I try to serve salmon for dinner occasionally because it’s a healthy source of protein and omega-3 fatty acids that are good for heart health. Salmon also contains B vitamins, potassium, selenium, and other valuable nutrients, and it may be good for everything from brain health to weight management.
My family enjoys the Mediterranean Herb Atlantic Salmon from Aldi, which is coated with a seasoning blend of garlic, bell peppers, onion, green onion, salt, and spices. This is my go-to seafood to pick up when I want to incorporate some healthy fats into our diet. One downside is that this particular Aldi salmon has a bit more sodium, which is often the case with any fresh meat that is ready-seasoned.
Years ago, I used to buy an excellent salmon rub from a local grocery chain so I could buy plain salmon and season it myself. I have been meaning to look for a similar salmon rub at some other grocery stores, or I considered making my own salmon rub because the ingredients are usually pretty simple and easy to find.
Then I spotted some salmon rub at Trader Joe’s, which is a distant cousin to Aldi. I picked up a jar of the salmon rub along with some frozen wild salmon fillets.
Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub Seasoning Blend cost $2.69 for a 2.6-ounce jar. Trader Joe’s Alaskan Wild Sockeye Salmon Fillet Portions cost $12.99 per pound, and I bought a 0.78-pound package for $10.13.
The salmon rub contains brown sugar, smoked paprika, kosher salt, black pepper, rice concentrate (an anti-caking agent), and dried thyme. It’s kosher certified and should be stored in a cool, dry place.
Salmon rub ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
One jar of salmon rub contains about 74 one-fourth-teaspoon servings, with each serving containing zero calories, 50 mg of sodium (2% DV), and less than 1 gram of added sugars (1% DV).
Salmon rub nutrition information. (Click to enlarge.)
The salmon rub jar instructs you to lightly brush salmon with oil and coat well with the salmon rub before cooking.
Salmon nutrition information. (Click to enlarge.)
The Trader Joe’s Alaskan Wild Sockeye Salmon Fillet Portions are a product of the USA and were processed in Canada. They have the skin on and are deboned.
One 4-ounce serving of salmon has 150 calories, 5 grams of total fat (6% DV), 1 gram of saturated fat (5% DV), 60 mg of cholesterol (20% DV), 90 mg of sodium (4% DV), and 25 grams of protein.
Trade Joe’s sells several types of fresh and frozen salmon in both wild and Atlantic (farmed) varieties. This particular type of salmon I purchased is sold frozen at TJ’s and had a slightly lower price than some of the fresh wild options. Before you cook it, remove it from the packaging and defrost it in the refrigerator.
After baking with seasoning.
I sprinkled this salmon generously with the salmon rub and baked it in the oven for about 25 minutes. It was fine, but I probably could have pulled it from the oven after 20 minutes. The salmon is as good as any other grocery store salmon I’ve had. The salmon rub is flavorful without being overpowering. It’s lightly sweet and not overly salty, and it adds a nice flavor. My family seemed to think this salmon rub was all right, too. I served it alongside some Mediterranean salad mix from Trader Joe’s and some steamed Brussels Sprouts from Aldi. We still like the Mediterranean salmon from Aldi, but this is a nice healthier option to incorporate into our meals.
The Verdict:
Trader Joe’s Salmon Rub Seasoning Blend and Trader Joe’s Alaskan Wild Sockeye Salmon Fillet Portions are a nice way to get some healthy seafood into your diet. The salmon rub adds good flavor without adding much in the way of sugar or salt. The salmon fillets are sold frozen, so they’ll keep in your freezer until you’re ready to cook them.
