Easy Balsamic Salmon with Strawberry Salsa

This easy balsamic salmon with a quick strawberry salsa is perfect for summer weeknights! Ready in under 30 minutes with just a handful of ingredients.

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When you think about classic flavor combinations, salmon and strawberry may not be the first things that come to mind. But I need you to trust me when I tell you that salmon and strawberries? They BELONG together.

This easy roasted balsamic salmon with strawberry salsa is ready in less than half an hour with almost no prep. (Pro tip: If you’re firmly in too-hot-to-use-the-oven weather, you can grill the salmon instead of roasting!)

How to buy sustainable salmon:

As always, we’re working with sustainable Wild Alaskan Salmon for this recipe!

Our top choice for sustainability: Wild Alaskan Salmon.

Alaska has strict rules in place to control everything from what gear is permitted to boat size to how many fish you’re allowed to catch. The state is serious about ensuring its wild salmon fisheries are sustainably managed. Learn more about sustainable salmon on this episode of our podcast!

In these photos, we’re using a wild Sockeye Salmon fillet caught by our friend Captain Steve Kurian of the F/V Ava Jane for Wild For Salmon (not sponsored! We’re just superfans).

Sockeye, Coho, or Chinook Salmon are all good choices here. If you can find it and feel like splurging, you can also use King Salmon: its rich, buttery texture makes this healthy recipe feel ultra-decadent.

Buying sustainable salmon at the store:

Look for Wild Alaskan Salmon at the store when you shop. And don’t worry too much about finding it fresh: we actually almost always buy frozen!

Wild salmon is typically flash-frozen almost immediately after it’s caught to preserve quality. Frozen salmon will keep for many months in the freezer and is quick and easy to defrost for a last-minute salmon dinner.

Buying salmon directly from fishermen:

Many fishermen have adopted a dock-to-doorstep model to help you order sustainable salmon directly from them! Two of our favorites:

• East Coast: Wild for Salmon
• Midwest: Sitka Salmon Shares

Both companies work directly with fishermen to catch, flash-freeze, and ship sustainable Alaskan salmon right to your door.

West Coast-ers typically have quite a few options available for sustainable wild salmon, especially if you’re in Oregon or Washington. Find wild salmon wherever you live with this handy fish finder from Bristol Bay Salmon or this Seafood Map from Local Catch!

Note: We prefer Wild Alaskan Salmon for many reasons (check out our podcast for more), but it isn’t the *only* sustainable salmon choice – several salmon aquaculture (fish farming) companies are now also certified “Best Choice” by Monterey Bay Seafood Watch. When in doubt, check Monterey Bay Seafood Watch for up-to-date recommendations on sustainable seafood.

Let’s talk about this strawberry salsa.

This easy salsa is the perfect blend of sweet and spicy! Make it up to a day in advance and keep it in the fridge, or prep and mix the salsa while the balsamic salmon roasts.

Strawberries tend to be at their peak in late spring/early summer, and peak-season strawberries can be MUCH sweeter than store-bought strawberries other times of year. So don’t forget to taste and adjust this salsa as you go!

If your strawberries are especially sweet, you can add a bit of extra salt, lime, and/or jalapeño to balance out the sweetness.

If you’re using out-of-season strawberries without as much flavor, you can dial back the lime juice a bit or even add a small drizzle of honey to bring out the natural sweetness of the berries.

Don’t be afraid to trust your taste buds!

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