Mango Salsa Salmon with Chili Lime Rice

Mango Salsa Salmon with Chili Lime Rice is such a fun way to instantly transport you to the tropics. The chili lime Rice is topped with oven-baked salmon and mango salsa that is bursting with fresh tropical flavours. I love the combination of savoury and sweet in this recipe. Keep reading for the recipe and how it relates to Game of Thrones.

Mood-Boosting Properties of Salmon

Salmon is high in two types of healthy omega-3 fat, DHA and EPA. These fats play an important role in brain and nervous system development. They can lower your risk of depression. Salomon also contains Vitamin D, insufficient levels of vitamin D has been associated with depression. Finally salmon is a great source of vitamin B12. An association has been found between depression and low levels of folate and vitamin B12 in studies of the general population.

Are you looking for more mood-boosting foods? Join me for my Reduce Stress and Boost your Mood Corporate Lunch & Learn where I explain the link between stress and your mood. I share healthy eating tips (like including more salmon into your diet) and lifestyle tricks to reduce stress and improve mood. The Online Lunch & Learn runs for one hour over lunch through Zoom or your company’s preferred platform. I will also send you a recap PDF and a recording so you don’t forget the tips I share. Email info@jesselanewellness.com for more info or check out my Virtual Lunch & Learn page.

Mango Salsa Salmon Recipe with Chili Lime Rice

gluten-free

Prep time: 25 minutes | Cook time: 25 minutes | Serves 4

Mango Salsa Salmon Ingredients

4 wild-caught salmon filets

1/2 tsp salt, divided

1/4 tsp chili powder

1/4 tsp pepper

4 tbsp olive oil

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tomatoes, diced

1 large mango, diced

1/2 cup cilantro, minced

4 tbsp lime juice

Chili Lime Rice Ingredients

2 tsp avocado oil

1 large onion, diced

1 1/2 cup jasmine rice, rinsed

4 celery stalks, diced 1 cup

4 garlic cloves, minced

2 tsp chili powder

3 cups water

2 tbsp lime juice

Directions

Preheat the oven to 450F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone mat.

To make the chili lime rice, heat avocado oil in a medium pot over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes. Add rice, celery, garlic, chili powder and water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 15 minutes, turn off the heat and let sit for an additional 5 minutes before adding lime juice and fluffing.

To make the salmon, place it skin-side down on the baking sheet and season with 1/8 tsp chili powder and 1/4 tsp salt and pepper. Bake until salmon is cooked through, about 8 to 12 minutes.

To make the mango salsa, toss together with olive oil, juice of one lime, garlic clove, tomato, mango, cilantro and 1/4 tsp salt.

Serve the salsa over the salmon on a bed of rice with two lime wedges.

PER SERVING: CALORIES: 661, FAT: 12 g, SAT. FAT: 2 g, CARBS: 108 g, FIBER: 7 g, SUGARS: 28 g, PROTEIN: 34 g, SODIUM: 501 mg, CHOLESTEROL: 69 mg

The story behind my Mango Salsa Salmon Recipe

The first time I ever had a baked salmon smothered in mango salsa was at my friend’s house for a Game of Thrones (GOT) viewing party. We were very into Game of Thrones. All of us had read the books and we loved to talk about the differences between the show and the books. You would not want to watch it with us! We made a night of viewing parties complete with a meal, wines, crafts and costumes. This was all before we had kids of course. Anyways, back to the recipe. One night my friend served salmon with mango salsa and we all fell in love. She loved it so much she had it made for her wedding. I loved it so much I made some modifications and created this recipe.

Are you a salmon lover looking for more salmon recipes?

I make a lot of salmon at home because it is something even my kids love. Salmon is super easy to make and always quick for busy weeknights. Here are more salmon recipes from my website.

• Detox Pesto Salmon with Pesto Quinoa and Steamed Broccoli (pictured above) is a flavourful way to support the liver and the body’s detoxification system. It is so easy to dress up salmon and quinoa with a flavourful pesto.
• Honey Garlic Salmon with Lemon Green Beans and Garlic Quinoa has the perfect savoury and sweet combo. It tastes yummy with lemon green beans and garlic-infused quinoa.
• Creamy Salmon Salad is a filling and refreshing salad that you will come back to again and again. The creamy sauce is the perfect complement to the veggies, salmon, and crunchy almonds.
• Kale Oregano Pesto Salmon is a delicious and easy way to dress up your salmon. What sets this recipe apart from the rest is the kale oregano pesto which is a fun and flavorful play on traditional pesto.
• Maple Pecan Salmon is a sweet and savoury salmon dish. The salmon is topped with a sweet and crunchy pecan crust that gets a little bit of heat from cayenne pepper. A thin layer of Dijon mustard cuts the fishiness of the Maple Pecan Salmon and really brings together the flavours.

Looking for more mood-boosting recipes?

• Blueberry Quinoa Salad (pictured above) will fill your tummy and boost your mood. The star of this recipe is the blueberries that are on the salad and in the dressing. Blueberries, and berries in general, are jam-packed with phytonutrients that act as both an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. They may help manage the inflammation associated with depression.
• Lentil Sweet Potato Pie is a comforting dish that leaves you feeling satisfied and happy. The herb-infused lentil veggie mixture is topped with creamy sweet potatoes with a touch of cinnamon. Lentils are high in folate and vitamin B6 which boost your mood and help prevent neural tube defects.  
• Lemon Poppy Seed Bites are one of my favourite grab-and-go breakfasts or snacks. Nuts and seeds like walnuts and chia seeds contain tryptophan which is an amino acid that produces serotonin, the happy chemical. They also contain omega-3 fats, which have been shown to improve mood.
• Chocolate Zucchini Muffins are a great mood booster. Chocolate contains Phenylethylamine (PEA), which is the chemical known to inspire happiness, clear-mindedness, focus, and wakefulness. Zucchini is high in mood-boosting folate, fibre, vitamin B6, and vitamin C.