Paleo Cilantro-Lime Salmon Cucumber Skewers
These skewers are bright, fresh, and genuinely impressive — the kind of thing that looks like you spent hours but comes together in under 30 minutes. Salmon cubes get a quick marinade in olive oil, lime juice, zest, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and cilantro, soaking up bold, layered flavor before they ever hit the pan. The cucumber rounds aren't just decoration — they add a cool, crisp contrast to the seared salmon that makes every bite feel balanced and light. Every single ingredient here is whole-food and grain-free, so there's no need to audit labels or swap anything out to keep things clean. Pan-searing in a hot skillet gives the salmon a gorgeous crust while keeping the inside tender and flaky, hitting that perfect 145°F without any fuss. Serve them straight off the platter with extra lime wedges and a few fresh cilantro sprigs, and they're equally at home as a weeknight dinner or a crowd-pleasing appetizer. This is the kind of recipe that makes eating this way feel effortless and anything but restrictive.
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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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