Pan Seared Salmon with Fruit Salsa

This recipe is light and fresh with a nice little kick from a hint of jalapeno hidden in the fruit salsa. Pan Seared Salmon with Fruit Salsa is marinated in a lemon-lime garlic sauce, pan-seared perfectly, and rests on a colorful bed of fresh fruit.

How to Marinade the Salmon

This salmon swims in a lemon-lime garlic marinade for about 30 minutes before it dives into a sizzling hot cast iron pan. Marinating can infuse the salmon with wonderful flavors while keeping the innate natural taste of the fish. It is important to not marinate fish in an acidic solution for more than 30 minutes as it tends to break down the texture of the fish.

How to Prepare the Fruit Salsa - the Perfect Compliment to Pan Seared Salmon

Who doesn't love sweet and tart with a little bit of heat combined into one mouthful of deliciousness? This fruit salsa delivers on every count. The coordinating of luscious fruits, jalapeno, red onion with a squeeze of lemon juice is the perfect combination for the savory side of this dish.  Cilantro brings freshness to the salsa which is one of my favorite ingredients here. I never skimp on the cilantro.

Variations for the Salsa

I would encourage you to play around with this recipe. You could use mango, watermelon, kiwi, or any other fruit you have a fancy for. I love the jalapeno in the recipe because it gives it a nice little kick. You can go hotter or warmer, according to your preference. Fruit salsa is a great summertime addition to your grilled chicken or pork dishes as well.

How to Cook the Pan Seared Salmon:

Prep the Salmon before Cooking

Pull the salmon from the refrigerator and let set out for 15 minutes bringing them to room temperature. If the salmon is cold it will constrict and cause the fish to cook unevenly.

Dry the salmon with paper towels. The flesh of salmon can be quite delicate. Therefore set the skin side down on the paper towels and gently dap the top of the salmon. Drying the salmon will ensure a few things: 1)there is no spattering of grease because the moisture has been removed, 2)the skin does not stick to the pan, and 3)the skin will have a nice crispy texture.

Start with a Really Hot Pan

Make sure your pan is hot when you first add the salmon, I mean really hot (medium-high to high). This will prevent the skin from sticking to the pan when you turn the fish over. I use grapeseed oil (or you can use avocado oil) because it has a very high smoking point and is great for frying food without overpowering the flavor of the fish itself. You'll know it is hot enough when you add a few drops of water, it sizzles and immediately evaporates. Once you add the salmon though reduce the heat to medium for a more evenly cooked fish.

Skin Down First with Pan Seared Salmon

Start with the skin side down when you place the salmon in the skillet. The salmon wants to shrink every time it hits that hot pan. You can avoid this by using a flexible metal fish spatula and gently press down for about 10 seconds on each fillet. And as an added benefit, the skin will be crispy all over.

Be Careful to not Overcook the Salmon

The internal temperature should be between 120° - 125° F for medium-rare or between 125 - 130° F for medium. You're looking for a tender, juicy, somewhat flaky fillet and anything beyond that temperature will be overcooked and dry. Your cooking time will differ according to the thickness of your fish.

This Pan Seared Salmon with Fruit Salsa is such a wonderful summertime dish that is super quick and easy. You can have it in and out of the pan in less than ten minutes. Not only is it healthy, it's deliciously light and fresh. Try it. I think you'll love the recipe.

If you love seafood, you must try these recipes:

Pan Seared Salmon in Creamy Mustard Sauce

Shrimp Scampi with Spinach and Tomatoes

Pan Seared Salmon in a Blood Orange Sauce

Smoked Salmon appetizers

Asian Seared Tuna Salad

Please let me know if you try any of these recipes by leaving a comment at the bottom of the posts.

Pan Seared Salmon with Fruit Salsa

Print Recipe

★★★★★

5 from 2 reviews

This "Spring-into-Summer" recipe is light and fresh with a nice little kick from a hint of jalapeno hidden in the fruit salsa. Pan Seared Sockeye Salmon with Fruit Salsa is marinated in a lemon-lime garlic sauce, pan seared perfectly and rests on a colorful bed of fresh fruit. A simple summertime dish for your next dinner party menu.

• Author: Kristy Murray
• Prep Time: 15 minutes (not including marinading)
• Cook Time: 6 minutes
• Total Time: 26 minutes
• Yield: 4 servings 1x
• Category: Seafood
• Method: Pan Frying
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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Marinade and Salmon

• 3 large Lemons, juiced
• 2 medium Limes, juiced
• ⅛ cup Raw Honey
• 3 large Cloves Garlic, minced
• Pinch of Salt
• 1 tablespoon Grapeseed Oil
• 4 - 6 oz Sockeye Salmon Center-Cut Fillets (wild caught), skin on
• Salt and Pepper to taste
• Zest of 1 large Lemon

Fruit Salsa

• ¾ cup chopped Fresh Pineapple
• ¾ cup chopped Fresh Strawberries
• ¾ cup chopped Cantaloupe
• 1 small Jalapeno Chili, seeded and minced
• ¼ cup Red Onion, finely chopped
• 2 T Cilantro, chopped
• 2 T Lemon Juice

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Instructions

• Place salmon in a glass dish. Combine lemon juice, lime juice, honey, garlic, and salt together and pour over the fish. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 15 minutes. Remove the glass dish from the refrigerator and let sit for 15 minutes at room temperature.
• While the salmon is marinating, combine the chopped fruit, jalapeno, red onion, cilantro and lemon juice, refrigerate. Make sure and keep the salsa away from the salmon until it is fully cooked.
• Remove the salmon from the marinade and pat dry with paper towels. Salt and Pepper the fleshy side of the fillets. Using a citrus zester, add the zest of one lemon to the salmon.
• Heat a cast iron skillet on medium-high to high heat until pan is hot. Add the grapeseed oil and heat to almost smoking. Add a few drops of water, if it sizzles and evaporates immediately you are ready for the fish. Add the salmon, skin side down and reduce the heat to medium. Using a flexible metal fish spatula, gently press down for 10 seconds on each fillet.
• Do not move the salmon once it is in the pan and let cook for 4 minutes. Carefully turn the salmon over and cook for another 2 minutes. Times may vary according to how thick the fillets are. The internal temperature with an instant-read thermometer should be between 120° and 125° F for medium rare and 125° and 130° F for medium.
•  Remove from the pan and let rest under a tent of foil for 10 minutes.
• Serve with fruit salsa.

Notes

• Pull the salmon from the refrigerator and let set out for 15-20 minutes bringing them to room temperature. If the salmon is cold it will constrict and cause the fish to cook unevenly.
• Dry the salmon with paper towels. The flesh of salmon can be quite delicate. Therefore I set the skin side down on the paper towels and gently dap the top of the salmon.
• Make sure your pan is hot, I mean really hot (medium-high to high). This will prevent the skin from sticking to the pan when you turn the fish over. You will know it is hot enough when you add a few drops of water and it sizzles and immediately evaporates.
• Once you add the salmon though reduce the heat to medium for a more evenly cooked fish.
• Start with the skin side down when you place the salmon in the hot cast iron skillet.
• The salmon wants to shrink every time it hits that hot pan. You can avoid this by using a flexible metal fish spatula and gently press down for 10 seconds on each piece of fish.
• One mistake you will be tempted to make is to cook the salmon too long. The internal temperature should be between 120° - 125° F for medium-rare 125° - 130° F for medium which makes for a tender, juicy, somewhat flaky fillet.
• Your cooking time will differ according to the thickness of your fish.

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 1 5-oz Salmon Fillet with side of Fruit Salsa
• Calories: 581
• Sugar: 31 g
• Sodium: 81 g
• Fat: 24 g
• Saturated Fat: 0 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 2 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 42 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 49 g
• Cholesterol: 40 g

Keywords: pan seared salmon, sockeye salmon recipe, cooking salmon in a pan