This sheet pan turmeric salmon with a quick garlic cherry sauce and roasted broccoli is a wholesome, healthy and anti-inflammatory dinner recipe that’s super easy to put together.
I’ve been on a seafood kick lately.
More specifically, an omega-3 kick. I have this goal to be able to get my omega-3s (and more importantly my omega 6: omega 3 ratio) where it should be optimally through food rather than supplements.
I have no issue with supplements and take the ones that aren’t as easy to get through diet alone (like vitamin D) but this is one I feel like I can control.
Not to mention, eating more wild-caught fatty fish like salmon, sardines and mackerel is a pretty healthy change to make to my diet.
Which brings us to this easy turmeric salmon dinner.
*This post is sponsored by the Arthritis Foundation.
It combines the ease of a sheet pan meal (everything bakes on one tray in the oven!) with the health and nutrition benefits of wild-caught Alaskan salmon, broccoli rabe and some delicious spices that pack an anti-inflammatory punch.
I highly suggest pairing it with this roasted purple sweet potato recipe to get even more antioxidants in your meal in the most delicious way!
Or some air fryer mushrooms with all their wonderful umami flavor!
It’s been a year since I partnered with the Arthritis Foundation on this Instant Pot coconut pork recipe and talked about some of my family’s journey with arthritis.
I’m happy to once again be collaborating with them this year to bring awareness to the Live Yes! Arthritis Network – which offers opportunities for connection, education and empowerment to those affected by arthritis.
Last year, I talked about how my mother has been dealing with the effects of psoriatic arthritis (a type of auto-immune arthritis similar to the more well-known version – rheumatoid arthritis) and how Ulysses has been impacted by osteoarthritis specifically in his hands.
Both of them use lots of anti-inflammatory whole foods and nutritional supplements as one of the main ways to combat their individual arthritic symptoms.
It’s impacted how I shop and how I cook a lot lately as I try to keep my husband as healthy as possible and of course, myself too even though I (thankfully) don’t have to deal with the same type of arthritic impacts in my day to day life.
Anti-inflammatory foods that can help arthritis
Some of the popular anti-inflammatory foods that can help decrease arthritic symptoms are:
- fatty fish high in omega-3s like wild salmon, sardines, anchovies, mackerel and other cold water fish
- berries
- cruciferous vegetables (broccoli, spinach, kale)
- nuts and seeds
- good quality olive oil (I aim for cold-pressed, virgin varieties)
- beans
- spices like garlic, turmeric, ginger, cinnamon, cayenne
My goal with this cinnamon turmeric salmon recipe was to combine as many arthritis fighting anti-inflammatory ingredients as possible into an easy, accessible and of course, tasty dinner recipe.
It’s one you can get on the table in less than 30 minutes and feel good about feeding your family or loved ones whether they’re affected by arthritis or not.
More sheet pan dinners: Sheet Pan Maple Mustard Chicken with Pecans and Sweet Potatoes, Sheet Pan Cornish Game Hens, Sheet Pan Mediterranean Roasted Lamb & Sheet Pan Meal Prep Tofu.
What’s in this turmeric salmon recipe?
The spice rub is the key to this easy sheet pan salmon recipe. It combines:
- turmeric
- cinnamon
- garlic powder
- salt
- pepper
The prep work is super easy as all you do is combine the spices in a small bowl and rub all over the flesh of the wild salmon.
If you have any extra leftover, I like to sprinkle it on top of the broccoli rabe as well – don’t let it go to waste!
The spices are simple and that’s done purposely to let the flavor of the wild salmon shine through.
I take the same approach with this baked wild sockeye salmon recipe. The fresh salmon should always be the star of the show!
Making the sheet pan salmon
Once the salmon is coated in the cinnamon turmeric garlic spice mixture, place it on a large baking sheet.
Scatter the broccoli rabe that you’ve washed and trimmed all around the salmon. Drizzle the broccoli with a little bit of extra virgin olive oil, salt, pepper and any of the extra spice rub.
The sheet pan then goes into a 425°F preheated oven for 10-15 minutes depending on how thick your salmon is. The stems of the broccoli rabe should be tender by the time the salmon is done.
If you prefer to cook the broccoli rabe separately, check out this easy sautéed broccoli rabe side dish instead.
How to make the tart cherry garlic sauce
I made a quick cherry garlic sauce to go with the turmeric rubbed salmon for a little pop of sweetness and even more anti-inflammatory goodness.
You can use frozen regular cherries or tart cherries like I did. I just really love the tart variety (also called Montmorency cherries) for their anti-inflammatory properties. They’re packed with anthocyanins that have great anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
I combined them with some freshly minced garlic cloves and lemon juice for a quick tart cherry sauce that pairs really nicely with the turmeric and cinnamon spices on the salmon. It also brings some sweetness to offset the slightly bitter broccoli rabe.
The sauce comes together in a small sauce pot over a medium-low heat in the same amount of time the salmon takes to cook in the oven.
Of course, the cherry garlic sauce is optional, but I do love how it brings the whole dish together!
Statistics on arthritis
1 in 4 Americans, including nearly 300,000 children, have arthritis. It’s the #1 leading cause of disability in adults in the U.S. There are more than 100 different types of arthritis and related diseases.
81% of Americans have or know someone with arthritis yet there’s still a lot of misconceptions surrounding it. Interestingly, more than 60% of Americans wouldn’t want to accept living with an incurable disease. Yet, there is no cure for arthritis and impact 1 in 4 people.
This is one of the reasons why the new Live Yes! Network is such a great resource. Through the Live Yes! INSIGHTS survey that asks those affected by arthritis to take an assessment, the collected data will then be able to show decision-makers the realities of living with arthritis. This will ultimately pave the way for change by breaking down barriers to care, accelerating research and creating resources that will make a difference in people’s lives.
Please take a moment to take the survey if you or someone you know is affected by arthritis.
Having loved ones deal with a disease that has no cure is a frustrating and often times scary reality.
I know many people that think “arthritis is no big deal” or something along those lines. And sure, it’s not terminal cancer. For that, I’m thankful my husband, mom and grandfather have this rather than something more critical.
But that said, arthritis is something that impacts you day in and day out. It can make something as simple as opening a jar feel like an insurmountable feat.
In my mom’s newly retired life where she wants to play golf and pickleball all week long, it holds her back when her knees start to flare up so much one becomes twice the size of the other.
Just this week, my 89 year-old grandfather who is in pretty great health (still participates in dog field trials on horseback!) is having knee replacement surgery because of the effects of his rheumatoid arthritis. His doctor said, one knee looks like it’s 30 years old and the other, 300.
As the person on the sidelines (and as a super type A!), it’s incredibly hard to not be able to fix it. So, I do my part the best I can and feed us all well.
And if that means sheet pan turmeric salmon with all the anti-inflammatory ingredients I can fit on one plate, then so be it!
Love this easy salmon recipe? Try these other salmon dishes too:
Sriracha Honey Salmon Vegetable Packets
More turmeric recipes to try also:
Sheet Pan Turmeric Salmon with Cherry Sauce
Ingredients
- 1 pound wild salmon, either as 1 full piece or cut into filets
- 1 teaspoon turmeric
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 bunch broccoli rabe, washed and ends trimmed
- 1-2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
For the cherry sauce:
- 1 1/2 cups frozen cherries, tart or regular
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon arrowroot powder, or tapioca starch
- 1 tablespoon water
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F.
- Combine the spices in a small bowl.
- Rub spice mixture over the entire surface of the salmon and place on a large baking sheet.
- Arrange broccoli rabe around the salmon.
- Drizzle the broccoli with the olive oil and any remaining spice mixture from the salmon.
- Place in the oven for 10-15 minutes until salmon is cooked through to your liking and broccoli rabe starts to wilt.
For the cherry sauce- Place frozen cherries, garlic, salt, pepper and lemon juice in a small sauce pot over medium heat.
- Once simmering, break up the cherries a bit using a spatula.
- Cook until water has mostly evaporated.
- Mix the arrowroot powder and water together in a small bowl. Turn the heat to low, add to the cherry mixture and stir for about 30 seconds before removing from heat.
- Serve on top of cooked salmon.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Gina Matsoukas is an AP syndicated writer. She is the founder, photographer and recipe developer of Running to the Kitchen — a food website focused on providing healthy, wholesome recipes using fresh and seasonal ingredients. Her work has been featured in numerous media outlets both digital and print, including MSN, Huffington post, Buzzfeed, Women’s Health and Food Network.
SO good!!! So fast!
I used frozen cranberries plus tart cherry juice for the cherry sauce. Asparagus instead of broccoli. Sliced a sweet potato coated with olive oil and salt on another smaller sheet… altogether incredible. Thank you!!
This beautiful healthy recipe is perfect for the fall season! I’m planning on serving my sheet pan salmon with a garden salad and some warm garlic bread!
The cherry sauce on top is genius! Thanks for this awesome anti-inflammatory recipe!