Salmon is a healthy meat option that takes on virtually any flavor medley you can throw at it. We’ve transformed these fillets into a savory oven baked citrus chili infused gourmet entree that doesn’t take anymore than 20 minutes to get on the supper table from start to finish. Paired with a salad or veggie and some seasoned rice- this chili lemon lime citrus salmon makes a simple meal that will have you savoring each bite.
It’s that time of year again.
Time to take a step back and focus on simple living, prayer, and fasting in order to grow closer to God so that we can appreciate Christ’s sacrifice and resurrection through which we’re able to attain redemption.
During the Lenten season we avoid meat & poultry on Friday nights as part of our religious fasting. Needless to say, that means we get really friendly with fish … and veggies, but mostly fish on Friday nights.
Let’s just go on and dub the Fridays during these 40 days leading up to Easter ‘Fish Fridays’.
I mean because if we’re being honest even though veggies play a much more prominent meal during dinner on these nights, my guys are big on protein so the fish is still usually the star player.
When I was first introduced to this Catholic tradition, it wasn’t all that hard to adapt.
Still it really did take me a year or two to get the creative juices flowing and move beyond the realm of frozen fish sticks or filet of fish sandwiches on Friday nights.
In our defense neither of us grew up eating a lot of seafood.
Even my very Catholic husband was used to fast food fish sandwiches or something like buttered noodles being served. And I like both those things.
What I don’t like, and really can’t stand, is all of my kids crying & whining every hour on the hour about how they’re starving and going to die. Every fruit in the world I have to offer isn’t filling. Even a handful of nuts, nope. Whatever.
None of them complain about the seafood themed meal we serve, which I consider a win. Especially given their parents’ persuasions.
The hubs and I are still very finicky about fish to this day– and it took us years to cultivate a love of and an appreciation for a great vegetarian entree.
Salmon is one of those pieces of fish that the hubs and I can always both agree on.
It’s easy to prepare, tastes great with minimal seasoning, and most of all (especially for my first baby steps outside of my comfy little recipe box) it isn’t a ‘fishy’ fish, in taste or smell.
This chili lemon lime salmon recipe wasn’t something I ever would have originally pictured coming from my kitchen, but it quickly became one of our favorites.
It’s become a healthy dinner we crave and a meal that repeats throughout the year.
Making Spiced Citrus-Infused Salmon- Healthy, But Incredibly Flavorful Fish
I often find myself marinating my fish, especially when I want a healthy option that’s still full of flavor. Those recipes also almost always end up on my grill.
I’ve found with salmon that I tend to not like to let it soak in anything for too long- it tends to become over powering, especially after it’s cooked.
Instead, I like to whisk up a complimentary glaze and brush it on the filets before baking them in the oven. Still all the good for you things, but with a milder flavor that really melds with the natural salmon taste as it slowly roasts.
Making the glaze is super easy, just another reason I love this recipe. Start by combining lime juice, honey, water, olive oil, garlic, chili powder, salt, and fresh parsley together in a mixing bowl.
Whisk them together until the ingredients have all come together, especially the water and oil. Set the glaze aside while you prep the salmon.
Lightly spray a baking sheet with non stick cooking spray. Just enough so the fish doesn’t stick, but no too much so there’s an excess build up of the stuff. Add the fish to the prepared baking sheet, and spread them out enough that none of them are touching.
Spoon the glaze evenly out onto the fish, and use a pastry brush to brush it on. Try to get as much as you can onto the fish, and make sure to brush it onto the side as well- not just the top.
Add slices of fresh lemon and lime to each piece of fish.
Bake the prepared fish at 450 degrees until cooked through, roughly 12-15 minutes- depending on the thickness of your meat. Serve immediately.
If you want to be extra sure your salmon’s cooked though without slicing each piece open, insert a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the thickest slice. If it reads 140-145 degrees the fish is perfect.
Making It A Meal- What To Pair With Baked Salmon
The obvious choice is a simple side salad & we almost always pair our salmon recipes with a bed of wild rice. This standard trio goes hand in hand and makes a delicious dinner that doesn’t stress this Mom out to make.
However, there are other yummy sides that go just as well- but probably aren’t as obvious. Garlic Parmesan canned green beans are a great option. Super tasty, but with all the convenience from using canned green beans that you doctor up.
Brussels sprouts are another really tasty side, but not as obvious a choice when meal planning. We love love love our Asian glazed sprouts, and highly recommend them.
Not feeling the wild rice? Use jasmine or basmati rice and whip up a pot of this Greek lemon rice. It’s got just the right amount of zing which balances perfectly with it’s fluffy texture.
Other Delicious Ways To Prepare Salmon Fillets
Salmon is like a blank canvas that takes on flavor profiles beautifully. Because of that- we’ve experimented with quite a few different versions. Here are some of our all time favorites:
If you’ve tried this CHILI LEMON LIME SALMON, or any other recipe on the site, let me know in the comment section how it turned out, we love hearing from our readers! You can also follow along with me on PINTEREST, FACEBOOK, and INSTAGRAM to see more amazing recipes and whatever else we’ve got going on!
Chili Lemon Lime Salmon
Ingredients
- 2 lemons juice from one. Slice the other
- 2 limes juice from one. Slice the other
- ¼ cup freshly chopped parsley
- 1 ½ Tablespoons of olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons of water
- 1 ½ tsp salt
- 1 ½ tsp. garlic powder
- 1 ½ tsp. chili powder
- 1 tsp. ground cumin
- 2 Tablespoons of honey
- 4 salmon filets
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Spray a baking sheet with cooking oil spray.
- Arrange salmon filets on baking sheet.
- In a bowl combine lemon and lime juice, honey, olive oil, water, garlic, chili powder, cumin, salt, and parsley and mix very well until thoroughly blended.
- Pour/brush the glaze over your salmon. Place slices of lemon and lime on each piece of salmon. Bake until salmon is cooked through. About 12-15 minutes depending on the thickness of your salmon.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
Nutrition
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