In this post, we’ll show you how to make a tender and flaky smoked salmon with mango salsa. This delicious fish is full of savory and sweet flavors that you will love! And it’s so simple to make!
Why Smoked Salmon?
There’s nothing quite as delicious as a perfectly cooked piece of fresh salmon. In fact, it’s one of our family’s favorite entrees. My typical preparation method is to bake it in the oven and use a traditional lemon pepper seasoning, but I wanted to try something new, and that’s how this recipe was created!
I’m always looking for ways to use my favorite Traeger pellet grill, so I decided to slow-smoke the salmon this time, and I’m so glad I did! The smokey flavor from the pellets added more depth to the natural flavor of the salmon. It was absolutely delicious and so simple to prepare!
Smoked Salmon with Mango Salsa
I also opted to try some new seasonings and toppings this time. Our family loves dishes with Mexican or Asian flavors, so I decided to combine the two!
I seasoned the fish with one of my newly-discovered favorite rubs, Lane’s Q-Nami Seasoning, which has an Asian flare. Then I topped the salmon with fresh mango salsa (pico de gallo infused with fresh, ripe mango pieces), and boy was that the right choice! (Note: we chose to use store-bought mango pico, which can be purchased in the fresh produce section of most grocery stores, but you can also make your own spicy mango salsa if you’re feeling adventurous)!
The savory flavors in the rub blended beautifully with the sweetness of the mango, and the combination was perfect! This will be a go-to salmon recipe for our family from now on!
Now, let’s get to the recipe!
Ingredients for Smoked Salmon with Mango Salsa
These are simple ingredients you can pick up at your favorite grocery store. You’ll find a full recipe card with measurements and nutritional information at the bottom of this post but here’s a quick look at what you’re going to need.
- Fresh salmon fillet
- Lane’s Q-Nami seasoning (or another seasoning of your choice)
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Fresh mango salsa (aka Pico de Gallo)
How to Make Smoked Salmon with Mango Salsa
First, preheat your grill to 175 degrees.
Unwrap and lay the salmon skin side down on an oven/grill safe wire rack.
Use a basting brush to lightly coat the top of the salmon with 1 tbsp olive oil.
Sprinkle the top of the salmon with 1.5 tbsp. of Lane’s Q-Nami seasoning (or another seasoning of your choice).
Keep your salmon on the wire rack and transfer the rack to the grill. Insert an internal meat thermometer into the thickest part of the salmon and close the grill lid.
Smoke at 175° for 45 minutes or until the salmon is around 100 degrees internally.
Increase the grill temperature to 350 degrees and cook for another 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees f (the internal temperature is the best gauge to determine if your fish is done as the cooking time may vary slightly by grill).
Once the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees, remove salmon from the grill and let it sit for ten minutes.
Slice the salmon into approximately 6 ounce portions.
Plate one portion, top with 2 tablespoons of fresh mango salsa and serve.
Store any leftover salmon in an airtight container or foil packet in the refrigerator and eat with 3 days.
What to Expect from this Recipe
This smoked salmon turned out to be the best salmon I’ve ever made! It was so flaky and tender. The slower smoke method gave it an extra boost of flavor, and the mango salsa was the perfect topping! It was savory and smokey, with just the right touch of sweetness from the mango.
This is one of the most easy salmon recipes out there, with a simple and quick preparation method, which is great for busy evenings. The grill does most of the work on this one!
In the future, we may experiment with different seasonings and toppings, but this will be our go-to cooking method for salmon from now on. It was a simple process and our family absolutely loved it!
Make it Your Own
We love this recipe just as it is, but here are some fun ways to change it up and make it your own!
Glaze: Try glazing your fish with your favorite BBQ, bourbon or teriyaki sauce. Baste your fish with the glaze of your choice during the last 20 minutes of cooking time for the perfect caramelized coating!
Fruit: Top your fish with pineapple slices (for a sweet flavor), or lemon juice and lemon slices (for a more traditional flavor) during the cooking process! You can also use lime zest, lime wedges or fresh lime juice for another twist.
Seasoning: Change up your seasoning! There are so many options, like traditional lemon pepper, BBQ rub, garlic powder and onion powder. Or try something with even more kick, such as Cajun seasoning blend, cayenne pepper or chili powder. You can even make your own spice mix. The options are endless!
Toppings: You can sprinkle the top of your salmon filet with anything you like! Some great options are: red onion, green onion, red bell pepper, fresh herbs, fresh cilantro, chili flakes or even brown sugar!
What to Serve with Smoked Salmon and Mango Salsa
If you’re looking for the perfect sides and desserts to serve with your smoked salmon, here are some great recipes!
For a delicious way to start your meal, try our Smoked Cream Cheese with Honey Drizzle. It’s the perfect appetizer!
Check out this oh-so-amazing recipe for Lemon Roasted Asparagus from Southern Home Express. It would pair perfectly with our smoked salmon!
If you want to try your hand at making homemade sweet mango salsa, check out this recipe for Mango Pico de Gallo from Bites with Bri. It looks so tasty and colorful!
No one knows desserts quite like Out of the Box Baking. Check out their incredibly easy recipe for No Bake Lemon Swirl Cheesecake for the perfect way to end your meal. Yum!
Thanks for Stopping By!
That’s it for this post, friends! We hope you enjoy the sweet and savory flavors in this tender, smoked salmon with mango salsa. This is a new recipe for us, and we happen to love it!
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About the Man Behind the Grill
Zach Morrow was born and raised in Texas and has always had a passion for great barbecue. He’s at home behind the grill and loves to feed his friends and family home-cooked favorites as often as he can. He especially loves trying new things and is excited to produce recipes like this one for Backyard Texas Grill.
Smoked Salmon with Mango Salsa
This tender and flaky smoked salmon with mango salsa is delicious and full of savory and sweet flavors that you will love!
Ingredients
- 3 pound fresh salmon fillet
- 1 1/2 tbsp. Lane's Q-Nami seasoning
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 16 tbsp. fresh mango salsa
Instructions
Preheat grill to 175 degrees.
Unwrap salmon and lay on oven/grill safe wire rack.
Use a basting brush to lightly coat the top of the salmon with 1 tbsp olive oil.
Sprinkle the top with 1.5 tbsp. of Q-Nami seasoning.
Keep your salmon on the wire rack and transfer the rack to the grill. Insert an internal meat thermometer into the thickest part of the salmon and close the grill lid.
Smoke at 175° for 45 minutes or until the salmon is around 100 degrees internally.
Increase the grill temperature to 350 degrees and cook for another 20-25 minutes, or until the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees (the internal temperature is the best gauge to determine if your fish is done as cooking time may vary by grill).
Once the internal temperature of the fish reaches 145 degrees, remove salmon from the grill and let sit for ten minutes.
Slice into approximately 6 ounce portions.
Plate one portion, top with 2 tablespoons of fresh mango salsa and serve.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 380Total Fat: 23gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 107mgSodium: 706mgCarbohydrates: 4gFiber: 1gSugar: 3gProtein: 38g