Bang Bang Salmon with Avocado Salsa (Print Version)
Spicy-sweet glazed salmon paired with cool avocado cucumber salsa for a vibrant weeknight dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salmon
01 - 4 salmon fillets, about 5 oz each
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - ½ tsp kosher salt
04 - ½ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Bang Bang Sauce
05 - ¼ cup mayonnaise
06 - 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
07 - 1 tbsp Sriracha, adjusted to taste
08 - 1 tsp honey
09 - 1 tsp fresh lime juice
→ Avocado Cucumber Salsa
10 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
11 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
12 - ¼ cup red onion, finely chopped
13 - ¼ cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
15 - ¼ tsp kosher salt
16 - ¼ tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ Optional Garnish
17 - Sliced green onions
18 - Toasted sesame seeds
19 - Lime wedges
# How to Make It:
01 - Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Pat the salmon fillets thoroughly dry with paper towels. Rub each fillet with olive oil, then season evenly with salt and black pepper. Arrange the fillets on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Bake for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the salmon is just cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
04 - While the salmon bakes, whisk together the mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and lime juice in a small bowl until smooth and well combined. Adjust the Sriracha to reach your preferred heat level.
05 - In a medium bowl, gently toss the diced avocado, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper until evenly combined. Take care not to mash the avocado. Set aside.
06 - Once the salmon is cooked, drizzle each fillet generously with the Bang Bang Sauce.
07 - Serve the sauced salmon fillets over or alongside the avocado cucumber salsa. Garnish with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and lime wedges as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The bang bang sauce walks that perfect line between sweet heat and creamy richness, and once you taste it you will want to put it on everything.
- The avocado cucumber salsa comes together in minutes and brings a refreshing crunch that balances the spiciness beautifully.
02 -
- Overcooked salmon turns dry and chalky in minutes, so pull it from the oven when the center still has a slight translucence and let carryover heat finish the job.
- Adding the lime juice to the salsa right before serving keeps the avocado bright green and the cucumber crisp rather than watery.
03 -
- Toasting sesame seeds in a dry pan for sixty seconds releases an nutty aroma that makes the garnish worth the extra thirty seconds of effort.
- Let the bang bang sauce sit for ten minutes after mixing so the flavors meld into something far more cohesive than when first stirred together.