and moisture.

Step 07

Put the salmon in the oven and bake it for 20 to 25 minutes, or until you can flake it easily with a fork.

Step 08

Serve while it's still warm.

Notes

  1. This cocoa-spiced salmon is a unique mix of sweet, spicy, and a touch of chocolate warmth.
  2. Great as a fancy dinner option, the cocoa and cayenne rub make it stand out.
  3. Pair it with wild rice or some roasted veggies to round out the meal.

Tools You'll Need

  • An oven.
  • A flat dish.
  • Parchment paper.
  • Baking tray.
  • A small mixing bowl.
  • A basting brush.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 320
  • Total Fat: 24 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 8 g
  • Protein: 24 g