Bang Bang Salmon With Avocado Salsa (Printable Version)
Spicy mayo-glazed salmon paired with a cool, creamy avocado cucumber salsa for a vibrant weeknight dinner.
# What You Need:
→ For the Salmon
01 - 4 salmon fillets, about 5 oz each
02 - 1 tbsp olive oil
03 - 1/2 tsp kosher salt
04 - 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
→ For the Bang Bang Sauce
05 - 4 tbsp mayonnaise
06 - 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
07 - 1 tbsp Sriracha, adjust to taste
08 - 1 tsp honey
09 - 1 tsp fresh lime juice
→ For the Avocado Cucumber Salsa
10 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
11 - 1 cup cucumber, diced
12 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
13 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
14 - 1 tbsp fresh lime juice
15 - 1/4 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp 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 tray with parchment paper.
02 - Pat the 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 tray.
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, combine mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and lime juice in a small bowl. Whisk until smooth and adjust the spiciness to your preference.
05 - Gently toss the diced avocado, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl. 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 if desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The sauce hits that sweet spot between creamy and fiery that makes you go back for one more bite every single time.
- It looks like you spent an hour on it but the whole thing comes together before your rice cooker finishes its cycle.
02 -
- Overcooked salmon is the fastest way to ruin this dish, so pull it from the oven when it still has a tiny bit of translucency in the thickest part because carryover heat will finish the job.
- Cutting the avocado too early turns it brown and sludgy so dice it right before you mix the salsa and hit it with lime juice immediately.
03 -
- Let the salmon sit at room temperature for ten minutes before baking so it cooks evenly instead of being cold in the middle.
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for two minutes and you will wonder why you ever used them raw.