Fire up the grill!🔥 Here's another great summer grilling recipe that's fast and healthy! These mildly spicy Red Curry Salmon Kebabs have all of the flavor and none of the guilt! The marinade is the killer here: red curry paste, lime juice, honey, a little avocado oil, S&P. And that's it!
These mildly spicy salmon kebabs are made with wild salmon for a few reasons: they're firmer and hold up well under fire, and they are so much better for you than the farm-raised variety. My go-to for online salmon is Vital Choice Wild Salmon.
Where to buy wild salmon
- I often get my wild salmon from Whole Foods because they have such beautiful wild salmon. But I highly recommend Vital Choice, which sells fresh, wild-caught, sustainably harvested Alaskan salmon. And, it's delivered to your door! How easy is that? Use this link to get 15% off all Vital Choice Reefnet Sockeye Salmon orders with code REEF19 at checkout.
Flash-frozen salmon is at the peak of freshness so it's often the best choice. Sometimes “fresh” salmon behind the seafood counter has been previously frozen. You’ll get the freshest, mildest fish with the least fishy taste if you opt for frozen salmon.
Cube the salmon into about one-inch cubes depending on the types of skewers you use. I put a slice of red onion in between each piece of salmon, but you can use whatever veggie(s) you'd like to add.
How to make this salmon recipe
- Soak 6 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes. Doing this prevents the wooden skewers from burning. You can use steel skewers as well which do not require soaking.
- In a large bowl, mix 1 ½ tablespoons red curry paste with 2 tablespoons avocado oil, 2 tablespoons lime juice, 1 tablespoon honey, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon chopped fresh cilantro. Add the salmon cubes and toss to coat. Marinate for 30 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together ¼ cup mayonnaise, 1 tablespoon sambal oelek (or Sriracha sauce), remaining lime juice, remaining cilantro, and season with salt.
- Heat stove-top grill pan or an outdoor grill on medium-high heat.
- Remove skewers from water. Thread the salmon onto 6 skewers, leaving a ¼ inch between the cubes. Grill over moderately high heat, turning carefully, until lightly charred and cooked through, about 8 minutes total. Drizzle the kebabs with the spicy aioli sauce.
Thread the salmon pieces onto wooden skewers that have been soaked in water beforehand to prevent from burning. Use whatever veggies you have on hand to grill along with the salmon.
Grill the salmon skewers over medium-high heat on a grill pan or an outdoor grill for around 8 minutes total. Don't flip too soon or they will stick to the grill!
Serve with your favorite side like these Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Shiitake Mushrooms, or simple white rice. These Brussels sprouts are an easy but impressive Asian-inspired side dish for the salmon. Quick and simple to cook, this recipe is fresh and flavorful and perfect for weeknight meals.
TIPS & TRICKS
- Grill the salmon skewers over medium-high heat on a grill pan or an outdoor grill for around 8 minutes total. Don't flip too soon or they will stick to the grill!
- If you can't find wild salmon, use whatever salmon is available but try to find a thick piece. Otherwise, the salmon will slide off the skewers.
- I like to drizzle the salmon when ready to serve with a mildly spicy aioli sauce made with a mixture of low-fat mayonnaise and sambal oelek. You can substitute the sambal with sriracha sauce as well.
WANT MORE?
If you like this recipe, you’re going to love my Asian Rubbed Salmon! It’s melt-in-your-mouth delicious!
Update Notes: This post was originally published on April 25, 2017, but was republished with slight text changes and additions, new photos, step by step instructions, and tips in May 2019.
PrintRed Curry Salmon Kebabs
Fire up the grill! Here’s another great summer grilling recipe that’s fast and healthy! These mildly spicy Red Curry Salmon Kebabs have all the flavor and none of the guilt!
- Total Time: 48 min
- Yield: 6 1x
Ingredients
- 1 ½ tablespoons Thai red curry paste
- 2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice, divided
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped, divided
- 1 ½ pounds thick wild salmon, skin off, cut into 1-inch cubes
- ¼ cup low-fat mayonnaise (or vegan mayonnaise)
- 1 tablespoon sambal oelek (or Sriracha sauce)
Instructions
- Soak 6 wooden skewers in water for 30 minutes.
- In a large bowl, mix the curry paste with oil, 2 tablespoons lime juice, honey, salt, pepper and 1 tablespoon cilantro. Add the salmon cubes and toss to coat. Marinate for 30 minutes.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise, sambal oelek (or Sriracha sauce), remaining lime juice, remaining cilantro, and season with salt.
- Heat stove-top grill pan or outdoor grill on medium-high heat.
- Remove skewers from water. Thread the salmon onto 6 skewers, leaving a ¼ inch between the cubes. Grill over moderately high heat, turning carefully, until lightly charred and cooked through, about 8 minutes. Drizzle the kebabs with the spicy aioli sauce.
Notes
- Grill the salmon skewers over medium-high heat on a grill pan or an outdoor grill for around 8 minutes total. Don't flip too soon or they will stick to the grill!
- If you can't find wild salmon, use whatever salmon is available but try to find a thick piece. Otherwise, the salmon will slide off the skewers.
- I like to drizzle the salmon when ready to serve with a mildly spicy aioli sauce made with a mixture of low-fat mayonnaise and sambal oelek. You can substitute the sambal with sriracha sauce as well.
Adapted from: Food & Wine.
- Prep Time: 40 min
- Cook Time: 8 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Grill or Grill Pan
- Cuisine: Asian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 287
- Sugar: 3.8 g
- Sodium: 640.9 mg
- Fat: 18.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 4.5 g
- Protein: 24.9 g
- Cholesterol: 54.9 mg
Bob Altman says
The Fish Market Restaurant on Pharr Road has a retail counter and they sell excellent wild salmon, skin off, for a good price.
Asian Caucasian says
Good to know! I usually get mine at Whole Foods, or Vital Choice online. Good stuff!
Francine Hood says
I made these last night and it was melt-in-your-mouth goodness! That salmon tasted so delicious with the red curry marinade. Will be making this again soon!
Asian Caucasian says
So glad you liked the recipe, Francine! It's one of my faves and I make it a lot during the summer. So quick and delicious!