Salmon with Pineapple Salsa

Simple baked salmon dinner recipe that is ready in 20 minutes? Sign me up! Our roasted salmon with pineapple salsa recipe is refreshing and perfect for busy weeknights. It is healthy and perfectly spicy. Or you can serve it with this cooling pineapple relish recipe instead to keep it sweet and mild.

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Pineapple has a lovely acidity that makes it a perfect pairing with savory flavors. Just like with our pineapple chicken kabobs, this salmon recipe can be grilled in the summer and oven roasted in the winter.

Serve with garlicky green beans, lemon orzo pasta salad, or roasted rainbow carrots for an easy weeknight meal.

📖Why This Recipe Works

Quick and easy dinners that are refreshing and healthy can be hard to find. While the salmon is baking we have more than enough time to prepare pineapple salsa and side dishes.

Pineapple has two seasons- all winter and mid to late summer. We love that we can get ripe pineapple pretty much year-round. Pineapple salsa is usually made with bell pepper but we use cucumber for more crunch and a refreshing spin.

This recipe can be made with fresh or frozen salmon making it affordable all year round.

🧾Ingredient Notes

Salmon is the star of this show. You can use salmon steak for this recipe but I typically use skin-on salmon. But if salmon isn't available we like this recipe with mahi-mahi, tilapia, or seared tuna.

I highly recommend a brief brine for salmon before cooking. A brine is a salt bath that will reduce the albumin, a protein that seeps out of the fish during cooking. It is harmless but unattractive. This step adds 10 minutes to the recipe prep.

For the pineapple salsa you will need:

• Fresh Pineapple
• Cucumber- preferably seedless, otherwise remove the seeds before chopping.
• Red Onion
• Garlic
• Jalapeno
• Cilantro
• Lime Juice- I do fresh lime juice but you can always substitute bottled.

⏲️How to Make Salmon with Pineapple Salsa

Start by preheating your oven. We cook this salmon hot, at 425 F degrees. While your oven is preheating prep the salmon and chop the vegetables for the salsa.

Step 1- Prep Salmon

This is not a crispy salmon skin recipe for feel free to line your baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment for easy clean-up.

Place the salmon fillets on your rimmed pan. Drizzle olive oil over the salmon, I typically use 1 to 2 tablespoons. Then lightly sprinkle with salt and black pepper.

Step 2- Bake Salmon

Bake the salmon on a center rack until flakey. Salmon can be served anywhere from medium-rare (my preference) to well done. Salmon cooks quickly but typically 8 minutes is medium doneness, about 125-135 F degrees for the internal temperature.

Step 3- Make Salsa and Serve

While the salmon is cooking combine the salsa ingredients in a bowl and season to taste. In addition to adding more or less jalapeno, you can also add a drizzle of olive oil.

How to Grill Salmon

If you prefer to grill your salmon, no problem. Preheat your grill to 400 F degrees, which is medium-high heat.

Place the salmon fillets skin side UP. Cook with the lid closed for 6 minutes. Flip and cook for another 6 to 8 minutes until you reach your desired doneness.

🥗What to Serve with Salmon

Salmon is best served with quick side dish recipes because the salmon itself is so quick to cook. Our parmesan roasted zucchini and squash and cherry tomato salad are great in the summer. And in the winter I recommend sauteed greens and our quick stovetop creamed corn.

You can check out all our favorite side dish recipes for more ideas!

👩🏻‍🍳 Expert Tips

• Let the cooked salmon rest for 5 minutes to seal in the juices.
• If the red onion has a sharp smell, soak the chopped onion in cold water for 10 minutes and drain them before adding it to the salsa recipe.
• Find the pineapple too acidic? Drizzle with olive oil, the fat will help balance the juices.
• For a spicier variation try this roast salmon recipe with our mango habanero salsa.

🌡️Storage

For leftovers, I recommend flaking the salmon off the skin and mixing it with the pineapple salsa. Store in an airtight container

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💬Frequently Asked Questions

Can I pan-sear the salmon?

Yes, you can pan-sear the salmon. This will also gives you crispy skin on the salmon.

What can I substitute for cilantro?

In this recipe, I recommend you substitute a 50/50 mix of fresh mint and parsley.

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