Easy Blackened Salmon with Zesty Citrus Salsa: Your Go-To Healthy Weeknight Dinner Recipe

Blackened Salmon with Citrus Salsa offers an irresistible fusion of robust, spicy flavors beautifully tempered by the bright, sweet notes of fresh citrus. This easy salmon recipe is not just simple to prepare, but it also delivers a vibrant, light, and incredibly satisfying dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions alike. This delightful recipe, showcasing the finest seasonal fruits, is proudly sponsored by Sunkist.

Click here to Pin this recipe for later!

 

Why Blackened Salmon with Citrus Salsa is a Must-Try

Bringing another fantastic fish recipe to your table, this dish quickly became a family favorite. Our home has always been a hub for fish lovers, a tradition deeply enriched when my sister-in-law, Jamie, and her family visit from Pensacola. They recently made the trip for my brother-in-law’s wedding, and it was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect and share delicious meals.

As I’ve mentioned before, Jamie has access to some of the freshest seafood imaginable in her part of Florida. Whenever she plans a visit, I make sure to ask her to bring a cooler packed with treasures from her local fish market, Joe Patti’s. This beautiful salmon was one such treat, and it inspired this incredibly satisfying recipe. I’m always grateful for her thoughtfulness!

The Art of Blackening: Flavorful & Simple

One of my absolute favorite methods for preparing fish is simple yet profoundly flavorful: pan-frying it with a “blackened” seasoning. This technique creates a delicious crust while keeping the interior moist and tender. The blackening seasoning I swear by is Chef Prudhomme’s Blackened Redfish Magic. It delivers an exceptional depth of flavor without being overwhelmingly spicy, offering just the right amount of kick to awaken your taste buds. This seasoning transforms a simple salmon fillet into a culinary experience, providing a savory foundation for the vibrant salsa.

The Perfect Counterpoint: Fresh Citrus Salsa

To perfectly complement the slight heat and robust flavor of the blackened salmon, I created a fresh citrus salsa, featuring three distinct varieties of citrus. This salsa is the ideal counterpoint, introducing a burst of sweetness and acidity that balances every bite. Honestly, the combination of the smoky, spicy salmon with the bright, sweet, and tangy salsa is simply divine—a flavor pairing you truly have to experience to believe.

Embrace Seasonal Citrus: A Treat for Your Palate and Health

During this time of year, markets are overflowing with an incredible array of citrus fruits. It’s a delightful treat to explore the different varieties available when they are at their peak. My seasonal favorites that I simply can’t get enough of are Cara Cara oranges, Minneola tangelos, and Meyer lemons. If you spot them, be sure to grab them, as their season is wonderfully fleeting!

Featured Citrus Fruits in This Recipe:

All three of these exceptional citrus fruits are star ingredients in our Blackened Salmon with Citrus Salsa recipe, each bringing its unique flavor and health benefits.

The Health Power of Citrus: More Than Just Flavor!

• Quality Carbs and Sustained Energy: Citrus fruits are packed with quality carbohydrates, which release energy slowly due to their low glycemic load and high fiber content, keeping you feeling full and energized.
• Sunkist Cara Cara Oranges – The Power Orange®: These amazing oranges are branded The Power Orange® for a reason! They provide the most Vitamin C per serving among all citrus fruits, boasting 20% more Vitamin C and A than regular navel oranges. Visually, they resemble navel oranges on the outside, but once cut open, they reveal a stunning pinkish-red flesh. Their flavor is uniquely sweet with a delightful tangy, cranberry-like zing.
• Minneola Tangelos – Sweet & Tangy: Minneola tangelos are a fascinating hybrid of sweet tangerines and tangy grapefruit. They are incredibly easy to peel, making them a perfect, convenient snack.
• Meyer Lemons – A Sweet Twist: A Meyer lemon is a cross between a mandarin orange and a traditional lemon. This genetic makeup makes it noticeably sweeter and less acidic than its conventional lemon cousin, adding a nuanced brightness to any dish.

I couldn’t resist including all three varieties in a vibrant, fresh citrus salsa to layer over our blackened salmon. A touch of honey rounds out the natural sweetness of the fruit, while fresh cilantro adds an extra layer of herbaceous freshness. This versatile salsa isn’t just for salmon; it would be equally fantastic served over other types of fish and seafood, or even grilled chicken or pork.

Is Blackened Salmon Healthy? Absolutely!

The short answer is a resounding yes! Salmon is an exceptional choice for a healthy diet, and the blackening method simply enhances its flavor profile with a blend of delicious seasonings. Salmon is an outstanding source of high-quality protein and essential healthy fats, both crucial for your body’s optimal function. It’s particularly rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, renowned for their benefits in potentially lowering blood pressure and reducing inflammation throughout the body. Furthermore, salmon is packed with vital B vitamins and potassium. So, rest assured, enjoying blackened salmon is indeed a very healthy and delicious choice!

How to Make Blackened Salmon with Citrus Salsa: A Step-by-Step Guide

Creating this restaurant-quality dish at home is surprisingly simple. Follow these straightforward steps for a perfectly cooked, flavorful meal:

1. Prepare the Citrus Salsa: In a medium bowl, gently combine the finely chopped citrus fruits (making sure to include any released juices), fresh cilantro, a drizzle of honey, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Stir well to combine all the vibrant flavors. Set this aside to allow the flavors to meld while you prepare the salmon.
2. Season the Salmon: Place your salmon fillets on a baking sheet. Liberally season the top side (the side without skin, if applicable) with your preferred blackening seasoning. Don’t be shy; the seasoning is key to that characteristic blackened flavor.
3. Cook the Salmon to Perfection: Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Carefully place each seasoned salmon fillet into the hot skillet. If your salmon fillets do not have skin (which I often have removed at the seafood counter for convenience), take a moment to season the second side of the salmon while it’s in the pan. Cook for 3-4 minutes on the first side until a dark crust forms. Then, carefully flip the fillets. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes on the second side. The exact cooking time will depend on the thickness of your salmon; typically, a 1-inch thick fillet will require approximately 8 minutes of total cooking time. Be vigilant to avoid overcooking, as this can dry out the fish. Once cooked, turn off the heat and let the salmon rest in the pan for 1 minute to finish cooking through gently.
4. Serve and Enjoy: Serve your perfectly blackened salmon fillets immediately, topped generously with spoonfuls of the fresh and vibrant citrus salsa. This dish pairs wonderfully with whole grain wild rice for a complete and healthy meal.

 

 

Serving this blackened salmon with citrus salsa alongside whole grain wild rice truly elevates the meal, making it feel like a gourmet restaurant experience. Yet, it’s one of the easiest and most satisfying dinners I’ve prepared in a long time. That feeling of creating something so delicious and healthy with minimal effort is truly the best! This dish is not only a fantastic (and healthy) option for a spring weeknight but also an elegant and impressive meal to serve when entertaining guests.

Cooking with fresh citrus always brings a smile to my face. I don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely brimming with spring fever right now! I long to spend my days outdoors, soaking in the sunshine, and dedicating time to my garden. My own citrus trees—an orange, a key lime, a Meyer lemon, and even some loquat trees (I’m not entirely sure if loquats are technically citrus, but they thrive in similar conditions!)—are all starting to sprout wonderfully fragrant buds, signalling it’s time for some tender care. This truly is my favorite time of the year, and light, fresh meals like this one are exactly what I crave.

Enjoy this fantastic Blackened Salmon with Citrus Salsa recipe! A special thank you to Sunkist for providing the amazing, flavorful citrus that made this dish shine.

 

Print

Love salmon? Explore my other delicious salmon recipes:

Broiled Salmon with Sweet and Spicy Rub

Fresh Salmon Salad

Salmon and Veggie Stir Fry

Almond Crusted Honey Mandarin Salmon

 

(This post is proudly sponsored by Sunkist. I received compensation and product to develop and share this recipe. As always, all opinions expressed are entirely my own! Thank you for reading and for your continued support of Aggie’s Kitchen!)