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A quick marinade and a few lime slices turn this side of salmon into an easy, elegant meal with minimal clean-up!
Do you know what I like better than sun, sand, and a great beach read in the summer? Okay, there’s really nothing I like better than that, BUT a close second would be an easy summer meal that cooks up quickly and practically cleans itself. This is that meal.
We’re starting with a marinade that is high on flavor and low on effort. A little brown sugar for sweetness, big Asian flavors from the soy sauce, chili paste and sesame oil, and a little zing from lime zest. Whisk it up, pour it over a side of salmon (aka a big hunkin’ slab of fish), seal it up, and let it sit. An hour in the marinade is a must, but 2-3 hours are even better. So you know what that means…you have time to grab that book, a summery cocktail, and plunk down in the sun while the marinade works its magic.
Speaking of magic, how bout a life-saving grilling tip?
Help! My fish is sticking to the grill!!
There’s no reason you ever need to utter those words again. And here’s why. A layer of citrus slices placed directly on the grill grates before you lay the fish down (skin-side down please) act as rack (protective barrier) between the fish and the grill. Similar to when you’re roasting a whole chicken or turkey in the oven, a rack or a layer of vegetables on the bottom of the roasting pan prevents sticking and promotes even cooking.
But won’t it burn?
Not if you keep an eye on it. Full disclosure, I did burn the first beautiful side of salmon that I intended to take pictures of for this post. See, I got cocky and decided to clean up the kitchen and prep my sides while the fish finished cooking. I checked it at about 8 minutes in and it was glorious. I knew it needed about 2-4 (supervised) minutes, but I abandoned it in the interest of a clean kitchen (against my better judgement).
Well, never again. Learn from my mistakes and check it around the 8 minute mark, then check it again, and again, and again. If your slab is on the smaller side, it may be ready (a dark pink centered mid-rare) at 10 mins and closer to 12 for a larger piece. If flames flare, adjust your heat or even turn it off altogether (on a gas grill) for the final minute or two of cooking.
But you said meal!
I sure did. So let’s take this main dish and make it a meal. I served this with a grilled corn salad (sorry Charlie…I’ll be posting that recipe in a week or two (stay tuned!), but this would work just as well with a big green salad or simple grilled zucchini and sticky coconut rice. I prefer to err on the side of light during the warm months…a hearty protein and one or two complimentary sides. Serve it with a crisp white wine and finish the night with a scoop of fruit sorbet.
Summer bliss.
A quick marinade and a few lime slices turn this side of salmon into an easy, elegant meal with minimal clean-up!
- 1 side of salmon, skin on, 2 1/2 - 3 lbs
- 2 Tbsp light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 lime, zested and sliced into rounds
- 1 tsp chili paste, (sambal oelek) or more to taste
- 2 tsp sesame oil
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 scallions, white and pale green parts only, sliced thinly on the bias
- lime wedges, for serving
- salt and pepper, to taste
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Whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, garlic, lime zest, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil and olive oil.
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Place the side of salmon in a large ziplock bag and pour the marinade over the fish. Turn a couple times to coat and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 4 hours.
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Heat a grill to medium/high heat. Remove the salmon from the marinade. Lay the lime slices directly on the grill, spaced to create "a rack" underneath the salmon. You may need additional lime slices depending on the size of your salmon.
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Place the salmon, skin side down, on the lime slices. Close the grill and cook the salmon until just cooked though and the center is a little darker pink for medium rare. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
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Place on a platter, sprinkle with scallions and serve with grilled lime slices and fresh lime wedges.
- Marinate the salmon for a minimum of 1 hour, but 2-3 hours will yield optimum flavor.
- Keep a careful eye on the salmon toward the end of the grilling time. The skin and lime slices could catch fire and cause the salmon to burn. Watch your flame!
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