Bang Bang Salmon With Salsa (Printable)
Oven-baked salmon with spicy-sweet Bang Bang sauce and fresh avocado cucumber salsa, ready in 30 minutes.
# 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 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, whisk together mayonnaise, sweet chili sauce, Sriracha, honey, and lime juice in a small bowl until smooth. Taste and adjust the heat level as desired.
05 - Gently toss together the diced avocado, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper 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 Tips:
01 -
- The creamy, fiery Bang Bang sauce clings to every flake of salmon and makes store bought condiments taste like child play.
- The avocado cucumber salsa cools everything down while adding a crunch that keeps each bite interesting.
- Start to finish in thirty minutes, which means it works for weeknights without feeling rushed.
02 -
- Overcooking salmon is the fastest way to ruin this dish, so pull it from the oven when the center is still slightly translucent because carryover heat will finish the job.
- If you want an extra crisp crust, sear the salmon skin side down in a smoking hot pan for two minutes before transferring to the oven.
- Check the labels on your mayonnaise and sweet chili sauce for hidden soy or mustard if those are allergy concerns for anyone at your table.
03 -
- Taste the Bang Bang sauce before adding it to the salmon because the heat level of Sriracha varies between brands and batches, and it is easier to adjust now than later.
- Toasted sesame seeds take literally two minutes in a dry pan and add a nutty crunch that makes people wonder what your secret is.