A flavor-packed meal ready in less than 30 minutes! Cilantro lime baked salmon is roasted until tender then topped with zesty avocado chimichurri! It’s healthy, easy to prepare & the perfect weeknight dinner!
It’s no secret I love a good salmon recipe and this might be my most favorite one yet. (My baked salmon with avocado & feta is a pretty close second.😉) But ever since I made my chili smashed potatoes with avocado chimichurri I’ve been looking for another way to utilize the sauce – HOLY MOLY was this IT!
The bright zesty flavors + silky smooth texture of the chimichurri is the best accessory for tender flakey salmon. And it’s so easy! Just bake the salmon in a flavorful cilantro/oil mixture, blend the sauce and DIG IN! The entire dish is ready in less than 30 minutes!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Salmon: Use salmon fillets that are similar in size so they finish baking around the same time. Salmon fillets with and without the skin both work for this recipe! (We prefer using salmon fillets without the skin for ours.)
Olive oil: You’ll be mixing some oil with lime juice to brush over the salmon and adding a few tablespoons of oil to the chimichurri. (This gives the sauce a richer mouthfeel and helps to emulsify the ingredients.)
Limes: Also utilized in the the salmon and chimichurri!
Cilantro: Always use the leaves and stems for maximum flavor! (Don’t worry about finely chopping the cilantro for the chimichurri – just give it a quick chop before adding it to the food processor and let it to do all the work.)
Parsley: I’d suggest using Italian parsley for the best results. (It has bigger and flatter leaves with a slightly peppery taste that pairs much better with the chimichurri ingredients.)
Avocado: This is what gives the chimichurri it’s silky smooth texture. You’ll need one small ripe avocado.
Red wine vinegar: A necessity for chimichurri! This standout ingredient gives the sauce it’s zippy flavor that’s typical in traditional chimichurri.
Garlic: No need to mince the garlic for this recipe. Just add the cloves to the food processor with the rest of the chimichurri ingredients – it’s so easy!
Spices: Smoked paprika, salt and black pepper are needed to season the salmon. You’ll be seasoning each fillet to taste so feel free to use as much as you want! You’ll also need salt, black pepper and red pepper flakes for the avocado chimichurri.
What is Chimichurri?
Chimichurri is an Argentinian-style sauce made with fresh herbs, garlic, olive oil and vinegar. It’s got a tangy punch from the vinegar and garlicky bite making it incredibly flavorful. You’ll usually find it accompanying grilled meats and fish, roasted veggies and it can also be used as a dressing for salads.
How is mine different? We’re adding creamy avocado to the mix! Adding avocado creates a velvety smooth texture and blends the flavors together making them even more harmonious.
How To Make Salmon With Avocado Chimichurri
1. Make the avocado chimichurri. Add the chimichurri ingredients to a food processor and blend together until smooth. Taste and adjust the black pepper (if needed) then cover and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
2. Preheat the oven. Turn your oven on to 400 degrees and spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
3. Prepare the salmon. Pat the salmon fillets with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture then place them in the prepared baking dish.In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, lime juice and chopped cilantro together. Brush the mixture over each fillet and season them with smoked paprika, salt and black pepper to your liking.
4. Bake! Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
5. Serve. Serve warm with a dollop of avocado chimichurri spooned over each fillet.
Storing
We’ll usually make the avocado chimichurri in advance to help save some time. Simply blend your ingredients together, add keep it stored in an air tight container in the refrigerator. It should stay fresh for 2-3 days if stored properly. (Don’t worry about the avocado turning brown either! There’s plenty of acid in the chimichurri to keep it beautifully green.)
Serving Suggestions
This salmon dinner is big on flavor so I’d suggest pairing it with a few simple side dishes. Roasted or steamed veggies, rice pilaf or crispy roasted potatoes would be fantastic options! You could also serve a simple side salad to round out the meal!
Why you’ll love this baked salmon recipe!
- So easy! Blending the sauce takes no time at all + the salmon cooks in 10-12 minutes!
- A healthy dinner idea! Salmon is a deliciously lean protein that’s rich in omega-3’s + the addition of avocado to the chimichurri adds vitamins + healthy fats!
- Full of flavor! This dish has it all – creamy & zesty chimichurri + the most tender baked salmon! It’s a flavor bomb in every bite!
More salmon recipes you might like:
- Baked Salmon with Avocado & Feta
- Cilantro Lime Salmon with Avocado Salsa
- Baked Sugar Spiced Salmon
- Roasted Chipotle Salmon with Peach Salsa
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Baked Salmon with Avocado Chimichurri
Ingredients
For the baked salmon:
- 4 salmon fillets (without skin)
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp lime juice
- 1 Tbsp cilantro, chopped (leaves & stems are ok)
- Smoked paprika, to taste*
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
For the avocado chimichurri:
- 1 small avocado
- ½ cup cilantro, roughly chopped (leaves and stems are ok)
- ¼ cup parsley, roughly chopped (leaves & stems are ok)
- 3 garlic cloves
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 2 Tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 Tbsp lime juice
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- Cracked black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Make the avocado chimichurri. Add the chimichurri ingredients to a food processor and blend together until smooth. Taste and adjust the black pepper (if needed) then cover and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Preheat the oven. Turn your oven on to 400 degrees and spray a baking dish with cooking spray.
- Prepare the salmon. Pat the salmon fillets with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture then place them in the prepared baking dish.In a small bowl, whisk the olive oil, lime juice and chopped cilantro together. Brush the mixture over each fillet and season them with smoked paprika, salt and black pepper to your liking.
- Bake! Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
- Serve. Serve warm with a dollop of avocado chimichurri spooned over each fillet.
