Cilantro Lime Salmon and Rice.
This cilantro lime salmon is incredibly flavorful and such a great weeknight meal! Marinate the salmon in cilantro lime dressing, sear until golden, top with avocado and serve over rice. Satisfying and delicious!
Favorite salmon, coming right up!
This is everything I love about a weeknight meal. A dish that is easy, satisfying, delicious and one that everyone enjoys. Citrusy seared salmon, creamy avocado, my favorite tangy lime dressing and cilantro lime rice. Oh and a pop of pickled onions!
It’s also ridiculously pretty. So green and pink and bright.
We’ve been eating a ton of salmon lately – mostly my sticky salmon bowls – because Eddie has a newfound love for it and so does Jordan! It’s so easy to make, cooks relatively quickly and is so filling. I also love how it goes with so many of our favorite side dishes.
This recipe is all about my cilantro lime vinaigrette. It is one of the best dressings ever, in my opinion. Even cilantro haters enjoy it. And it’s very versatile. It can be used as a dressing, a marinade like we’re using here, a dip or drizzle – with so many different things!
It’s a fave on my baja grain bowls, the best tortellini salad, my taco salad, grilled chicken rice bowls, grilled chicken and avocado orzo, flank steak and even my summer couscous salad.
In this recipe, I use it a few ways. First, I marinate the salmon in it. Only for 30 minutes in the fridge, so it’s quick. But it brings wonderful bright flavor to the salmon and then it gets seared in a skillet – oh wow. The taste is incredible.
I also use a few spoonfuls and toss the avocado with it. This helps the avocado stay fresh longer (thanks lime juice) but it also brings wonderful flavor! It very much complements the creamy chunks of avocado and makes a great topping for the fish.
Finally, I drizzle a bit more of the cilantro lime vinaigrette over the entire dish. On the salmon, the avocado, the rice – everything. It adds the best pop and is tangy and fresh all at the same time.
The rice is simple! I’ve shared a version of cilantro lime rice here on the blog many times before. This is nothing super special, except that… it is. It’s SO good. It’s not overly fancy but it works and is an excellent homemade version of cilantro lime rice. We really love it!
The toppings are easy. Chopped avocado and pickled onions. I love both and think they add a lot to the dish, but you can always skip these if you’re not a fan. It’s just a way to make things a little extra fancy and flavorful. It elevates the plate!
And as usual, leftovers are great as long as you don’t mind leftover salmon. We sure don’t. I’ll even flake the salmon with a fork and toss it into the rice and eat it with nori sheets or something similar!
ENJOY.
Cilantro Lime Salmon
Cilantro Lime Salmon
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 ½ tablespoons honey
- ¼ cup fresh cilantro, plus more for topping
- 2 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
- kosher salt and pepper
- pinch crushed red pepper flakes
- ⅓ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 salmon filets
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 avocado, cubed
- pickled onions, for topping
cilantro lime rice
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 3 cups water or chicken stock
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- kosher salt and pepper
- 2 limes, zest freshly grated
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- ¾ cup chopped cilantro
Instructions
- In a blender or food processor, combine the lime juice, honey, garlic, cilantro, salt, pepper, pepper flakes and olive oil. Blend until combined and mostly smooth.
- Place the salmon filets in a dish. Pour half of the dressing over the salmon. Flip the salmon a few times so all sides are covered. Stick in the fridge and marinate for 30 minutes.
- After 30 minutes, remove the salmon. Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add the butter and once melted and sizzling, add the salmon filets. Cook on each side until golden brown, about 3 to 4 minutes a side. Cook until the salmon is flakey and opaque.
- While the salmon cooks, chop the avocado. Toss it with a tablespoon or two of the cilantro lime dressing.
- Serve the salmon over the rice. Top with a few spoonfuls of the avocado and some pickled onions. Drizzle with more dressing if you’d like. Add more fresh cilantro if desired.
cilantro lime rice
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear.
- Heat the water/stock in a saucepan over medium heat until boiling. Add in the rice, butter and a big pinch of salt and pepper. Bring to a boil then reduce to a simmer and cover. Cook for 12 to 15 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed.
- Remove the lid and stir in the lime zest, juice and cilantro. Serve!
Did you make this recipe?
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I appreciate you so much!
SO good.
5 Comments on “Cilantro Lime Salmon and Rice.”
Sorry, but if it contains cilantro, it will not be prepared or eaten in my home. Nasty stuff!
Looks so tasty! I like to toast rice to a golden color in a dry skillet or pan before I add the liquid to cook it. It adds a nice flavor.
While we were feasting on your creation tonight, hubs sez….”Don’t ever die”. He clarifies with “I’d never get to have this again”.
So that is my review….few words, I suppose…O.K., let me throw in, that the shallow pan frying action was a blast. I sous vide a lot….broil alot….air fry alot….pan frying rocks! This I owe to you! Cheers.
Salmon, avocado, cilantro…simply divine! Adding this to our weekend menu!
I just made this and it was delicious! I did however bake my fish. I roasted Brussel sprout on a sheet pan with my fish for 20 minutes. The fish melted in my mouth. My husband commented on the fish marinade. He thought it was a “sauce”. So tasty! I certainly will make this again. Saving this recipe.