Bang Bang Salmon Avocado Salsa (Printable)
Oven-baked salmon with spicy creamy bang bang sauce and refreshing avocado cucumber salsa. Ready in 30 minutes.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salmon
01 - 4 salmon fillets, about 5 oz each
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Bang Bang Sauce
05 - 4 tablespoons mayonnaise
06 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
07 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha, adjust to taste
08 - 1 teaspoon honey
09 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
→ 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 tablespoon fresh lime juice
15 - 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
16 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
→ Optional Garnish
17 - Sliced green onions
18 - Toasted sesame seeds
19 - Lime wedges
# Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Pat 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. Adjust the Sriracha to your preferred spice level.
05 - In a medium bowl, gently fold together the diced avocado, cucumber, red onion, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper. Set aside.
06 - Drizzle the baked salmon fillets generously with Bang Bang Sauce. Serve alongside or over 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 perfect line between sweet heat and creamy richness, and once you taste it you will want to put it on everything from shrimp to roasted vegetables.
- The avocado cucumber salsa stays bright and refreshing, balancing the spiced salmon so every forkful feels complete without needing a heavy side dish.
02 -
- Overbaking salmon by even two minutes turns it from silky to chalky, so set a timer at 8 minutes and check early rather than guessing.
- Assemble the salsa no more than 30 minutes before serving because avocado browns quickly once exposed to air, and extra lime juice only buys you so much time.
03 -
- For a crust that rivals any restaurant, sear the salmon skin side down in a smoking hot pan for two minutes before transferring to the oven to finish.
- Toast the sesame seeds in a dry pan for about 60 seconds, watching constantly, because the moment you look away they will burn.