Mexican Grilled Salmon with Avocado Cucumber Salsa served over greens with creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing …can be made in 20 minutes. A delicious, healthy low-carb meal.
Here’s a simple fast recipe for Grilled Salmon topped with Avocado Cucumber Salsa over a salad of Little Gem Lettuces ( or romaine), dressed with a ,creamy, tangy cilantro yogurt lime dressing.
This grilled summer salad can be made in 20 minutes flat. Salmon fillets are rubbed with chili powder and cumin, then seared to perfection on a hot grill. They are placed over little gems ( or baby romaine) tossed in a zesty, creamy yogurt based cilantro lime dressing, then topped with a cool avocado cucumber salsa. Easy, healthy and tasty…and can be made quickly! A perfect weeknight meal.
During the summer months I opt for lighter meals that can be prepared outside, very simply and quickly on the grill, allowing time to relax and enjoy the glorious weather and light, while sipping on a glass of vino. To me, that’s heaven- the perfect way to unwind after work. Being outside and enjoying nature, even if it’s just in the backyard for a little while, can be medicine for the soul, so restorative.
Salmon is rubbed with cumin, chili powder and salt and placed on a hot grill. Sear for just a few minutes on each side.
Toss ” little gems” with a creamy cilantro lime dressing and make a bed for the salmon to sit on. And if you can’t get a hold of little gems, baby romaine is a great substitute.
Make a quick salsa with diced avocado, cucumber, scallions, lime and cilantro.
Grilled Salmon Salad with Avocado Cucumber Salsa
- Prep Time: 15 mins
- Cook Time: 7 mins
- Total Time: 22 mins
- Yield: 4
- Category: Entree Salad
- Cuisine: Northwest
Description
Ingredients
- 4 x 6 oz salmon filet
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoon chile powder
- —–SALSA—–
- 1 avocado ( slightly firm) diced
- 1 Cup diced cucumber
- ½ jalapenpo
- ¼ C chopped cilantro
- 1 lime- juice and zest
- 2 teaspoons Olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- —–DRESSING—
- ½ C plain Greek yogurt
- lime juice from one small lime
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 T olive oil
- ⅛ C chopped cilantro
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- ——-
- 4 heads little gems lettuce ( or baby romaine) — 1 per person
Instructions
- Preheat grill.
- In a small bowl, make the rub -mix salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin. Rub all sides of salmon with the spice rub.
- Make the dressing. Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Make the salsa. Mix all ingredients except avocado in a medium bowl. Gently fold in avocado last so it stays in tact, and don’t over mix, you don’t want it mushy.
- Quarter lettuce vertically. Set aside.
- Grill salmon over medium high heat on a greased grill, a few minutes on each side until desired doneness….preferable medium or medium rare.
- To assemble: Toss lettuce gentle with a little dressing, just enough to coat. Lay on a plate, creating a bed for the salmon. Place salmon over top, then spoon avacado salsa over top. Serve with lime wedges and cilantro sprigs.
We love this recipe – have made it with little gems, baby Romain or baby spinach – all work well with the creamy lime dressing. Have also used pickled jalapeños when we didn’t have fresh on hand – super yummy either way!
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sounds perfect!
Excited to try! Do you think we could sub soft tofu for the yogurt for our lactose intolerant friends?
P.s. thanks so much for your blog! The recipes are consistently great and approachable for someone who gets decision/kitchen anxiety!
Thanks Gillian! Yes, I think silken tofu would be fine here. You may need to kick up the lemon juice and salt and add more olive oil.
This is probably my 10th time making this recipe – I’m just not that consistent with reviewing. I have a salmon CSA of sorts and get a years worth of salmon fillets in September. This is a perfect, easy, dinner to serve guests or as a weeknight dinner with lunch leftovers. I have loved almost every recipe from your blog and this one is in regular rotation. Thanks so much for your creative, healthy and pretty accessible delicious recipes!
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Awesome, thanks so much Dana, appreciate this! 🙌
Awesome. Just the right amount of spice and the cucumber avocado salsa was the perfect compliment. Will definitely make this again.
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Once again, a HIT!! so light, refreshing and still so much depth to the dish! To be honest, i was bummed i didn’t make extras for seconds/left overs. I was a little skeptical of 2 things: the (large) amount of chili powder and the fact that it was only 1 clove of garlic (and it was in the salad dressing), but Sylvia you really know how to balance flavors in such a great and surprising way! Making your Bali fish curry tonight, wish me luck!
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Because salmon is our favorite fish I have a go to recipe I love. This recipe looks so good. My question is, can you recommend a substitute for the salmon with another fish???
Thank you!
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Simple. Fresh. Delicious.
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Salmon is always a family favorite and this recipe will be added to our rotation! Avocado cucumber salsa was very refreshing on a hot Southern California evening!
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Thanks Theresa, appreciate your comment and happy you enjoyed it!
Made this last week and we absolutely loved it. Our new favorite salmon recipe!
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Super easy and delicious! I prepped the salsa, dressing and rub in the morning. Put the salmon in the oven (instead of grilling) that night and dinner was ready in 12 minutes!
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Awesome Angie, glad you liked it!
The salmon looks beautiful and I never used this. I use this ingredient first time in dish.it is a summer salad and it is healthy.
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thanks Kelly, give it a try! I think you will be happy with it!
My husband returned last week from his annual salmon fishing expedition to Alaska with more than 100 pounds of beautiful sockeye, so I am always looking for new ways to prepare salmon. We are also very fond of avocado and cucumber as accompaniments. I made this dish tonight, and we enjoyed every bite. The rub did not overwhelm the salmon and everything tasted fresh and healthy. Thanks! Your recipes (and photographs) are an inspiration.
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Awww, thanks Robin. And how lucky you are to have access wild Alaskan Salmon! So delicious and good for you! I’m not sure where you live …but one of my all time my favorite salmon recipes is with pickled huckleberries, if you can get your hands some. 😉 Here is the recipe link!
This was a winner! It encorporates all of our favorites and they play so nicely together. Loved the dry rub on the salmon countered by the creamy dressing and avocado salsa. I’ve been asked to add it to our regular lineup. Thank you!
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Thanks Joanna- Glad you enjoyed!
This was our diner two nights ago, and we loved it ! all the “parts” balance each other perfectly, and it tastes very fresh (and also, green, it looks as good as it tastes) and is just spicy enough. Thanks for this recipe !
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Yay!!! so happy you liked it! Thanks for sharing!
The salmon looks absolutely beautiful! I can only imagine how refreshing the avocado cucumber salsa tastes with it. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mary Frances!!