Spicy Salmon with Avocado Mango Salsa

It’s common knowledge that smoking can cause cancer.  But did you know it can cure salmon? 😎

One of my favorite foods is salmon and I pretty much enjoy it in every possible way – spicy salmon, smoked salmon, crispy skin salmon, poached salmon, a burger, and even fried, like in salmon fried rice.  And it doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to make salmon enjoyable because its fatty flesh provides a perfect canvas for flavor.

That’s why I love this practically 2-ingredient sauce of sriracha and butter to make the perfect spicy salmon in less than 15 minutes.  This vibrant and fiery sauce will pair beautifully with your favorite seafood dishes, particularly for dishes like spicy salmon, transforming them into restaurant-worthy meals that even picky eaters will enjoy.

What makes this combo work…

Sriracha, a Thai hot sauce renowned for its perfect balance of sweetness, spice, and tang, is a popular choice among spice enthusiasts and surprisingly the wellness community! True story – that’s where I first learned about it, following bodybuilders and how they prepped for shows.  This was a common ingredient!

It’s made from red jalapeño peppers but it’s not hot like habanero, which makes it an excellent ingredient to ramp up fiery flavors in your meals, plus the capsaicin in pepper also helps curb appetites.

The unique combination of sriracha and butter creates a creamier sauce that adds a rich and robust depth to salmon dishes but really any dish.

Unsalted butter, a common staple in many kitchens, provides a smooth base that counterbalances the heat of sriracha. It is rich and therefore enhances the overall taste and texture of the sauce.  Combined with a sauce like sriracha, the result is a spicy, buttery, mix that complements the salmon’s natural flavors because, again, salmon is fatty.  The result – decadence!

So with minimal ingredients needed, this sriracha-butter sauce adds an exciting “kick” to your spicy salmon recipes, or any other protein like chicken, beef or even tofu.  And the mango & avocado salsa helps cool the palate so you get the sensation of hot and cold with every bite.

This is a seamless fusion of East and West, combining the traditional Asian flavors of sriracha, with the classic Western ingredient of butter.

Pro-tip: to create the perfect spicy salmon dish, remember to sear the salmon, then glaze or gently toss with the sriracha-butter sauce. This ensures the infusion of flavors into the fish, making every bite an explosion of heat, sweet, tang and creaminess!

Enjoy!

 

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A post shared by Kevin Curry (@fitmencook)