Wild-Caught Salmon with Cucumber-Avocado Salsa
Perfectly seared salmon fillets paired with a refreshing, creamy salsa made from avocado, cucumber, and lime. This Pacific Northwest-inspired Whole30 recipe (high-protein), ready in about 17 minutes, pairs salmon fillets, avocado, cucumber for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 320 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a Whole30 week and pairs well with roasted sweet potato or a simple olive-oil salad. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 4 (6 oz each) salmon fillets
- 1 large avocado
- 1/2 medium cucumber
- 1 lime
- 2 tbsp finely diced red onion
- 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp sea salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Pat salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with 1/4 tsp sea salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in an oven-safe skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering.
- Step 2: Place salmon skin-side down in the skillet and cook undisturbed for 4 minutes until skin is crispy and golden. Flip and cook for 3-4 more minutes until internal temperature reaches 125°F (52°C) for medium-rare.
- Step 3: While salmon cooks, dice 1/2 medium cucumber into 1/4-inch cubes. Cut 1 large avocado in half, remove pit, and scoop flesh into a bowl. Add 1/2 diced cucumber, 2 tbsp finely diced red onion, 2 tbsp chopped cilantro, and juice from 1 lime. Gently mash with a fork until creamy but still textured.
- Step 4: Serve salmon immediately topped with avocado-cucumber salsa, garnished with extra cilantro and lime zest.









