This recipe for grilled salmon with avocado salsa is so easy to make and is a guaranteed crowd (and family) pleaser. The salmon is seasoned with a mix of coriander, cumin, paprika, onion powder and pepper. It’s grilled (or baked/pan seared) and topped with avocado salsa.
Summer seems to finally be here, which means spending a lot of time outside: in the water, playing in the backyard with the kids, grilling outside and having lunch or dinner on the patio. Of course there is also a sort of nice laziness associated with summer, you want meals to be easy and quick to prepare, but also refreshing and filling.
This grilled salmon is seasoned with a homemade seasoning mix of ground coriander, cumin, paprika and onion powder to give it a nice spicy flavor. It’s grilled perfectly and then topped with a salsa made with avocado, onion, mild hot peppers, cilantro, lime juice, and olive oil.
Salmon and avocado are one of those perfect matches; whoever was the first person to put these two together was a genius. The salmon and the avocado both have that creaminess melt in your mouth feeling, while the lime, onion, hot pepper and cilantro add a great contrast of tangy flavor.
I’ve probably said this before but if I had to go to a deserted island and could only choose a few food items to take with me, avocados would be one of them (I’m hoping I could learn how to catch some fish on my island). They’re also one of those items – along with cilantro and limes – that whenever I run out of them it means that I need to go grocery shopping. I’ve prepared this dish before with grilled ahi tuna and it was also a great match – pretty much any fish (halibut, snapper, cod, mahi mahi, corvina, etc) will work great with the avocado salsa.
For an easy summer dinner, you can season the fish in the morning and let it marinate all day or season it while the grills warms up. The avocado salsa can be made in about 5 minutes, and can also be made ahead of time. I usually serve this grilled salmon with rice, either plain Latin/Ecuadorian style cooked rice or lime cilantro rice, and some patacones/tostones or thick green plantain chips.
Grilled salmon with avocado salsa
Ingredients
- 2 lbs salmon cut into 4 to 6 fillets
- 1 tbs olive oil
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground coriander
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp paprika powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 1 tsp black pepper
Avocado salsa
- 1 avocado peeled, seeded and sliced
- 1 small red onion sliced
- 3 mild hot peppers seeded and deveined, diced or sliced
- Juice from 2 limes
- 3 tbs olive oil
- 2 tbs finely chopped cilantro
- Salt to taste
Suggested sides:
Instructions
- Mix the salt, coriander, cumin, paprika, onion and black pepper together, rub the salmon fillets with olive oil and this seasoning mix, and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
- Pre-heat the grill.
- Combine the avocado, onion, hot peppers, cilantro, lime juice, olive oil and salt in a bowl and mix well, chill until ready to use.
- Grill the salmon to desired doneness.
- Serve the salmon topped with the avocado salsa, and with rice and patacones or thick green plantain chips on the side.
Nutrition
Step by step photos for grilled salmon with avocado salsa recipe:
This recipe is divine! The cool crispness of the veggies contrasts perfectly with the creamy avocado and flavorful fish. Salmon cooks in about 10 minutes in a preheated 400 degree oven which is how I cooked mine since I don’t have a grill. Simply delightful!
Thanks for sharing
Its really yummy!
I Love it
I went to Costco and bought steelhead trout. I looked up recipes and they all looked good, but nothing I was in the mood for. So, I ran into this recipe for salmon and used it on the steelhead. It is really delicious and so, so simple. I greatly appreciate your sharing!
This is probably one of the best recipes I’ve ever tried! The freshness of the salsa mixed with the richness of the fish, and the tanginess of the lime? Divine. Thanks so much for posting this!
Here I am looking for a whole 30 recipe for dinner tonight and I found yours Layla. I hope all is well, it’s been a long time :)
Hi Thibaud – Nice to hear from you, it has been a long time! Hope you enjoyed the recipe.
Hello, saw this recipe and tried it. The whole family loves it. I plan to make this again soon. Thank you for sharing this recipe. It’s so delicious yet so easy to prepare. May I ask though how do you prepare the rice that comes with it in the picture? The one with the green leafy stuff. What do you call that kind of rice recipe? ?
Hi Grace – It’s a cilantro lime rice, super easy to make, instructions are here: https://www.laylita.com/recipes/2015/09/18/cilantro-lime-rice/
I figured after all these years of making this salmon I should probably comment! This is 100% one of our favorite go-to recipes. EVERYBODY loves this salmon! We always cook it for guests and it never fails to wow everyone. It is DELICIOUS! The only changes I make is I triple the rub (1 Tbsp of each) because it is that delicious, and leave out the cilantro. I have to double the salsa also because I could literally eat an entire bowl of it with a spoon. You will not disappointed with this salmon!
Hi Heidi – Thank you for your comment! So glad that you enjoy this dish!
Hi! I stumbled onto this recipe awhile ago while searching for something. I loved it so tried it out :) last night I was thinking I should stop by and thank you because for the last year since I found your recipe I make this probably once a week! My whole family loves it including my kids. My 9 year daughter has the recipe memorized and she helps me make it every time. I make a homemade Peruvian Aji pepper sauce with it.
So thank you!,,,
Fondly
Tinker
So glad to hear that the whole family loves it! Thank you for the kind words!
Hi Laylita… came accross this recipe and there’s a couple pictures with the final presentation that the appears to be some sort of jou sauce on the bottom of the fish… reading the salsa recipe, it doesn’t appear that the salsa will be saucy… can you please let me know what you used or did to make it saucy? Was it a seperate component? Thanks!
Hi Jose – It’s just the liquid from the avocado salsa (lime/olive oil). I usually pour any extra liquid over the grilled fish.
My boyfriend does not like fish, and it has been my mission to change that. I made this dish last night and it definitely did the trick! The avocado salsa was perfect with the salmon and we enjoyed every bite of it. I can’t wait until your recipe book comes out! I’m tackling empanadas next week! Thank you Laylita!
Really good recipe. Loved it!
Thank you so much for sharing this! I made it last night except I used a fresh cilantro salsa I bought from Sams – this dish was tender and juicy and I was thrilled with the taste of the avocado on the salmon. If I could share a picture with you on here, I would. I was so proud of it – I took a picture! LOL! I posted about this on Pinterest with a link to your Pinterest board
http://www.pinterest.com/IndianaKathy/pinterest-recipescreations-i-have-made/
This is by far the best fish recipe I have ever had in my entire life. My fiancé and I will be eating this regularly. The avocado cools down the fish perfectly. Amazing.
OMG! I made this today and I loveeeeeee it..my family was upset they couldn’t all have seconds… going to make this recipe again. I baked my salmon it was delish. Thank you for sharing this beautiful recipe.
I made this last night for dinner. It was FANTASTIC!
I baked the salmon instead of grilling it, and I added corn to the salsa. It was so flavorful and delicious. Definitely something I’ll come back to again and again. Loved the salsa, it was so fresh and flavorful!
Such a great recipe, thanks for posting!!
Making this for a dinner party but I have one veggie coming too…any suggestions on a vegetarian dish that could still use avocado salsa and rice but replace the salmon?
Thanks!
You could use the same seasoning mix on a few vegetables and grill them just like the salmon.
An egg would also make a great replacement for the salmon and goes great with the avocado salsa on top and the rice.
Another option would be a llapingacho (cheese stuffed potato pattie): https://www.laylita.com/recipes/2008/04/07/llapingachos-or-stuffed-potato-patties/
You know that saying, “that was so good that it make you wanted smack your mama”. Well LAYLITA SMACK YOURSELF!!! Cause this dish was SO AWESOME!!!! :)
I made this and it was amazing :) first time making fish! Very pleased thank you :)!
My husband & I made this tonight on the grill and loved it. (I had planned on making everything last night, but our plans changed. I got the salmon ready with the rub & made the salsa last night & then we made the dish tonight after we both got home.) IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!! I’ve never eaten a salsa of this nature, but I really loved it. . . and so did my husband who can be very picky! Thank you for a GREAT salmon recipe!!! We will definitely be making this again. (*Also, I did chop the avocado, red onion, and peppers into similar sized smaller pieces so that it was more of a relish. We both loved the flavor with the salmon!)
Just finished eating this salmon recipe – and it was fabulous! I cooked it in a pan but that didn’t make a difference. The salsa was also wonderful. I didn’t have chiles so I added banana peppers and it was awfully good. This is definitely a recipe I’ll make over and over again. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you Laylita! Fantastic recipe!
I just made this recipe today. My son, who hates salmon and avocadoes, absolutely loves it! It was a complete hit. Thank you for sharing this recipe!
Made this recipe last night, it was so delicious. The men of the house were dissapointed I didn’t make more so they could have seconds. The combination of the flavors were spot on and really hit the spot.
Salio super ricooo!!! No estoy segura si usas pimenton ahumada — lo use y tmb puse ajo en polvo en vez de cebolla en polvo. Vivimos en la cuidad sin una parilla afuera (quisiera hacer tu receta magnifica la proxima vez estamos en Buenos Aires). En el horno, que olor magnifico… y con tu salsa de aguacate con el salmon….muy impresionante! Muchisimas gracias Laylita!!!
Oh this sounds absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to try it :)
Thankyou, Francesca xx
In Costa Rica we can’t get fresh salmon. I’m going to try this with a firm white fish like corvina or robalo, or even pargo/snapper. It sounds terrific.
Thank you so much for this recipe. It was so good. The harmony of the flavors were amazing. My eight year old daughter who doesn’t like fish at all said she would eat it again after only having one bite.
This recipe is delicious! I made it last night with extra jalapeno peppers, minced garlic in my salsa, and left out the onion powder and coriander (didn’t have it). It tasted great!!
Great recipe and super easy to make! Will definitely make this over and over again. Thanks!!
This looks amazing! We don’t have a grill, can I put it in the oven?! I want to make this ASAP!!
Yes, you can also bake the fish or cook it in a saute pan.
This is fabulous. We have had it several times. Thanks Laylita for the wonderful recipe:)
This looks amazing! I’m not too knowledgeable about peppers…could you please tell me what kind of peppers you use? Thanks!
Hi Julia – I used some hot peppers from the farmer’s market, the red ones were Fresno chilies and the yellow ones were Hungarian wax peppers. You can also use jalapenos or serranos (easier to find in most grocery stores). For just a hint of heat you can use Anaheim peppers which are very mild.
Thank you! I used a combo of serranos and Anaheims, and this was absolutely fantastic. What a great way to spice up salmon!
Wow – this was a great find! Absolutely delicious, one of the few meals that immediately after eating I added to my recipe book. Thank you
This recipe was fantastic. The rub is the best salmon rub I’ve ever had. The salsa became more like guacamole, so chop the pieces of avocado large to prevent that, but it was delish. I used 1.5 hot peppers and 1.5 avocados. I also added a tomato. Lastly, slice your onions as thin as you possibly can and they won’t be overbearing. Thank you SO much for sharing this one!
Gracias!
Voy a preparar esta receta la proxima reunion familiar con mis hijos y nietos! Se ve deliciosa!!!
This recipe was AMAZING! I made this for my fiancee and I and we absolutely destroyed everything on our plates! The salsa became more of a guac as I was preparing it, but it was still delicious and the seasoning on the salmon was unbelievable even on its own! Excellent recipe, thank you for sharing!
This looks fantastic! Love salmon from the grill in summer, the salsa truly looks refreshing for a hot day. Thank you for sharing this gem!
My husband said this was the best salmon he’d ever had! I baked it in a cold oven to 400(f) for about 10-15 minutes after it reached 400. It was DELISH!! The topping was perfect! I served it with Summerly Squash from allrecipes.com. Thank you for sharing!!
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it.
Hi there!
I just want to thank you for sharing this awesome recipe. I am featuring your dish on my blog today. Thank you again!!
This looks absolutely amazing. Pairing two of my favorite foods – salmont and avocado. However, my husband and I are not big hot pepper fans. What do you suggest instead of the peppers for flavor?
Your photos are beautiful and the blog is a great format. I can’t wait to try the salmon and many more of your recipes. I have a small catering company and this recipe looks perfect for a summer luncheon or dinner.
Thank you
Hi Ronda – You can just use bell peppers or sweet peppers instead, or not use peppers at all.
OMG I will be trying this recipe. Salmon is my favorite type of fish..but I gotta say you had me at patacones!!! Where are you from? and how do you know patacones?, I miss them sooo much now that I live in the US. Thanks for sharing
Hi Erika, I’m from Ecuador.
Laylita, I’ve prepared this for my children and I. We’re sitting down eating it now. I’ve decided that you’re my wife in my head! Who else could share such love. Wait, a mom! You’re my mom in my head. This recipe is OFF THE HOOK!
I’m a lover of easy and elegant fish dishes and have a ton on my site but this is one I hadn’t tried. It’s wonderful. Love it! Thanks for sharing.
Penelope
Pinned! this looks fabulous!
Perfect!! I left out cilantro and made it with fried bananas on the side.
I tried this recipe and it turned out beautiful!!!! Since I am from Belize and we eat tons of rice, cilantro, lemon, and things like that, this recipe really hit home!!! Hubby loved it so much he asked me to add it to my little recipe portfolio!!! Thank you so much for sharing.
Laylita,
My family loves this recipe, I made it for a group of friends and they loved it. I love how easy it is to make and it’s not time consuming.
Thankyou
I love this recipe it’s fast and it’s healthy and really tasty!!! Thank you Laylita my Ecuadorian husband says that your recipes have saved our marriage!
OOOhhhh I’m gonna make this tonite !!! Thanks so much !!!!
You have an absolutely beautiful and colorful blog! I’ll be making this recipe tonight for my roommates!
Oh my goodness. I just had this. Unbelievable!!!
Thanks!
I’m making this right now.
Looks so yummy. I do love your recipes a lot ;)
We really loved this recipe. It was so easy and delicious. Your pictures are beautiful and I love your flavor combinations. YUMM!
This was delicious and easy to make. Thanks for the recipe.
hey thanksa for all these recipes it really helpled me with my project about ecuador:)
muchos gracias!!!
I wanted to surprise my wife and Mother in Law for Mother’s Day but never expected to encounter such an incredible dining experience. This dish is absolutely grand. I recommend grilling the fish on cedar grilling planks.
Esta es la receta que justo estaba buscando para cambiar la receta que preparara mi esposo con el salmón. Hoy mismo la preparare y lo sorprenderé!
te felicito nuevamente por tan bonito blog, también las fotos son buenisimas!
Hasta pronto!
Jeannette
my mouth is watering
I make this dish for my family at least once every two weeks. We have bought salmon already seasoned and ready to cook, and my family ask me to please make this one again.
We will stick with what is good and I thank you for all your ideas and great recipes
My goodness! This was super delicious. I made it for dinner and it was gone in the blink of an eye. Thank you for this great recipe. Your website is wonderful and I love the personal comments and the lovely picture.
p.s. I broilled the fish as the weather is too cook for the BBQ.
What a delicious dish. I prepared the salmon yesterday and served it to my guests. They all raved at the taste and look. A winner!!!
Bring them on, Laylita. Your website is on my ‘favorites’ list. ?
Thanks,
Hey Laylita, Looks great, the pictures are so awesome. I just did some salmon on a plank at my blog. First time using a plank and the grill. Come take a look when you get a chance. http://cookingquest.wordpress.com
Would love your ideas and opinions!
Joe
What a beautiful presentation! The dinner looks so light and refreshing!
Wow!!! This is simply amazing…. No wonder your photos were tagged by Paz… :) …. thanks for sharing…
What a visually stunning meal! The blend of colors and flavors looks mouth-watering!
So fresh and summery – I would love to make this! Your plate looks positively delicious :-)
Wow does that look great – Salmon is in the fridge right now and thanks to you it will not be naked tonight on the plate!!
Cheers
Cathy
http://www.wheresmydamnanswer.com
That looks ever so delicious, colorful, fresh and tasty! I love that kind of dish!
Cheers,
Rosa
P. S. You got me so excited about the food, I forgot to say one more thing. haha!
I have tagged you for a meme. hehehehe! Don’t worry it is totally optional. Participate if you wish only. Please stop by my blog when you have a chance.
Best,
Paz
Oh. My. Goodness. Everything you make on this blog is soooooo good. I have to add this recipe to my list. Thank you!
Paz xxoo