How to Make the BEST Grilled Marinated Salmon
Have you ever had grilled marinated salmon with a delicious herb-lime sauce? If not, then you must try this recipe! The combination of the smoky grill flavor and the delicate tangy flavor of the grilled marinated fish is mouth-watering.
This recipe is also great on the go! Salmon camping recipes usually involve foil, but not this one. It’s something unique and healthy to enjoy if you want to skip the burgers and hot dogs.
Pack everything up to make this easy grilling recipe the next time you head to a campground: make the sauce at home, bottle up the marinade and you are ready to grill.
So, if you’re having trouble deciding what to bring for your next camping trip or backyard barbecue, relax! This is one of those super-easy, low-stress dinners that everyone will love.
I love this grilled marinated salmon with herbed lime sauce because:
✔️ It can be prepped in advance
✔️ The marinating time is super short (30 minutes)
✔️ It has a really bright flavor, thanks to the lime and soy marinade combined with the creamy dairy-free cilantro/basil lime sauce!
Grilled Marinated Salmon Recipe
I’ve been making this grilled cilantro lime salmon recipe for well over twenty years, and it’s definitely still my favorite way to make salmon. Trust me, you’ll love it too!
Whether you bring it along on your next adventure and make it while camping or are cooking right on your home grill, it will become a favorite.
My recipe card is so beautifully stained and loved that I wanted to share it with you. Notice that I decided to switch the fish from swordfish to salmon, my absolute favorite fish.
Swordfish contains high concentrations of mercury, a neurotoxin, so I avoid eating it. You can experiment using this recipe with other types of fish such as sea bass or halibut.
The story is this: I found this recipe in the 1990s, as a teen, while lounging in my bedroom, in the very back of Seventeen magazine. It was written by a well-known model at the time and I cannot remember who it was, sadly.
My discovery of this recipe came about when I wasn’t eating meat due to my beliefs regarding animal rights and factory farming. I had read Animal Factories by Jim Mason and Peter Singer which made quite an impression on me.
So, at age fourteen, I declared vegetarianism for myself. The occasional serving of fish during my no-meat-eating period was OK with me. This lasted until age 21 when I ordered a filet mignon and a glass of red wine for my celebratory birthday dinner.
This grilled marinated fish recipe was made often and still is, even though I now eat meat. Our family has raised our own poultry for meat for over a decade and we purchase humanely-raised organic meat raised in Vermont.
What is the Best Type of Salmon to Eat?
Wild salmon is the best type of salmon to eat. It is high in protein and omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for your heart and brain health.
It is also lower in mercury than farm-raised salmon. Not only is wild salmon healthier for you, but it also tastes better!
If you’re looking for the very best wild salmon, look no further than Alaska. The state’s cold, clear waters are home to some of the world’s most delicious salmon.
Whether you’re looking for king, sockeye, pink, or silver salmon, Alaska has it all. Because the fish are wild-caught, you know they’re fresh and healthy.
When choosing wild salmon, look for fillets that are pink or red in color with firm flesh and a fresh, ocean smell. Avoid raw salmon that is pale in color, has a strong fishy odor, or is mushy to the touch.
Grilled sockeye salmon is a regular in our household. Look for sales and buy in bulk!
Wild salmon is best cooked simply, so it can shine on its own. Try grilling, baking, or pan-frying, and definitely try not to overcook it.
How Do You Make this Grilled Salmon Marinade Recipe?
This easy grilled salmon marinade recipe is so delicious and best of all, it only takes about five minutes to prepare and mix the ingredients together. Then your job is practically done!
To make this flavorful marinade you will need a small bowl, a whisk, and the following ingredients:
🥣 1 clove garlic
🥣 1 tbs minced fresh ginger
🥣 1 lime*, juiced
🥣 1/2 cup olive oil
🥣 1/4 cup soy sauce
🥣 1 tbs toasted sesame oil
🥣 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Whisk everything together and pour over the prepared fresh salmon fillets on a baking sheet or shallow dish.
* You can use lemon juice instead of lime juice if you prefer.
Why Marinate Salmon for Grilling?
It is easy to get away without marinating salmon since it is an oilier fish, but the marinade does impart a lot of flavor. Since this one, in particular, is a soy sauce marinade for salmon, the fish gets a hefty dose of umami, which is delightful.
When we marinate salmon for grilling it imparts moisture and helps prevent the salmon from drying out during the cooking process. The best salmon marinade for grilling will not overpower the delicate taste of the fish. Too much sweetness can be off-putting.
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Can You Marinate Salmon For Too Long?
Yes, you can. Because this salmon marinade recipe has an acid in it (lime) it shouldn’t be marinated for longer than 4 hours in the refrigerator or for 30 minutes at room temperature.
Salmon is naturally very tender, so you don’t need to leave the fish in the marinade for very long. Marinating for too long can result in a mushy, discolored, piece of fish.
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How to Grill Marinated Salmon
It’s always important to leave the skin on the salmon so that the fillets will hold together and not fall apart on the grill. Grilled salmon skin is also extremely delicious, it gets nice and crispy.
Preheat your outdoor grill to medium heat or use a chimney starter for your charcoal grill to ignite a hot pile of briquettes to cook over. You will want to start your chimney about 15 minutes before it’s time to grill.
Place each piece of salmon skin-side down on the grill. You can choose to baste the salmon with the marinade while it cooks.
Grill for 5-6 minutes total, flipping once. Cook until the skin is crisp and the fish is cooked through. Remove from grill and serve immediately with your favorite side dishes.
The leftover marinade should be discarded.
Cooking Salmon on Pellet Grill
When choosing a pellet stove for grilling salmon, it’s important to consider the size of the unit and the type of wood pellets you’ll be using. Traeger is a popular brand of pellet stove, and they offer a wide range of models to choose from.
Grilling salmon on a pellet grill such as a Traeger pellet stove is a great way to add even more flavor to your fish. The smoked flavor of the pellets will impart a rich flavor to your salmon, and the indirect heat will cook the fish evenly.
Here are a few tips for Traeger grilled salmon:
- Preheat your grill to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place salmon fillets on the grill.
- Grill salmon for 10-12 minutes, or until it is cooked through and still shiny inside.
- Transfer to a sheet pan or platter.
- Enjoy!
What to Serve with Grilled Marinated Salmon
A fresh herbed lime sauce is the perfect way to add SO much flavor to grilled wild salmon. It’s perfection.
For this recipe, you can decide to use cilantro, basil (Lime Basil or Genovese Basil), mint, or a combination of any of these fresh herbs. My personal favorite is cilantro!
The fresh lime and herbs give the salmon a bright, zesty flavor that is sure to make your taste buds sing. It’s remained one of my favorite sauces, next to chimichurri, for many years. This sauce is also great on chicken or fish tacos.
How to Make Cilantro Lime Sauce for Grilled Marinated Salmon
To make this delicious dairy-free sauce you will need the following ingredients:
🥣 1 clove garlic, sliced
🥣 2 egg yolks
🥣 1 tsp dijon mustard
🥣 1 tsp soy sauce
🥣 1 lime, juiced
🥣 1/2 tsp sea salt
🥣 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or basil or mint or a combination of any listed)
🥣 3 drops Tabasco sauce
🥣 1 cup olive oil
- Place the garlic in a food processor. Pulse.
- Add remaining ingredients with the exception of olive oil.
- With the motor running, add olive oil in droplets until the mixture thickens. Using a measuring cup with a pouring spout helps. Stream the rest of the olive oil in, taking about a minute to complete adding the oil.
- Blend until creamy and chill. Serve with grilled fish.
🏕️ If you want to make this recipe for camping, then make the sauce beforehand and keep it well chilled. The sauce keeps for two days in the refrigerator. 🏕️
What Side Dishes Go with Cilantro Lime Grilled Salmon?
When it comes to side dishes, there are many different vegetables that pair well with this salmon dinner. Some of the best options include green beans, asparagus, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts.
These vegetables are all packed with nutrients and offer a variety of textures and flavors that complement the rich taste of salmon. Grilled salmon and asparagus is a meal in itself, so simple and tasty.
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My personal favorite side dishes to go along with grilled marinated salmon are a roasted garlic potato salad and a simple green salad with cucumbers and red onion, tossed in a vinaigrette.
The herbed lime sauce goes very well with potatoes but also complements grilled vegetables such as zucchini, very well. Corn on the cob is delightful served with salmon, too.
Final Thoughts on Grilled Marinated Salmon
It’s worth mentioning that due to its low carbohydrate content and high amount of heart-healthy fats, salmon also makes an excellent keto diet food. It’s also dairy-free, a bonus for those who need such a recipe.
If you’re looking for a delicious and healthy salmon recipe, this is a great option. With a quick good marinade, you are well on your way to a mouth-watering summer dinner!
This easy grilled salmon with all fresh ingredients has a delicious flavor and is truly perfect for any occasion and it’s simple to make. The next time you have a BBQ or are cooking over a campfire, give it a try. You won’t be disappointed!
Recipe for the BEST Grilled Salmon
Grilled Marinated Salmon with Cilantro Lime Sauce
Ingredients
Salmon Marinade Recipe
- 2 lbs wild salmon fillets
- 1 clove garlic
- 1 tbs minced fresh ginger
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1 tbs toasted sesame oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Lime Sauce
- 1 clove garlic, sliced
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- 1 tsp soy sauce
- 1 lime, juiced
- 1/2 tsp sea salt
- 1 cup chopped fresh cilantro (or Genovese basil, lime basil, mint, or a combination of any listed)
- 3 drops Tabasco sauce
- 1 cup olive oil
Instructions
Salmon
- Arrange fish in a single layer in a glass dish.
- Whisk the marinade ingredients together.
- Pour the marinade over the fish, making sure all surfaces are covered.
- Cover the fish and marinate for 30 minutes at room temperature or up to 4 hours in the fridge.
- Heat up the grill.
- Place fish on the grill for 3 minutes on each side., basting fish while it cooks. Serve with lime sauce (below).
Lime Sauce
- Place the garlic in a food processor. Pulse.
- Add remaining ingredients with the exception of olive oil.
- With the motor running, add olive oil in droplets until the mixture thickens. Using a measuring cup with a pouring spout helps. Stream the rest of the olive oil in, taking about a minute to complete adding the oil.
- Blend until creamy, chill. Serve with grilled fish.
