Grilled Salmon with Strawberry Salsa (Print version)

Tender grilled salmon paired with a fresh, zesty strawberry salsa for a light, flavorful dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salmon

01 - 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each), skin-on
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1 teaspoon sea salt
04 - 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
06 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Strawberry Salsa

07 - 1 1/2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and diced
08 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely diced
09 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
10 - 1 jalapeño pepper, seeded and minced
11 - Juice of 1 lime
12 - 1/2 teaspoon honey or agave syrup
13 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ Garnish

14 - Lemon wedges
15 - Extra cilantro leaves

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Preheat grill to medium-high heat (approximately 400°F). Allow grates to heat thoroughly for even cooking.
02 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Brush both sides generously with olive oil, then season with sea salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, and lemon zest.
03 - In a medium mixing bowl, combine diced strawberries, red onion, cilantro, minced jalapeño, lime juice, and honey. Gently toss to combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste and allow flavors to meld for 5-10 minutes.
04 - Place salmon fillets skin-side down on grill grates. Close grill lid and cook for 4-5 minutes without moving. Carefully flip fillets and grill for 2-3 minutes until salmon is opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
05 - Remove salmon from grill and transfer to serving plate. Allow to rest for 2 minutes before plating.
06 - Top each salmon fillet with generous portions of strawberry salsa. Garnish with lemon wedges and fresh cilantro leaves. Serve immediately.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Ready in under 30 minutes, so weeknight dinners feel effortless without tasting rushed.
  • The strawberry salsa tastes unexpectedly sophisticated, making you feel like you've done something special when you really haven't.
  • Works for almost every diet need, which means you can actually invite people without playing phone tag about ingredients.
02 -
  • Flipping the salmon only once is the secret to keeping it from falling apart, and this only works if your grill grates are clean and oiled beforehand.
  • The moment the flesh turns opaque all the way through, you're actually overcooking it, so aim for barely opaque in the center with just a sliver of translucent pink remaining.
03 -
  • Oil your grill grates with a paper towel dipped in high-heat oil right before cooking so the salmon releases cleanly and you get those beautiful char marks.
  • If you have time, marinate the salmon in olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt for 30 minutes before grilling to let the flavors penetrate deeper and keep the flesh extra moist.
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