Chicken Free Cilantro-Lime Salmon Cucumber Skewers
These skewers are bright, fresh, and seriously impressive for how little effort they actually take. Cubes of salmon get tossed in a punchy marinade of lime juice, zest, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and cilantro before threading onto skewers with cool rounds of English cucumber — the contrast in texture alone is worth making these. The whole thing comes together in a single skillet, so there's no grill required and cleanup stays minimal. Salmon is a naturally rich, satisfying protein that soaks up citrusy marinades beautifully, and the turmeric adds a subtle warmth and gorgeous golden color without overpowering the other flavors. The cucumber rounds aren't just for looks — they stay crisp against the seared salmon and act almost like a built-in palate cleanser between bites. A squeeze of fresh lime over the finished platter ties everything together and makes the dish pop. Whether you're serving these as an appetizer or a light main, they look far fancier than the ingredient list suggests.
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Learn more →Ingredients
4 servings
For the salmon
- 1 lb salmon fillet, skin removed, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 tbsp fresh lime juice (about 1 lime)
- 1 tsp lime zest
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp fresh ginger, grated
- ¼ tsp ground turmeric
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- 3 tbsp fresh cilantro, finely chopped
For the skewers
- 1 large english cucumber, cut into 1-inch rounds
For serving
- lime wedges, for serving (optional)
- fresh cilantro sprigs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- 1
In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, the lime juice, lime zest, garlic, ginger, turmeric, salt, black pepper, and cilantro until combined. Add the salmon cubes and toss gently to coat. Let the salmon marinate at room temperature for 15 minutes.
- 2
While the salmon marinates, cut the cucumber into 1-inch rounds. Thread the skewers by alternating 2 pieces of salmon with 2 rounds of cucumber on each 6-inch skewer, starting and ending with cucumber.
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