Soy Free Cilantro-Lime Salmon Cucumber Skewers
Bright, zesty, and genuinely impressive on a platter, these pan-seared skewers bring together tender salmon and cool cucumber rounds in a way that feels restaurant-worthy without a lot of fuss. The marinade — built from fresh lime juice, lime zest, garlic, ginger, turmeric, and cilantro — packs serious flavor into every cube of fish in just 15 minutes. Because the whole dish relies on whole, clean ingredients like extra-virgin olive oil and fresh aromatics, there's no need to scan labels for hidden soy derivatives the way you often have to with bottled marinades or pre-seasoned fish. Threading the skewers with alternating salmon and cucumber keeps things light and adds a refreshing crunch against the warm, golden sear. Cooking them in a skillet rather than on a grill makes this totally weeknight-friendly and gives you great control over that perfect 145°F finish. A squeeze of lime right before serving ties everything together and makes the cilantro pop even more. Whether you're putting these out as an appetizer or building a full meal around them, they disappear fast.
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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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