Bang Bang Salmon With Avocado (Print View)

Spicy baked salmon with creamy bang bang sauce and cool avocado cucumber salsa, ready in 30 minutes.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salmon

01 - 4 skinless salmon fillets, about 6 oz each
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Bang Bang Sauce

06 - 1/4 cup mayonnaise
07 - 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
08 - 1 tablespoon Sriracha, adjust to taste
09 - 1 tablespoon honey
10 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice

→ Avocado Cucumber Salsa

11 - 1 large avocado, diced
12 - 1 cup cucumber, peeled and diced
13 - 1/4 cup red onion, finely chopped
14 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced
15 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro, chopped
16 - Juice of 1 lime
17 - Salt and pepper to taste

→ For Serving

18 - Steamed rice, quinoa, or lettuce wraps (optional)
19 - Lime wedges

# How to Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
02 - Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Brush each fillet on both sides with olive oil, then season evenly with salt, black pepper, and smoked paprika. Arrange on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Bake for 12 to 15 minutes until the salmon is 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. Set aside.
05 - In a medium bowl, gently toss together the diced avocado, cucumber, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
06 - Remove salmon from the oven and drizzle generously with the bang bang sauce.
07 - Spoon the avocado cucumber salsa over or alongside each salmon fillet. Serve immediately with steamed rice, quinoa, or lettuce wraps, and garnish with lime wedges.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The creamy, fiery bang bang sauce is the kind of thing you will want to put on everything from tacos to roasted vegetables once you taste it.
  • It goes from fridge to table in thirty minutes, which makes it a weeknight hero that feels like a weekend splurge.
  • The avocado cucumber salsa cools everything down and adds a crunch that makes each bite more interesting than the last.
02 -
  • Do not skip drying the salmon fillets before seasoning, because excess moisture prevents the spices from adhering and creates steam instead of a nicely textured surface.
  • The bang bang sauce thickens as it chills, so if you make it ahead, let it sit at room temperature for ten minutes before drizzling.
  • Assemble the salsa no more than thirty minutes before serving or the cucumber will release water and dilute the flavors.
03 -
  • Let the salmon rest for two minutes after taking it out of the oven before adding the sauce, because the residual heat will continue cooking it and the sauce adheres better to a surface that is not actively steaming.
  • Taste the salsa before adding salt, since the lime juice and jalapeño already contribute a surprising amount of seasoning on their own.

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