Nitrate & Nitrite Free Cilantro-Lime Salmon Cucumber Skewers
Fresh salmon, bright lime, and cool cucumber come together in a skewer that feels like something you'd order at a coastal restaurant — except you made it in a weeknight skillet. The marinade is built entirely from whole, unprocessed ingredients: olive oil, fresh lime juice and zest, garlic, ginger, a touch of turmeric, and plenty of cilantro. There's no cured meat, no packaged seasoning blend, and no hidden preservatives to worry about, which makes this a genuinely clean option for anyone avoiding added nitrates and nitrites. The salmon soaks up that citrusy, gingery marinade in just 15 minutes, so the flavor payoff is big without a long wait. Alternating the fish with rounds of crisp English cucumber keeps every bite refreshing and adds a satisfying contrast in texture. A quick sear in a hot skillet gets the salmon perfectly opaque and flaky without any fuss. Finish with an extra squeeze of lime and a few fresh cilantro sprigs, and you've got a dish that looks impressive enough to serve to guests.
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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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