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Cilantro Lime Grilled Salmon

This cilantro lime grilled salmon is absolutely delicious! It’s full of flavor, quick and easy to make and completely healthy! Perfect weeknight dinner but also fancy enough to entertain with or have for Sunday dinner.

You can grill, smoke or bake this salmon recipe. The grill gives it a subtle smokiness but baking it is also great! I use this salmon for salmon tacos but it is equally as delicious on it’s own as a main protein!

I like to use a filet with skin still on because it acts like a barrier that keeps the salmon moist. Yes, I use that word alot in cooking and no it doesn’t weird me out, though the word “wet” gives me the he-bee-gee-bies. Anyway, back to the salmon, it’s nice and tender when the skin is left on. If you have salmon without the skin, no worries, it will still be delicious. We will keep the skinless salmon moist by putting parchment paper under it to act a little like the skin.

What you need to make this cilantro lime grilled salmon:

Makes 1-1.5 pounds salmon – feeds 4-6

  • 1-1,5 pounds salmon – skin on or skinless both work
  • ~1/2 teaspoon chili powder – sprinkle over your salmon, you may use more or less depending on filet size
  • ~1/2 teaspoon garlic powder – more or less depending on filet size
  • ~1/2 teaspoon salt -more or less depending on filet size
  • Sprinkle of black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cumin – optional, some people don’t love the taste of cumin so it’s optional
  • Sprinkle of cayenne pepper
  • 4 tablespoons cilantro – chopped
  • 1 lime – juiced or ~2 tablespoons lime juice

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill, smoker, pellet grill or oven to 350 F.
  2. Season salmon filet with chili powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, cumin (optional), cayenne pepper.
  3. Add chopped cilantro on top and then squeeze a lime over the top or add about ~2 tablespoons juice.
  4. Place your salmon skin down directly on the grill if using a skin on fillet or place on a parchment paper lined pan if using a skinless filet.
  5. We are not going to flip this fish, it will cook completely on one side.
  6. Cook for 15-25 minutes, depending on thickness of your fish, you want it to feel firm but still a little squishy when pressed on, it should flake ever so slightly when pressed on, you don’t want it immediately flake or that usually means it’s overbaked.
  7. Remove from heat and enjoy!

Here are a few other salmon recipes you may love:

Grilled Maple Butter Salmon
Citrus Pepper Salmon
Smoked Salmon Sushi Roll

Print Recipe
5 from 1 vote

Cilantro Lime Salmon

This cilantro lime grilled salmon is full of flavor, quick and easy to make and completely healthy! Perfect weeknight dinner but also fancy enough to entertain with or have for Sunday dinner.
Prep Time5 minutes
Cook Time25 minutes
Course: Dinner, fish, keto, Main Course
Cuisine: Dinner, Fish, keto, Low Carb, main, main course
Keyword: Dinner, fish, grilled, keto, low carb, main course, salmon, smoker
Servings: 6 people

Ingredients

  • 1-1,5 pounds salmon – skin on or skinless both work
  • ~1/2 teaspoon chili powder – sprinkle over your salmon you may use more or less depending on filet size
  • ~1/2 teaspoon garlic powder – more or less depending on filet size
  • ~1/2 teaspoon salt
  • Sprinkle of black pepper
  • 1/8 teaspoon cumin – optional some don’t love the taste of cumin so it’s optional
  • Sprinkle of cayenne pepper
  • 4 tablespoons cilantro – chopped
  • 1 lime – juiced or ~2 tablespoons lime juice

Instructions

  • Preheat grill, smoker, pellet grill or oven to 350 F.
  • Season salmon filet with chili powder, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, cumin (optional), cayenne pepper.
  • Add chopped cilantro on top and then squeeze a lime over the top or add about ~2 tablespoons juice.
  • Place your salmon skin down directly on the grill if using a skin on filet or place on a parchment paper lined pan if using a skinless fillet.
  • We are not going to flip this fish, it will cook completely on one side.
  • Cook for 15-25 minutes, depending on thickness of your fish, you want it to feel firm but still squishy, it should flake ever so slightly when pressed on, you don’t want it immediately flake or that means it’s overbaked.

delicious seafood

Thursday 27th of May 2021

I've tried the cilantro-lime pairing with shrimp before but never with salmon. I like how you can eat the salmon as-is, or you can use it in other ways like tacos or with pasta. 

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