Description
Delightful coconut lime salmon delivers tropical flavors with elegant simplicity. Succulent fish marries zesty citrus and creamy coconut, promising a quick meal filled with Pacific Rim-inspired excitement you can easily master.
Ingredients
Scale
- 4 6-oz (170 g) salmon filets, skin removed & pat dry
- 1 13.5-oz (400 mL) full-fat unsweetened coconut milk, can
- 2 tsp avocado oil
- 2 tsp toasted sesame oil
- 1 large shallot, diced
- 5–6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp grated ginger
- 1 tbsp fish sauce or soy sauce
- 1 lime, zested & juiced
- 1 tsp Morton kosher salt
- 1 tsp chili powder
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp granulated sugar
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper
- chopped basil
- chopped cilantro, for garnish
Instructions
- Seasoning Preparation: Generously coat salmon filets with a harmonious blend of salt, chili powder, ground cumin, and paprika, ensuring comprehensive and even coverage.
- Skillet Searing: Heat a large skillet over medium-high temperature, drizzle with avocado oil, and sear salmon filets for 2 minutes per side, creating a golden, crispy exterior while preserving internal moisture.
- Aromatic Foundation: Reduce heat to medium, introduce sesame oil, and sauté shallots, garlic, and ginger until fragrant and translucent, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Flavor Layering: Incorporate granulated sugar and crushed red pepper, stirring continuously to develop complex taste dimensions.
- Sauce Development: Pour coconut milk and fish sauce into the skillet, simmering and scraping caramelized bits from the pan’s bottom to maximize flavor integration.
- Final Cooking: Reintroduce seared salmon to the aromatic sauce, allowing it to gently simmer and cook through for 4-5 minutes.
- Citrus Finishing: Elevate the dish with freshly grated lime zest and a vibrant lime juice squeeze, adding a bright, tangy counterpoint to the rich, creamy sauce.
Notes
- Spice Coating Technique: Ensure even and generous seasoning by patting salmon dry before applying spice blend, which helps create a perfect crust and locks in flavor.
- Searing Secret: Use high heat and avoid moving salmon during initial 2-minute sear to develop a golden, crispy exterior that seals in moisture and creates incredible texture.
- Oil Temperature Matters: Maintain consistent medium-high heat when cooking to prevent burning while achieving optimal caramelization and flavor development.
- Sauce Balance Tip: Taste and adjust coconut milk and fish sauce ratio to control richness and saltiness, allowing the lime’s brightness to shine through the creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Southeast Asian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 400
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg