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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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!
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Made this last night, followed your directions to a T, including using a wild Soho Salmon. Was delicious, thanks Suzy…
So glad to hear you liked it, Louis! It’s a favorite of mine!
I have made this 4 times. Flavors are wonderful — my husband loves this. However I find the fish cooks more quickly and evenly if I cut the filet into 4-5 serving-sized pieces before I cover the fish with sauce, tomatoes and lime slices.
Hi Suzy – I made this last night and it was so good! I tend to overcook salmon, but followed the recipe exactly and it was perfect! I will definitely be making this again. Also, using the leftover sauce for my lunchtime salad today 🙂
Awesome, Colleen! So glad you enjoyed it!
What are the MACROS for this meal?
Hi Karen, so sorry I just saw your question. The nutrition information is below the recipe for you. Unfortunately, I can not advice on MACROS as I don’t follow that system.
Delicious and easy! My salmon took more time to bake but still so yummy! Followed the recipe exactly aside from baking time. My 8 year old went back for seconds. Definitely will make again. Thanks!
Jessica, that’s great! I always know I’ll be making something again if my kids go back for seconds! Thanks for sharing.
I tried this and it was really good! Quick and easy meal! Thanks, Suzy 🙂
Wonderful, Sa’edah! Glad you enjoyed it!
I made the baked salmon with garlic cilantro sauce last night and it was a serious hit! During dinner and even this morning my husband made comments that this was probably one of the best salmon dishes he has ever had. The salmon was cook right and the sauce (which I was not quite sure I was going to like it) was super delicious. We ate the fish with basmati rice and slices of tomato and avocado. THANK YOU SUZY!
I will try the sauce on salmon patties per Sharon’s idea below. That cilantro garlic sauce is just fabulous!
So glad you enjoyed this one, Margarita! The sauce is my favorite too!!!
Love your garlic cilantro salmon, I had prepared three times already and everyone loves it!
The leftover sauce we had it with salad and it taste really good.
Thanks for this delicious recipe ?
Wonderful, Lydia! So glad to hear you all enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing.
I made this . Was sooo delish . I am making it again . Very easy and juicy . I used the left overs to have in a salad , and it it made the best salmon patties I have ever had . Thanks for this GREAT recipe .
Sharon, that’s wonderful! I am so glad to hear you enjoyed this salmon. So many things to use up any leftover sauce; thanks for sharing your ideas!
This looks delicious! Have you tried making the garlic-cilantro sauce the day before or will it go bad?
Hi Kelsey, it really is one of my favorites! I haven’t tried making the sauce in advance, but I imagine if you keep it refrigerated in an air-tight container it’ll be good for the night. Enjoy!
Made this at home for the family and it was a hit!
Wonderful, Patty! So glad you all enjoyed it!
YES YES and MORE YES! OMG I am dying over here – I need this in my face. Salmon is hands down my favorite thing on the face of the planet!
Oh hey Gi Gi! Great to see you here. Hope you try this one, it is a fave!
Garlic and cilantro with salmon sounds like a match made in flavour heaven, and I love that it’s ready so quickly! Easy enough for a quick weeknight meal, and fancy enough for a Saturday night dinner. Good work!
Thanks, Laura! I so agree on the flavors. Can’t go wrong with garlic and cilantro!
I seriously need to try this! It looks like it has so much flavor!
you’re right! It is flavorful. So easy to make
My gosh Suzy, you are making me hungry! I want to make this exactly like you said with the rice and salad.
Awesome, Katie! I aim to make ya hungry 🙂 Hope you do give it a try. Thanks so much!
you are right salmon should not be over cooked. I usually spice them with spices. I think This garlic cilantro sauce will nice change. I will give it try as I know garlic and cilantro pair well.
Yes, garlic and cilantro pair wonderfully together. Thanks so much, Swathi, for stopping in. Hope you try it soon.