Who else is ready to slide into cozy slippers, put on fleece pajamas (or an adorable oversized sweater), make a cup of hot chocolate, watch reruns of Felicity and get ready for some beautiful crisp fall weather?
Same!
However, we’ve still got a few weeks of delicious end-of-summer produce to enjoy including juicy peaches, fresh garden herbs and heart-healthy creamy avocados. Thankfully, I’ve got a delicious healthy recipe for you to enjoy before summer ends.
Say hello to this beautiful firecracker salmon recipe with a scrumptious, fresh peach avocado salsa. I have literally never been more obsessed with a fruit salsa in my life.
What type of salmon is best for cooking?
You’ll need 1 pound of salmon in this recipe. You can choose wild or farmed, it’s up to you.
- Farm-raised salmon tends to be milder in flavor and more fatty/buttery in texture
- Wild salmon can be a little more spendy but is leaner, pinker, and higher in minerals such zinc and iron. Both are delicious!
Homemade firecracker marinade
Can we talk about the delicious firecracker marinade for a sec?! It makes the salmon taste both sweet + a little spicy and pairs well with the sweetness of the peaches and the creaminess of the avocado. Healthy eating has never been this beautiful. Here’s what you’ll need to make it:
- The base: you’ll need oil (I like olive or avocado oil), reduced-sodium soy sauce and balsamic vinegar.
- The sweetness: we’re naturally sweetening this firecracker marinade with some honey.
- The heat: get that spicy, firecracker flavor with red pepper flakes and cayenne pepper!
- The extra flavor: don’t forget minced garlic and freshly grated ginger.
Fresh & delicious peach avocado salsa
You’re going to LOVE the sweet, creamy and delicious pairing of the peach avocado salsa with the heat of the spicy salmon. Gather up all that fresh produce and top your filets!
Cook this firecracker salmon in the oven
Yes, you can easily make this delicious firecracker salmon right in the oven!
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
- Generously season your salmon with the amazing lemon garlic honey marinade.
- Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and grease lightly with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.
- Place salmon skin side down on baking sheet. Pour/brush marinade over the top of the salmon.
- For every inch of thickness, bake for 15 minutes. My salmon is usually perfect around 16-18 minutes. Flake salmon with a fork and serve!
Try it on the grill
Get that delicious char flavor by grilling this firecracker salmon!
- Preheat a gas grill over medium-high heat. Meanwhile, pour or generously brush the firecracker marinade over the salmon.
- Place salmon skin side down first on grill or on foil (to seal in the flavors!) close grill lid and grill about 6-8 minutes. It’s easier to grill skin side down first so you can slide a spatula under the skin for flipping once it crisps up.
- Carefully flip salmon and cook 6-8 more minutes or until cooked well. Salmon is tricky, but just like baking it, it’s best to undercook rather than overcook your filets.
By the way, if you still have extra peaches leftover, I highly suggest my gluten free peach crisp for dessert!
What to serve with this firecracker salmon
The best part about this sweet and spicy firecracker salmon is how versatile it is for serving with your fav sides. Here’s what I suggest:
- Enjoy it with a side of brown rice, black forbidden rice (my fav), quinoa, or my famous green rice
- Grill up a side of Sesame Garlic Grilled Sweet Potato Fries or Grilled Brussels Sprouts
- Top leafy greens, add a side of your fav veggies or enjoy with Peach, Tomato & Corn Arugula Pasta Salad
More salmon recipes you’ll love
- 30 Minute Chili Maple Lime Salmon Bowls with Forbidden Rice
- Blackened Salmon Tacos with Forbidden Rice & Mango Guacamole
- Honey Lemon Garlic Salmon
- Spicy Maple Glazed Salmon for Two!
- Damn Good Salmon Taco Bowls For Two
Get all of our delicious seafood recipes here!
I hope you love this delicious firecracker salmon recipe. If you make it, leave a comment below and don’t forget to rate the recipe so others can see how you liked it!
Firecracker Salmon with Peach Avocado Salsa
Delicious sweet and spicy firecracker salmon topped with a wonderful, fresh peach avocado salsa. This firecracker salmon recipe can be baked or grilled for a healthy weeknight meal that everyone will love! Serve with your favorite sides, rice, quinoa or even in tacos.
Ingredients
- For the salmon:
- 1 ½ pounds salmon
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil or olive oil
- 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1/2 tablespoon honey
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
- For the peach salsa:
- 1 avocado, diced
- 1 peach, diced
- 3 tablespoons finely diced red onion
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 2 tablespoons finely diced cilantro
- 1 lime, juiced
- Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
-
Make your salmon marinade: In a small bowl whisk together avocado oil, soy sauce, balsamic vinegar, honey, garlic, crushed red pepper, and ginger.
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Add your salmon to a large bowl skin side up (so that the salmon sits in the sauce) and pour marinade over the top. Cover and place salmon in the fridge for no more than 1 hour
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While your salmon is marinating, make your peach salsa. Add avocado, peach, red onion, jalapeño, cilantro, lime juice, salt, and pepper to a medium sized bowl and mix until well-combined.
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Once ready to bake salmon, preheat your oven to 400 degrees F. Place salmon on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper, and place marinated salmon skin side down. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until salmon easily flakes with fork.
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Top salmon with peach avocado salsa and serve with brown rice, black rice quinoa, or extra veggies for a full meal. Serves 4.
Recipe Notes
Directions for grilling the salmon: Preheat a gas grill over medium-high heat. I would also lightly brush both sides of the salmon (including the skin) with a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking. Be sure to also generous oil your grill. Place salmon skin side down first on grill, close grill lid and grill about 6-8 minutes. Carefully flip salmon and cook 6-8 more minutes or until cooked well. Salmon is tricky, but it's best to undercook rather than overcook your filets.
Nutrition
121 comments
This looks SO delicious! I love the combination of flavors!
This looks SO delicious! I love the combination of flavors!
Thanks Kelli! So simple and delicious 🙂
I love sweet and spicy combos with food. This is definitely on my list to make.
It’s the best! Enjoy 🙂
I love sweet and spicy combos with food. This is definitely on my list to make.
It’s the best! Enjoy 🙂
I saw this recipe this morning and had already bought some wild salmon last night…perfect timing!! We just finished eating it and it was 5 star from the whole fam!! Absolutely delicious. I baked it vs. grilling as the weather was getting iffy, but WOW – so amazing! This is a keeper! Very quick and easy to make with the perfect amount of kick. I roasted some asparagus and served over basmati rice. LOVED IT!
Amazing!! So happy to hear that Karen 🙂 Love the idea of roasted asparagus + basmati rice with it too!
Getting ready to make this tomorrow! Where is recipe for black forbidden rice you mentioned? I can’t find it and I’m intrigued!
Hope you love it! Check out the forbidden rice in this recipe 🙂
Getting ready to make this tomorrow! Where is recipe for black forbidden rice you mentioned? I can’t find it and I’m intrigued!
Hope you love it! Check out the forbidden rice in this recipe 🙂
Yum! This sounds amazing!
It is! Super easy, too 🙂
I finally got around to making this. So amazing! The peach salsa pairs so well with the slight spice of the salmon. The forbidden rice complimented the meal perfectly! Total home run Monique!!
So glad you love it Angela!
Avocado peach salsa sounds heavenly!! 🙂
So fresh and delicious!
Avocado peach salsa sounds heavenly!! 🙂
So fresh and delicious!
Omg seasonings recipes so delish!😊
The flavors are delish!
This was delish! The salsa was amazing and maybe my favorite part of the dish. My kids devoured it so win-win!
So happy you (and the kiddos) liked this one! Love that salsa too.
This was delish! The salsa was amazing and maybe my favorite part of the dish. My kids devoured it so win-win!
So happy you (and the kiddos) liked this one! Love that salsa too.
I made this recipe this week for lunch meal preps and it was so amazing! The salmon had such a wonderful Asian flavor without being too overpowering. I made cauliflower lime cilantro rice to go with it! Thank you for such a delicious and healthy recipe!
Delicious! Love the idea of cauliflower rice with it.
It looks amazing. However, what can you substitute for peaches since it’s not peaches season?
This is a pretty summer-y dish 🙂 But mango or even a bit of pineapple would be delicious, too!
It looks amazing. However, what can you substitute for peaches since it’s not peaches season?
Also wondering the same thing! I was thinking mango could be a good substitute? Monique, would love to hear your thoughts!
This is a pretty summer-y dish 🙂 But mango or even a bit of pineapple would be delicious, too!
Made this Friday night and again tonight(sunday). Love it! Might throw some pineapple in with the peach salsa next time and up the chilli content.
Perfect! Love the idea of adding pineapple.
Made this salmon last week! It was super easy to make and so yummy!
Perfect for summer! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
I made this for my friend and I and he LOVED IT!! I paired it with a baked sweet potato and was great. I want to make it again but do you think the recipe would still work if I substituted chicken for salmon?
Amazing! Glad you both enjoyed 🙂 The marinade and salsa would also be delicious with chicken – let me know if you try it!
Fav salmon recipe!
Just had this tonight, and it was so good!! We didn’t have jalapeños so we added hot sauce, and our peaches weren’t super in season so added a little bit of sugar. So delicious, can’t wait to have again!
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed!
This is just perfect! We had it for barbecue today and these flavours, salsa-omg just delicious!
So happy to hear that!
This was fantastic!! I love your fruit salsas but had never tried peach and YUMMOOOO! Such good flavor combos all around. Thank you!
So good!! Glad you loved it!
I didn’t have the ingredients on hand to make the mango avocado salsa, but I did make the firecracker salmon which was just the right amount of spicy. My 3 kids loved it! Such an easy, flavorful weeknight dinner.
Perfect! So happy everyone loved it!
So delicious and simple.
Glad you like it! 🙂
This is a summer MUST recipe! My husband and I just tried it and oh my goodness! The flavors are incredible and so well balanced!
Absolutely! One of my favs for summer 🙂
Love the recipes. I believe salmon with avocado and peach is truly one of the best combination <3
One of my favorite combos, too! Glad you love this one 🙂
This deserves more than 5 stars. My only recommendation is to double the mango salsa because you will keep wanting more. This was simple, tasty, and changed up the flavor. Cooking during quarantine has left us uninspired at times, but Monique’s firecracker salmon was anything but ordinary.
Absolutely! So glad you love this one!
Very tasty! Made exactly per the oven directions and it turned out really flavorful and tender. Served with jasmine rice. My salsa didn’t look as pretty as the photos but tasted great. A wonderful summer meal that will be a go-to.
Amazing! Love the idea of serving with some rice on the side. Glad you enjoyed!
Great combination of flavors. This is a bold recipe and I loved every bite.
Absolutely. Glad you enjoyed!
So good!! Really quick and easy to make. Fresh and tasty
Glad you enjoyed!
This was soooo yummy! We had fresh Michigan peaches from the farm stand to use up. My 13 year old daughter who isn’t a fan of salmon ate every last bite!
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
This salsa is SO DAMN GOOD! Made this for me and boyfriend and he rated it 10 out of 5 stars, he loved it and so did I. Everything is easy and has so much flavor. Can’t wait to get more peaches to make this “salsa” again and eat with everything
Amazing! So happy to hear that 🙂
Great recipe! I don’t love fish, but I want to incorporate for health benefits. This was a great mix of ingredients so it wasn’t an overpowering fishy taste. The salsa on top was beautiful. I paired with a homemade Mexican rice!
Perfect! Glad you enjoyed 🙂 I find salmon to be the least “fishy,” too.
This salmon had lots of zing! Loved the spiciness of the marinade and sweet, tanginess of the salsa. Great combo! I grilled the salmon and it was delicious. This meal comes together nice and quick.
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
So delicious! I didn’t have ginger, but it still turned out delicious! The marinade was super spicy, but the salmon didn’t have too much of a bite when it came out!
Perfect! So glad you enjoyed 🙂
Made this recipe the other night with tofu instead of salmon and served it over brown rice. It was delicious, so light & fresh. It will definitely be going into our dinner rotation.
Love that idea! Glad you enjoyed!
The flavor of the salmon is incredible…. just the right blend of spicy & tangy. And the peach avocado salsa is something I never would have thought to pair with it but it is phenomenal! Reminds me of AK’s blackened salmon tacos with the mango guacamole. I served it with some quinoa and it was the perfect dinner recipe. Excited I found yet another favorite AK recipe!
Absolutely! So glad you loved this one 🙂
This recipe is a new favorite. The salmon and the salsa are delicious separately but together they were AMAZING! Definitely added to our rotation of meals
Absolutely! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
I changed nothing in the prep (well, maybe a little extra cilantro) and this was a total hit with adult “foodies” and the grandkids too! The marinade is scrumptious! This recipe was one the DIL wanted a copy of!
This was an delicious way to break out of our salmon rut. Served with coconut brown rice and a cabbage slaw with an lime-soy-sesame dressing. My MIL said dinner was better than eating out. (Take that pandemic!)
Absolutely! Such a great dinner 🙂
I make this at least twice a month as one of my meals for the week. I have changed it up to make it with chicken and pineapple. The taste is great as well as it being super easy to make when I’m tired after work. I put it on quinoa.
Great idea to try with chicken & pineapple – YUM!
Amazing restaurant quality dish! Made it for company and everyone loved it!!
So happy to hear that!
This is one of my boyfriend’s favorite dishes! We use pineapple since peach isn’t in season and we love it that way.
Love that idea! Glad it’s a favorite 🙂
OH MY GOSH, this is the best salmon I have ever had. I do not eat a lot of fish and had never dared to try to cook salmon, ever. This was a huge hit, the flavors bind together sooo well, not a single thing needed to change, sooo sooo good.
Amazing! So glad you loved this one!
Making this again tonight! Usually make with trader joes whole wheat couscous. The whole family loves it.
Love it! Such a great dinner 🙂
Love this recipe, especially during peach season! I’ve made this for salmon tacos as well as in bowls with coconut rice. The salsa has great flavors with just the right amount of heat. Definitely recommend!
The BEST salmon dish I have ever had. I have honestly made this dish for myself every month (at least) for years now. So easy, so flavourful!!
So happy to hear that! One of our favs, too 🙂
I made this last night for myself. It was sooo good accompanied with rice! I love all the easy and delicious salmon recipes… keep them coming!!
Such a great combo! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
very good! We made it on the grill. I couldn’t find a peach in season so omitted that and it was still good. Wonder if I could’ve used a mango instead?
Glad you enjoyed! And YES mango would be perfect 🙂
Excellent recipe. The salmon was tasty with a just a bit of heat and the salsa brought all the flavors together. Thanks for the easy to follow directions. Looking forward to making it again.
So happy you enjoyed it, Marilyn! 🙂
The firecracker salmon and peach salsa is SO SO good! This has to be the best salmon marinade ever, so flavorful with a nice kick ( I am generally not a fan of spicy but this was perfect)! . The peach salsa was incredible as well, I love this recipe & the combination with the salmon was amazing!
I’m so glad you loved it, Kendra!!
My new go to recipe for grilling salmon! Great flavor. Love the peach and avocado salsa for summer. Served with a side of couscous.
The marinade gave the salmon a great flavor and the peach avocado salsa is amazing! We can’t wait to try the salsa over other grilled fishes.
This is my boyfriend’s new favorite meal, and it was so easy to make!! Will definitely be making this again. Felt so healthy while eating it but it tasted so good!
Absolutely delicious. So flavorful. I made a few of your recipes and they are excellent.
i just loved how the dish turned out to be when i made it. i was actually nervous because i was making it for the first time at my family’s reunion but everybody loved it. thanks!
I’m so happy it turned out perfectly!
OBSESSED with this recipe! I forgot to buy a jalapeño for the salsa, but it still turned out SO amazing. It’s a very simple recipe considering it tastes like it comes from a restaurant.
I wasn’t sure if I should pour the marinade over the salmon on the oven tray, so I drizzled a little on and it seemed to turn out fine (certainly no adverse events).
This one is definitely going into the weekly rotation!
I’m so happy you are!! Thanks, Megan 🙂 Do you mean the remaining marinade after the salmon’s been soaking in it? It could possibly burn in the oven but I’m glad it turned out fine for you!
Stopping thinking about making this, and make it!
Even just make the salsa and live your best life.
Hahaha thank you!! I’m so glad you’re loving it 🙌
We make a lot of baked salmon, but in the summer you’d rather not turn on your oven. THIS is the go to grilled salmon of choice. Yum yum yum. Even if you don’t have the ingredients for the salsa, don’t skip out on this salmon. Delicious combo but also great by itself!
The title says it all! This firecracker salmon is spicy and packed with flavor! I served it with white rice and green beans. Such a quick dinner for the week night!
Monique, this salmon was DELISH!!! We loved it! That salsa is the BOMB! My husband isn’t a huge salmon fan, but he said, “If I have to eat salmon, I want it like this!” Pretty high compliment, lol!
Umm yes BEST compliment ever! Thank you so much!!
This was delicious and so easy! Perfect for a weeknight. The salsa is incredible–we ate leftovers with tortilla chips. I could have eaten it with just a spoon!
Can you use this marinade for chicken in the slow cooker?
Hello! I haven’t tried it but I bet it would be amazing!