Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
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A simple spice rub, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a fresh pineapple salsa turn ordinary salmon into something really special.
This recipe started with a maple-glazed salmon recipe I clipped years ago, but over time I put my own spin on it with a fresh pineapple salsa. The salmon is rubbed with a blend of spices, then broiled and glazed with maple syrup. The spices form a flavorful crust and provide just enough heat to balance the sweet glaze. The fresh pineapple salsa adds a bright note that really takes it up a notch.
“Made this last night and wow, my family is still talking about it this morning.”
What You’ll Need For Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
For this pineapple salmon recipe, you’ll need paprika, ancho chile powder, ground cumin, sugar, kosher salt, salmon fillets, maple syrup, fresh pineapple and cilantro, and lime.
Step-By-Step Instructions
Step 1: Make the salsa. Mix the chopped pineapple, cilantro, lime juice, and maple syrup in a bowl; set it aside to let the flavors marry while you prep the fish.
Pro Tip: Prepping the salsa at least 15 to 20 minutes before you eat lets it sit and gives the lime juice and maple syrup time to draw out the pineapple’s natural juices, so the flavors really marry creating a built-in sauce for the fish.
Step 2: Prepare the rub. Combine the ancho chile powder, cumin, paprika, salt, and sugar.
Pro Tip: Ancho chile powder is different than a standard chili powder blend. Anchos are dried poblano peppers, and they’ve got a unique, smoky sweetness that’s way more complex than the garlicky, cumin-heavy flavor of regular chili powder. Most major grocery stores carry it, but if you can’t find it or want to use what you have on hand, regular chili powder can be substituted.
Step 3: Season the fish. Arrange the salmon fillets on a foil-lined baking sheet and sprinkle the spice rub evenly over the top.
Pro Tip: When you’re applying the rub, gently press the spices into the flesh with your fingers. This helps the seasoning stick so it doesn’t just slide off once the salmon starts to release its natural oils in the oven.
Step 4: Broil and glaze. Set the oven rack 6 inches from the broiler and cook the salmon for 5 minutes. Remove the pan, brush the fillets with maple syrup, and broil for one more minute.
Pro Tip: Don’t let the dark color throw you off! The combination of the deep red ancho powder and the caramelized maple syrup makes the crust look nearly burnt, but that’s where all the flavor is.
Step 5: Serve. Transfer the fillets to a platter or individual plates and top generously with the pineapple salsa.
More Easy Seafood Dishes You’LL Love
Salmon with Pineapple Salsa
Ingredients
For the Salmon
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon ancho chile powder
- ¼ teaspoon ground cumin
- ¼ teaspoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 4 (6-oz) salmon fillets
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
For the Pineapple Salsa
- 2 cups diced fresh pineapple
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice, from one lime
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
Instructions
- Set an oven rack about 6 in (15-cm) from the top of the oven and preheat the broiler. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
- Make the pineapple salsa by combining all of the ingredients in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Mix the paprika, ancho chili powder, cumin, sugar and kosher salt together in a small bowl.
- Place the fillets on the prepared baking sheet and sprinkle evenly with the spice mixture. Broil for 5 to 6 minutes, or until almost done. Remove the pan from the oven and brush the fillets evenly with the maple syrup. Broil for one minute more. Transfer the fish to plates and top with pineapple salsa.
Pair with
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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Hi Jenn,
our grocery store only carry the chipotle chili not the ancho chili powder. Can I sub the ancho with the chipotle?
Thanks
Sure, Lyne – you might just use a little less as chipotle chili powder tends to be spicy.
Fantastic recipe. I’ve made it several times, always a big hit. Question, recipe calls for Paprika. Should I use Hungarian Sweet or Smoked Spanish? I have both. Recipes rarely indicate which so I’m not sure which to use when. Thanks a lot for great recipes.
Carol
Hi Carol, If it doesn’t say, you should use sweet. Recipes will specify if it should be smoked. Hope that helps! 🙂
HELP!!!! We LOVE LOVE LOVE this recipe, and I was planning on making it (again) tonight for guests. My husband just mentioned he for got to tell me that the one is allergic to fish. Since I already purchased the ingredients, do you think it would work on chicken?
Hi Jenn, Yes – I’d use my chicken fajita marinade. The salsa will be delicious with that. Hope that helps!
Jenn, my dinner guest just left and I had to immediately tell you how fabulous this was. Served it with oven roasted asparagus and did strawberries with balsamic vinegar and black pepper, and your wonderful banana chocolate marble bread, for desert. The salmon was a restaurant quality dish. We LOVED it!! You are unbelievable.
Tip: add the pineapple salsa after the maple brush. Broiling the pineapples brought out lovely flavor that was able to better “stand up” to the strong spices.
Didn’t have a lime but fresh squeezed grapefruit juice worked great.
This is fast, easy and great! The pineapple salsa makes it – I forgot it when we started eating and I think we were all wondering, but add the salsa and the flavors meld beautifully! Only change was a little bit of jalapeno in the salsa!
Hi Jenn, my husband is not a fan of pineapples. Do you think the recipe will taste good if I substitute mango for the pineapple? BTW, I can’t wait for you book. Already ordered 2. 🙂
Hi Nitza, I think mango would also work beautifully here. Hope you enjoy and thanks for your support of the cookbook! ❤️
Made this tonight and my husband and I agreed it’s the best dinner I’ve made in the decade we’ve been married. It’s not spicy at all, so even my kids enjoyed it. We served it with the black bean salad with corn and avocado which is also an amazing dish. This is definitely restaurant quality and so fast and easy if you use pre-cut pineapple spears!
Was another wonderful recipe! SO easy!
Also, have made the Beef stew with Carrots and Potatoes twice. Also, EXCELLENT! Thank you so much!
great!
I made this last night. Oh my goodness, this was wonderful. Flavorful, moist, and delicious. Had this for dinner with a lovely salad and a glass of wine. Great, quick dinner.