Description
Coconut lime salmon brings tropical flavors to your dinner table with a zesty marinade that elevates classic fish. Caribbean-inspired seasonings create a quick, elegant meal combining fresh salmon, tangy lime, and rich coconut for a delightful culinary experience you’ll crave.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 4 6-ounce (170 grams) salmon filets, skin removed & pat dry
- 1 13.5 ounces (400 milliliters) can full-fat unsweetened coconut milk
Dry Rub Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon Morton kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- ½ teaspoon cumin
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
Sauce and Seasoning Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons avocado oil
- 2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
- 1 large shallot, diced
- 5–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce or soy sauce
- 1 lime, zested & juiced
- Chopped basil
- Chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare salmon filets by generously coating them with a robust blend of salt, chili powder, ground cumin, and sweet paprika, ensuring even coverage across each piece.
- Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat and drizzle with avocado oil, creating a sizzling cooking surface.
- Carefully place seasoned salmon filets into the hot skillet, searing each side for precisely 2 minutes to develop a golden, crispy exterior while maintaining moisture.
- Lower the skillet temperature to medium and introduce sesame oil, which will enhance the dish’s aromatic profile.
- Gently sauté finely chopped shallots for 2-3 minutes until they become translucent and release their delicate flavor.
- Add minced fresh garlic and grated ginger to the skillet, stirring continuously until the ingredients become wonderfully fragrant, approximately 1-2 minutes.
- Sprinkle granulated sugar and crushed red pepper into the mixture, continuing to sauté for an additional 1-2 minutes to build complex flavor layers.
- Pour in full-fat coconut milk and fish sauce, allowing the liquid to simmer for 2-3 minutes while using a wooden spoon to scrape and incorporate any caramelized bits from the pan’s bottom.
- Carefully return the seared salmon filets to the skillet, letting them gently simmer in the aromatic sauce until they are perfectly cooked through, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Finish the dish by garnishing with freshly grated lime zest and a squeeze of bright lime juice, which will add a vibrant, citrusy brightness to the rich, creamy sauce.
Notes
- Quickly marinate salmon with spices before cooking to enhance deep, rich flavors across every bite.
- Searing salmon at high heat creates a beautiful golden crust while keeping the inside tender and moist.
- Select fresh, high-quality salmon filets with minimal bones for the best texture and taste experience.
- Use a cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet to ensure even heat distribution and perfect caramelization.
- Balance sweet, spicy, and tangy elements by carefully measuring coconut milk, sugar, and lime juice.
- Allow salmon to rest briefly after cooking to help retain its natural juices and prevent drying out.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southeast Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 470 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 8 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 95 mg