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This delicious grilled salmon fillet is topped with a fresh and vibrant citrus salsa for a wonderful, light, and healthy dinner that is full of flavor. High in protein and low in carbs and fats, it’s a perfect summer meal to enjoy in the sun, and it’s ready to serve in less than 20 minutes!
Table of Contents
This recipe features fresh salmon fillets, seasoned with salt and pepper and grilled to perfection. Topped with a zesty and refreshing citrus salsa made with oranges, lime, red onions, and cilantro, this dish is bursting with flavor and nutrition. Plus, it’s a quick and easy recipe that you can whip up in no time for a weekday dinner or weekend barbecue. Let’s get cooking!
Why You’ll Love This Citrus Salmon Recipe
- A Perfect Balance of Sweet and Tangy Flavors. The citrus salsa is made with oranges, and limes and adds a bright and refreshing taste to the grilled salmon. The sweetness of the oranges complements the tanginess of the lime, while the red onions and cilantro add a depth of flavor that elevates the dish.
- Healthy and Nutritious: Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for heart health and brain function. This recipe provides a healthy dose of these beneficial fats while also being low in calories and high in protein.
- Versatile: This recipe citrus salmon recipe is perfect for any occasion, whether it’s a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend barbecue with friends and family. It’s easy to adjust the serving size and can be served with a variety of vegetables and grains to make a complete meal.
- Easy to Make: Grilled salmon is perfect for busy weeknights when you don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen. It takes just a few minutes to prepare the citrus salsa and season the salmon fillets, and the grilling process is quick and simple. The end result is a flavorful and healthy meal that looks like it took hours to prepare.
Ingredients You’ll Need To Make Citrus Grilled Salmon
Overall, each ingredient in this dish plays an important role in creating a delicious and nutritious meal. From the sweet and tangy citrus salsa to the omega-3-rich salmon, this recipe is a perfect example of how healthy food can also be flavorful and satisfying.
For the Citrus Salsa:
- Oranges: Oranges add a bright and refreshing sweetness to the salsa, and their acidity helps to balance the flavors of the dish.
- Lime: Lime juice adds a tangy acidity to the salsa that pairs perfectly with the sweetness of the oranges.
- Red onions: Red onions add a pungent and slightly sweet flavor to the salsa.
- Cilantro: Cilantro adds a fresh and herbal flavor to the salsa that complements the citrus and onion flavors.
- Olive oil: Olive oil is used to dress the salsa and adds a rich and fruity flavor to the dish.
- Garlic: Garlic adds a savory and pungent flavor to the salsa, as well as numerous health benefits, including anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties.
For the Salmon:
- Salmon fillets: Salmon is a great source of omega-3 fatty acids. I like to use skin-on salmon for a moister fish, but you can use skin-off if you prefer.
- Salt and pepper: These seasonings help to enhance the natural flavor of the salmon and add a subtle kick of heat.
- Olive oil cooking spray: This is used to lightly oil the grill and prevent the salmon from sticking.
How to make the citrus salsa
- To make the citrus salsa, remove the peel and pith from the oranges and lime using a sharp pairing knife.
- Cut the citrus into slices between the membranes and then cut into smaller chunks.
- Mix with the red onions, cilantro, and garlic and set aside. I like doing this first to allow the flavors to infuse well while I prepare the salmon. You can set it in the fridge or at room temperature.
How do you grill salmon
- Pat the salmon dry really well and season with salt and pepper. If you’re working with frozen fish, make sure it’s thawed and dried completely.
- Place salmon on an oiled grill or grill pan that’s been preheated to medium-high skin side down, making sure to keep space between them.
- Allow the salmon to cook on the skin side first without touching it or trying to move it. It will self-release when it’s ready. And that’s when you can flip it and cook until your desired doneness
- When you remove the salmon fillet from the grill, let it rest for a few minutes. It will keep cooking for a few minutes after you take it off the grill.
Tips for grilling salmon fillet
- Buy the right cut of salmon for grilling. You want to look for large, thick fillets. If possible, buy wild-caught salmon since it’s more flavorful and sustainable.
- Keep the skin on the salmon. It may not seem appealing to eat, but the skin actually helps to hold the salmon together and prevent it from sticking to the grill. It’s much easier to flip salmon starting with the skin side down also, and it adds a lot of flavor after grilling.
- Don’t skip the sprinkle of salt before grilling. Adding salt to salmon, especially thick kosher salt, actually helps to prevent salmon from sticking to the grill. So it’s not just included in the recipe for seasoning. It’s also a technical reason.
- Don’t touch the salmon for at least 5-7 minutes when you first place it on the grill. It should release itself from the grill when it’s ready. That’s when you can flip it over.
- Look out for white beads on the surface and sides of salmon. If you see them, it’s a sign that you’re overcooking the salmon, and it’s best to remove them from the grill immediately.
Frequently asked questions
I like to keep this dinner low carb with a side of cauliflower potato salad and beet orange salad, which works really well with the citrus salsa. If you aren’t low-carb, it’s great with a potato side and any fresh salad.
Insert a knife into the thickest part of the salmon fillet so that you can see inside. It is done cooking when the inside is translucent and pink. If you have an instant-read thermometer, it should register at 145F.
I do sometimes eat the skin of the salmon – it has so much flavor and is nice and crispy after being grilled. It also contains a lot of minerals and nutrients. If you don’t like to eat the skin, you can easily remove it from the flesh before serving.
This grilled citrus salmon recipe is a delicious and healthy way to add more omega-3 fatty acids to your diet. The combination of sweet and tangy citrus salsa with grilled salmon fillets is a match made in heaven. This recipe is easy to make, versatile, and perfect for any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a quick weeknight dinner or a weekend barbecue, this dish is sure to impress. Not only is it packed with nutrients, but it’s also bursting with flavor. So, next time you’re in the mood for seafood, give this recipe a try and savor the delicious taste of grilled citrus salmon.
More salmon recipes
- Air Fryer Salmon
- Salmon Burgers
- Honey Lemon Salmon
- Panko Crusted Salmon
- Baked Salmon with Feta
- Pan Seared Salmon
- Pesto Salmon
- Greek Salmon
- Asian Salmon Bites
- Baked Butter Salmon
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feelgood Grilled Salmon with Citrus Salsa recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
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Grilled Salmon with Citrus Salsa
Video
Ingredients
For the Citrus Salsa
- 1 orange
- ½ lime
- 1 tablespoon chopped red onions
- 1 tablespoon chopped cilantro
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 garlic clove minced
For the Salmon
- 4 6 ounces salmon fillets
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- Olive oil cooking spray
Instructions
- To make the citrus salsa, remove the peel and pith from the oranges and lime using a sharp pairing knife. Cut the citrus into slices between the membranes and then cut into smaller chunks. Mix with the red onions, cilantro and garlic. Set aside while preparing the salmon.
- To make the salmon, season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Preheat grill to medium-heat and lightly oil the grill using oil spray. Place salmon skin side down on the preheated grill. Cook salmon for 6 to 8 minutes per side, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. The salmon will release itself from the grill when it’s ready so don’t try flipping it too quickly.
- Spoon the salsa over the grilled salmon and serve immediately with choice of vegetables and/or grains.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate. It will vary based on cooking method and specific ingredients used.
Absolutely loved this salmon! I have learned so much about cooking from this website. I finally enjoy cooking/ kind of know how to cook because of your detailed tips that come with each recipe!
Thank you so much! I’m so glad you’re able to take away so much from my website!
We loved the twist of salsa in this recipe. We didn’t had oranges so made mango salsa and everyone loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
Thank you so much!!
I loved the salsa addition, different than any other salmon recipe I have tried. I added mango as well. Great summer dish.
So glad you liked it! Thank you so much!