BBQ Salmon Bowls with Mango Avocado Salsa (2024)

Ingredients

Units Scale

Salmon:

• 1–2 lbs. fresh salmon
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon chili powder
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt (more for a larger filet)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil

Mango Avocado Salsa:

• 2 mangoes, diced
• 1 avocado, diced
• 1/4 cup minced cilantro
• 1/4 cup minced red onion
• 1/2 jalapeño, minced (optional, to taste)
• 1 teaspoon honey
• 2 tablespoons lime juice + 1 teaspoon lime zest
• salt to taste

For serving:

• 1 1/2 cups of rice

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1. Mango salsa: Toss all ingredients in a bowl to combine. Taste, adjust, try not to eat the whole bowl.
2. Cook your rice: Get your rice cooking according to package directions.
3. Get the oven ready: Preheat the oven to 475 degrees. Line a baking sheet with foil. Alternatively, you can set it to 500 degrees on the broil setting for medium rare with a yummy crispy top – the risk here is that you have to watch closely so it doesn’t burn the sugar. If taking this route, make sure one of the oven racks is close-ish to the top, about 6 inches or so.
4. Salmon: Mix the spices and the olive oil to make a paste. Place the salmon skin side down on the baking sheet. Rub the paste liberally over the top part of the salmon. Bake for 6-12 minutes depending on the thickness of your salmon and your desired doneness. See notes if you’re not sure.
5. Bowl it up: Pile up some rice, pull off some of salmon, and spoon that mango avocado salsa over the whole thing. Add a lime squeezer for good measure. IT’S SO GOOD.

How to tell when the salmon is done: “Salmonwill change fromtranslucent(red or raw) toopaque(pink) as it cooks. After 6-8 minutes of cooking, check fordoneness, by taking a sharp knife to peek into the thickest part. If the meat is beginning to flake, but still has a little translucency in the middle, it is done.” (Thank you Heidi!) I know this is the proper way to cook salmon, but I am also slightly paranoid about food safety, so the salmon we cook at home has almost no translucency when done. If the rare center freaks you out, don’t worry – it’s still very, very delicious when cooked all the way through (just don’t let it get WAY overcooked or it will be dry and sad).

How much salmon to use: I don’t really care for leftover salmon, so I usually opt for a smaller filet – something like 1 – 1/2 lbs. so that we can eat it once or twice without a lot of leftovers. A 2 lb. filet will serve 4-6 people easily, especially when combined with rice, mango avocado salsa, etc.

Do you use fresh or frozen mangoes: Fresh is the most delicious. But frozen chunks can also work! Just let them thaw out on the counter and then give them a little extra knife treatment so they’re good for salsa-size.

What else does this salmon go with: You can also add any other vegetables you like to build out your bowls (totally optional). I used some of my leftover Korean BBQ style cauliflower in there and it was SO yummy. I’ve also added roasted vegetables like mushrooms and asparagus.

Air-Frying Your Salmon: I’d just use the salmon in this Air Fryer Salmon as the spices are very similar!