Bang Bang Salmon With Salsa (Printable Version)
Spicy-sweet glazed salmon paired with cool avocado cucumber salsa for a quick, vibrant weeknight meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salmon
01 - 4 salmon fillets, about 5 oz each
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - ½ teaspoon kosher salt
04 - ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Bang Bang Sauce
05 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
06 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha, adjusted to taste
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
09 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
→ Avocado Cucumber Salsa
10 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
11 - 1 cup English cucumber, diced
12 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
13 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
15 - ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
16 - ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Optional Garnish
17 - Sliced green onions
18 - Toasted sesame seeds
19 - Lime wedges
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Rub each fillet with olive oil, then season evenly with salt and black pepper. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - In a small mixing bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and lime juice until smooth and well combined. Adjust the Sriracha amount to your preferred heat level.
04 - In a medium bowl, gently toss together the diced avocado, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Be careful not to mash the avocado. Set aside.
05 - Bake the salmon fillets for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the flesh is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
06 - Remove salmon from the oven and drizzle generously with the Bang Bang Sauce. Serve each fillet alongside the avocado cucumber salsa. Garnish with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and lime wedges if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- The bang bang sauce walks that perfect line between sweet heat and creamy indulgence, and you will want to put it on everything once you taste it.
- The avocado cucumber salsa comes together in five minutes and brings a brightness that makes the whole plate feel like it came from a coastal restaurant.
02 -
- Undercooked salmon is fixable but overcooked salmon is a one way trip, so always pull it from the oven when it still has the faintest translucency in the thickest part.
- Dicing the avocado too small turns the salsa into guacamole, so aim for pieces roughly the same size as your cucumber cubes for the best texture.
03 -
- Let the salmon rest for two minutes after it comes out of the oven before saucing it, because the internal temperature keeps rising and the juices redistribute.
- Make double the bang bang sauce and keep the extra in the fridge for dipping roasted vegetables or drizzling over rice bowls later in the week.