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Salmon Tikka

Salmon Tikka
caption
Salmon Tikka
image credits
Salmon Tikka
FOOD TYPE
MAIN
TAGS
FISH
RECIPE CREATOR
Karan
Gokani
AUTHOR
Natalie
Li
PUBLISHED
18 September 2025
SHARE
SUITABLE FOR
GLUTEN-FREE
CONTAINS ALLERGENS
USES
NOT SPECIFIED
SERVES
4
PREP TIME
30
min to an hour
COOK TIME
30
min

Servings: 4

Background

Karan Gokani says: “Salmon isn’t a fish that you typically find in Indian waters, as it is native to colder climates. However, Indian restaurants across the UK have been serving variations of tandoori salmon for years, and it’s now a regular on menus. The spiced yoghurt marinade pairs exceptionally well with salmon, while the natural fattiness of the fish ensures that it remains moist and juicy when cooked over a high heat, such as a grill or in a tandoor. If you’re preparing this dish in a region where salmon isn’t readily available, you can easily substitute it with any local oily fish. Fish like trout, halibut, sea bass, bream, snapper, barramundi and Arctic char work wonderfully.

Ingredients

  • 800g salmon fillet, cut into 4 equal pieces

For the marinade

  • 1 tsp each ginger and garlic paste
  • 1 tsp crushed kasoori methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
  • ½ tsp ground turmeric
  • ½ tsp fennel seeds
  • ½ tsp garam masala
  • ¼ tsp crushed black peppercorns
  • 2 tbsp Greek-style yoghurt
  • 1 egg white (optional)
  • 2 tbsp cream cheese
  • 1 green chilli, finely chopped
  • 6 green cardamom pods, seeds crushed to a powder
  • 2 tbsp melted butter, plus more to garnish 1 tsp salt
To garnish
  • 1 tsp chaat masala
  • a few dill leaves

Method

  1. Mix all the ingredients for the marinade in a large mixing bowl and coat the salmon pieces in it. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
  2. Barbecue the salmon pieces or place in a roasting tray and bake at 200–220°C fan for 12–15 minutes until charred in spots but still pink in the middle. If the salmon has not got spots of char after this time, switch the oven to grill mode on the maximum setting and place the tray on the top shelf for a further minute or two.
  3. Drizzle the salmon with melted butter and sprinkle over the chaat masala and dill leaves before serving.

About Karan Gokani

Karan Gokani is a bestselling food writer and co-founder of Hoppers Restaurants. His latest cookbook, Indian 101, is a fresh, accessible guide to real, delicious Indian home food. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced cook, this book makes authentic Indian recipes easy, intuitive, and enjoyable, proving that you don’t need a cupboard full of spices, complex techniques or hours in the kitchen to create incredible Indian dishes.

Indian 101 – Real Indian Recipes Made Simple, by Karan Gokani, published by Bluebird, £28 hardback.

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Salmon Tikka