Easy Jerk Salmon Recipe

Of all the foods you could have for dinner, salmon ranks among the top choices for several reasons. Not only is the fish packed with nutrients, it also has an irresistibly rich flavor. There are many ways that you can prepare salmon, including grilling, baking, or even frying. And, because so many seasonings and foods complement salmon's flavor, it truly is one of the most versatile proteins out there.

Recipe developer Sher Castellano has the perfect jerk salmon recipe that will surely raise the stakes for an easy but satisfying dinner. Paired with a mango slaw, this salmon has the perfect combination of flavors. "Jerk salmon with mango slaw is a classic savory-sweet combination," Castellano explains. "The salmon is spicy (but not too spicy) and savory and the slaw is sweet (but not too sweet), salty, and acidic." 

Best of all, this recipe is super easy to put together, and in less than 20 minutes you can easily make restaurant-quality jerk salmon right in your own kitchen. Keep reading to learn how to make it.

Before you can get started on cooking the salmon and making the mango slaw, you'll want to make sure that you have the right ingredients. 

Of course, you'll need some salmon filets, as well as jerk seasoning blend and olive oil. For the slaw, you'll need diced mango, shredded cabbage, chopped cilantro, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper. Castellano notes that there is some room for flexibility when it comes to the slaw ingredients; for example, you could use nectarines or peaches instead of mango. Also, if you don't like cilantro, you could swap it out for fresh parsley instead. 

Now that you have your ingredients sorted, you can get started on making the jerk salmon with mango slaw. 

First, you'll want to combine the olive oil with the jerk seasoning in a small bowl and mix that together. Then, grab your salmon fillets and pat them dry. Rub the jerk seasoning mixture all over each of the filets, thoroughly and evenly coating them. The seasoning is what gives the salmon that subtly spicy flavor, and some of the seasoning will fall off when you cook the filets, so don't be scared to season generously!

Once your salmon fillets are seasoned, go ahead and put a nonstick pan on the stovetop over medium-high heat. When the pan's hot, add in some olive oil and then carefully lay each salmon filet down into the pan. Allow the filets to cook like this, undisturbed, for four minutes. Then flip the filets over and let them cook undisturbed once again for another two minutes. At this point, remove the salmon from the heat to prevent it from cooking any further. 

Now that your salmon is cooked, you can focus on making the mango slaw, which is super easy to throw together. Simply add the diced mango, shredded cabbage, cilantro, remaining olive oil, apple cider vinegar, salt, and pepper to a bowl, then toss to combine. 

Then, plate your salmon filets, top each one off with the slaw, and you're ready to enjoy your meal of easy jerk salmon with mango slaw!

Not only is this recipe easy to make, but it uses fresh, nutritious ingredients, making it a complete meal all on its own. Considering the fact that it only takes six minutes to cook plus a little time to prep, we think that it will become a dinner staple in your household for busy nights!