This baked cilantro lime salmon recipe is your ticket to dinner in under 20 minutes, with big flavor and no fuss!
I’m of the opinion that when salmon is cooked just right, it’s delicious with simply a pinch of salt and a generous drizzle of good extra virgin olive oil. So I need little convincing to love this cilantro lime salmon recipe, which coats the fish in a zippy cilantro sauce and bakes it the oven until it’s perfectly tender.
Like my cilantro lime chicken and shrimp, the zesty sauce balances the richness of the protein and layers it with an addictive fresh flavor. Delicious!
Plus, the sauce packs such big flavor that your don’t need a long marinade. Simply combine the sauce in a food processor or blender, coat the salmon, and bake for about 8 minutes. Throw together an arugula salad while the salmon roasts and dinner is on your table in under 20 minutes!
Table of Contents
Cilantro Lime Salmon Ingredients
You only need 7 ingredients (or less) to make this cilantro lime salmon, and they easy to swap with what you have:
- Salmon: I used skinless, but skin-on will work too. You may just want to slice off the skin after baking. If you like your fish with crispy skin, pan-sear the salmon and add the cilantro lime sauce on top just before serving.
- Garlic: Adds boldly savory kick to balance the fresh and zippy notes. Shallot is your best substitute.
- Cilantro: If you don’t do cilantro, this recipe is also delicious with parsley, basil, or mint.
- Olive oil: I love our bold and peppery Spanish Hojiblanca with this recipe.
- Tomato: I like the color and richness of the slightly charred fresh tomato, but this is optional.
- Lime: Substitute with lemon (just keep in mind it’s slightly sweeter).
- Salt and pepper: Perk up the flavor.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Salmon
Succulent, perfectly baked salmon that is tender and flaky is not hard to achieve. The one important thing to remember is to avoid overcooking it. Here’s how:
- Get ready. Lightly oil a baking pan and place 2 pounds of skinless salmon fillet on top. Set aside at room temperature while you heat the oven and make the cilantro sauce. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- Make the garlic cilantro sauce. In the bowl of a small food processor, add 4 to 6 chopped garlic cloves, 1 whole bunch of cilantro (just roughly chop the top, leaving the tender stems attached), 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, 1 lime, and a good pinch of salt. Blend until everything is well combined into a sauce, then taste and add more salt if necessary.
- Bake the salmon. Sprinkle the salmon lightly with salt and pepper. Now spoon the garlic-cilantro sauce on top and spread evenly to coat the salmon. You will have extra sauce, which you can reserve for serving. Slice 1 large tomato and 1/2 lime into rounds, then arrange the slices on top of the salmon.
- Bake the salmon. Place the baking pan in the top half of your heated oven, bake until the thickest part of your salmon flakes with a fork, about 8 minutes for a 1-inch piece of fish (an instant read thermometer should read somewhere between 125°F and 130°F). Remove the pan and carefully cover with foil. Let rest for another 5 to 8 minutes or so to finish cooking. Serve the salmon with more garlic cilantro sauce on the side. Enjoy!
What to Serve with Cilantro Lime Salmon
This cilantro lime salmon is so versatile, you can pair it with just about anything! For an easy weeknight, I like to make fluffy basmati rice and spoon the cilantro sauce over everything. Add a big seasonal salad to round out the meal, like arugula tomato salad in the summer or radicchio salad with citrus and pears in the winter. And for a wholesome weeknight-friendly dessert, try chocolate covered dates.
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Cilantro Lime Salmon
Ingredients
For the Salmon
- 2 pounds skinless salmon fillet
- Kosher salt
- Black pepper
- 1 large tomato, sliced into rounds
- 1/2 lime, sliced into rounds
For the Garlic Cilantro Sauce
- 4 to 6 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 bunch fresh cilantro, roughly chopped (tender stems included)
- 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 1 lime, juiced
- Kosher salt (to taste)
Instructions
- Get ready. Lightly oil a baking pan and place the salmon on top. Set aside at room temperature while you heat the oven and make the cilantro sauce. Preheat your oven to 425°F.
- Make the garlic cilantro sauce. In the bowl of a small food processor, add all of the ingredients for the garlic cilantro sauce. Blend until everything is well combined into a sauce.
- Bake the salmon. Sprinkle the salmon lightly with salt and pepper. Now spoon the garlic-cilantro sauce on top and spread evenly to coat the salmon. You will have extra sauce, which you can reserve for serving. Arrange the tomato and lime slices on top of the salmon fillet.
- Bake the salmon. Place the baking pan in the top half of your heated oven, bake until the thickest part of your salmon flakes with a fork, about 8 minutes for a 1-inch piece of fish (an instant read thermometer should read somewhere between 125°F and 130°F). Remove the pan and carefully cover with foil. Let rest for another 5 to 8 minutes or so to finish cooking.
- Serve. Serve the salmon with more garlic cilantro sauce on the side. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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*This post has recently been updated with new information for the readers’ benefit.
can this be used for chicken? If yes, would you recommend bone in or out?
Skin on or off?
Thank you!
Hi, Gail! Yes, this be used with chicken. Any kind you prefer :).