Bang Bang Salmon With Avocado (Printable)
Spicy sauced salmon paired with cool avocado cucumber salsa for a quick, vibrant dinner.
# What You'll Need:
→ 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
→ Bang Bang Sauce
05 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
06 - 2 tbsp sweet chili sauce
07 - 1 tbsp Sriracha, adjust to taste
08 - 1 tsp honey
09 - 1 tsp fresh lime juice
→ Avocado Cucumber Salsa
10 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
11 - 1 cup English 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 kosher salt
16 - 1/4 tsp 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 tray with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Pat salmon fillets thoroughly 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 until the salmon is just cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
04 - While the salmon bakes, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and lime juice in a small bowl until smooth and well combined. Adjust the Sriracha amount to your preferred spice level.
05 - Gently toss the diced avocado, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper together in a medium bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. Set aside.
06 - Once the salmon is done, drizzle each fillet generously with the Bang Bang Sauce.
07 - Serve each sauced salmon fillet over or alongside a generous spoonful of the avocado cucumber salsa. Garnish with sliced green onions, toasted sesame seeds, and lime wedges if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The Bang Bang sauce walks that magical line between sweet and fiery, and you can dial the heat up or down depending on who is sitting at your table.
- That cool avocado cucumber salsa against the warm, saucy salmon is the kind of contrast that makes you close your eyes after the first bite.
- Everything comes together in half an hour with one baking tray and a couple of bowls, which means minimal cleanup on a night when you already have enough on your plate.
02 -
- If you overbake the salmon by even a couple of minutes it will go from silky and luxurious to dry and chalky, so set a timer and check early because carryover cooking will finish the job after you pull it from the oven.
- The salsa is best assembled right before serving because the avocado will start to brown and the cucumber will release water if it sits too long, turning your vibrant relish into something soggy and unappetizing.
03 -
- Take the salmon out of the fridge about 15 minutes before cooking so it comes closer to room temperature, which helps it cook more evenly from edge to center instead of leaving you with an overcooked exterior and a cold middle.
- Toasting sesame seeds in a dry pan for 60 seconds until they start to smell nutty takes this dish from good dinner to something worth photographing, and it requires almost zero effort.