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Fire up your taste buds with this irresistible BBQ spiced salmon that's perfectly paired with golden caramelized pineapple for a sweet and smoky flavor explosion!
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What makes this dish special
There's a Brazilian BBQ restaurant that I love visiting, not for the meat but for their pineapple. Yes, the pineapple. Granted, it's not just an ordinary pineapple. They sprinkle cinnamon sugar on the fruit and put it on the rotisserie so that the outside is beautifully caramelized. It's divine.
And so, I took that idea and decided to pair it with salmon to create this BBQ spiced salmon with caramelized pineapple. Drizzle a charred lemon dressing on the spiced fish, serve it with sweet pineapple, and you have one fun tropical dinner.
Ingredients
- Salmon: The salmon's firm texture holds up well to the robust seasoning without being overwhelmed.
- Spices: This blend creates the signature "BBQ" flavor profile. Brown sugar adds sweetness and helps create caramelization on the fish's surface. Paprika provides smoky depth and vibrant color. Salt enhances all flavors and helps draw out moisture for better seasoning penetration. Chili powder, garlic powder, and onion powder build savory complexity, while black pepper adds a subtle heat that balances the sweetness.
- Lemon: The charred lemon creates a unique dressing that brightens the entire dish. Charring the lemon intensifies its flavor and adds a subtle smokiness that complements the BBQ spices.
- Pineapple: Provides a tropical sweetness that balances the savory, spiced salmon. When caramelized, the pineapple develops deeper, more complex flavors with slight caramel notes.
- Cinnamon: Works with the sugar to enhance the caramelization process on the pineapple, creating deeper, warmer flavors.
Substitutions and variations
- Protein: Try this recipe with shrimp, halibut, chicken, or tempeh for a vegetarian option. Adjust the cooking time accordingly.
- Spicy: If you want a spicy kick, add cayenne to the salmon seasoning or top the salmon with roasted jalapenos.
- Toppings: Serve the salmon with additional toppings such as guacamole, roasted tomatoes, or a fresh tomato salsa.
Recipe
BBQ Spiced Salmon with Caramelized Pineapple
Ingredients
BBQ salmon
- 1 pound salmon
- ½ tablespoon brown sugar
- ½ tablespoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon chili powder
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Charred lemon dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 1 lemon halved
- ¼ cup chopped parsley
- ¼ cup chopped basil
- 2 tablespoons chopped chives
- salt and pepper
Caramelized pineapple
- 1 pineapple sliced into ½ inch thick slices
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
- Combine spices for salmon including brown sugar, paprika, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Sprinkle on salmon in an even layer. Let sit for 20 minutes.
- Meanwhile, heat ¼ cup olive oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Add lemon with the cut side facing down and cook until browned and slightly charred, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and pour the olive oil into a bowl. Squeeze lemon juice into the same bowl, discarding the lemons. Add chopped parsley, basil, and chives to the lemon oil mixture and season with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Roast the salmon for 15-17 minutes or until flesh flakes easily with a fork. Let rest for 10 minutes.
- Prepare pineapple. Combine sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Lay pineapple in an even layer on a baking sheet and sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture on both sides. Bake for 10 minutes. Flip pineapple over and bake for another 10 minutes or until caramelized.
- Transfer salmon to a serving platter and drizzle the charred lemon dressing on top followed by caramelized pineapple. Serve immediately.
Notes
Step-by-step instructions
Step 1: Prepare salmon
As much as I love salmon, it can become boring. So many restaurants prepare salmon the same way with the same typical sauces. I wanted something different and appropriate for summer, so I decided to whip up a BBQ spiced salmon with caramelized pineapple and charred lemon dressing. The spices may seem ordinary, but the dressing and pineapple really take it up a notch.
To prepare this dish, first, marinate the salmon. Combine all of the spices, including brown sugar, paprika, salt, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, and black pepper. Sprinkle a generous amount of the spice mix on the salmon and let it sit at room temperature for 20 minutes.
I like to make a big batch of this BBQ spice mix and use it on chicken, shrimp, steak, or even pork tenderloins. This recipe makes a little extra, so you can save that extra bit and use it on whatever you like!
Step 2: Make lemon dressing
While the salmon is absorbing all those wonderful flavors, make the charred lemon dressing. Heat oil in a sauté pan and place the lemon halves, cut side down, in the pan. Cook the lemon until it's browned and lightly charred on the bottom.
When you char the lemon before squeezing the juice, the juice becomes sweeter. It's very lovely if I do say so myself.
Squeeze all of that lemon juice and combine it with the oil from the pan, chopped fresh herbs, salt, and pepper. It's a very simple dressing, but it pairs wonderfully with the heavily spiced fish.
Step 3: Cook pineapple
Now I don't have a rotisserie, so I couldn't caramelize the pineapple exactly how the Brazilian restaurant does. I improvised by slicing the pineapple, sprinkling cinnamon sugar on top, and baking it until the sugars caramelize.
Make sure to flip the pineapple halfway through the cooking process so that both sides have a chance to caramelize.
Step 4: Bake salmon
By now, the salmon should be ready. Bake the salmon until the fish flakes easily, about 12-15 minutes. You can also grill the salmon or cook it on the stovetop.
Let the fish sit for 10 minutes, then transfer it to a serving platter and drizzle the charred lemon dressing on top. Garnish with the caramelized pineapple and serve!
If I served this BBQ spiced salmon just by itself, I wouldn't be impressed. However, the bright herby dressing brings life to the salmon, and the caramelized pineapple just takes it to the next level. This dish is anything but boring!
Serve this dish with prosciutto wrapped brussels sprouts with strawberry balsamic and Nashville sweet potato balls for a complete meal!
Make-ahead and storage
- Make-ahead: You can make the spice rub and charred lemon dressing up to a day ahead. The salmon can be seasoned and refrigerated for up to 4 hours before cooking.
- Store: Cooked salmon will keep in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. The pineapple and dressing can be stored separately for up to 4 days.
Frequently asked questions
Yes, but make sure to thaw it completely first. Pat the salmon dry with paper towels before applying the spice rub, as excess moisture can prevent proper seasoning and browning.
Absolutely! Grill the salmon over medium-high heat for about 4-6 minutes per side, depending on thickness. The pineapple can also be grilled for 3-4 minutes per side.
The salmon should flake easily with a fork and reach an internal temperature of 145°F. It should be opaque throughout but still moist.
More salmon recipes
Looking for more salmon dishes? Try these:
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