Description
Sweet-and-smoky chipotle salmon topped with fresh orange salsa and creamy aji verde! An easy, delicious, restaurant-level salmon dinner.
Ingredients
Chipotle Salmon
- 1 1/2 pounds salmon filet (I have used both skinless and skin-on; either works)
- 2 tablespoons taco seasoning (I use Siete)
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon chipotle powder, depending on spice preference
- spritz of avocado oil
Orange Salsa
- 3 large navel oranges, cut into chunks (peeled with a knife, pith removed)
- a small wedge of purple cabbage, finely shredded or pulsed in a food processor (about 2 cups)
- 1/2 cup chopped cilantro (ribs and seeds removed)
- a small wedge of red onion, minced (about 1/4 cup)
- 1-2 tablespoons olive oil or avocado oil
- juice of 2 limes (2-3 tablespoons)
- half of a jalapeño, minced
- 1 tablespoon sugar + 1/2 teaspoon salt (more to taste)
Aji Verde
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/2 cup mayo
- 1 cup cilantro leaves and stems
- half of a jalapeño pepper (ribs and seeds removed)
- 1 clove garlic
- juice of 1 lime
- a pinch of salt, to taste
Other
- Rice for serving
Instructions
- Make Orange Salsa: Toss all ingredients together except oranges; massage with your hands to soften the cabbage a bit. (You’ll add the oranges until right before serving, so they don’t turn pink.)
- Make Aji Verde: Blend the aji verde sauce until smooth.
- Prep Salmon: Preheat oven to 450 degrees; place a rack near the top. Pat salmon dry with paper towels. Place on a sheet pan lined with parchment (I just leave the filets in one whole piece). Mix seasoning for salmon; coat salmon filets with seasoning. Spritz with a light coating avocado oil.
- Bake Salmon: Bake for 5 minutes near the top of the oven. Then broil another 4-6 minutes until cooked to your liking (I like it to be medium, about 135 degrees).
- Serve: Add oranges to the slaw mixture. Put rice and aji verde side by side on the bottom of a plate or shallow bowl. Then flake a few chunks of salmon on top, and finish with a scoop of the salsa. Chef’s kiss!
Notes
If your salmon has skin, place it skin side down on the baking sheet.
In the ingredient photo above, you’ll see cotija cheese which I do often add to my aji verde – however, for the final version, I felt like the sauce was more harmonious for this dish without the cotija, which is why it’s not in the final written ingredient list.
- Prep Time: 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: salmon recipe, sheet pan salmon, orange salsa, aji verde
