Grilled Salmon with Spicy Apricot Lime Glaze for the Weekend

Grilled Salmon with Apricot Lime Glaze 1 3413x2731My son, a consummate griller, has mentioned more than once a recipe he loves for grilled chicken wings flavored with apricot and lime. “Mom,” he has pleaded, “You’ve got to try this marinade. It’s sweet, tart, hot, and spicy all at the same time!” So when it finally got warm enough this spring to pull out our grill, I asked for the recipe. I tried it with chicken wings, and they were delicious, but, being a curious cook, I kept thinking of other ways to use the delectable marinade.

On a whim, I substituted salmon fillets for the chicken, and was thrilled with the results. The salmon needed far less time to marinate than the wings, and cooked more quickly as well. Best of all, though, the flavors melded beautifully with the fish. Apricot jam adds a sweet note, while lime juice and zest provide tartness. Ginger, garlic, and a hit of sriracha contribute heat, and soy sauce, a salty accent.

This is just the kind of easy, stress-free dish you might like to serve over the long holiday weekend ahead. The recipe serves six, but can be doubled easily. Grilled asparagus with a salad of mixed greens, sliced cucumbers, and radishes in a sesame dressing could round out the menu!

Grilled Salmon with a Spicy Apricot Lime Glaze
1/2 cup apricot jam or preserves
1 tbsp grated lime zest (from about 3 limes)
3 tbsp lime juice
3 tbsp soy sauce
3 tbsp chopped cilantro plus 3 tsp extra for the garnish
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp minced ginger
1 tsp sriracha
6 salmon fillets (6 to 7 oz each) about 1-inch thick

Canola or olive oil for grill rack
Kosher salt
1 lime cut into 6 wedges for garnish

1. Combine apricot jam, lime zest, lime juice, soy sauce, cilantro, garlic, ginger, and sriracha in a medium bowl. Whisk to blend. Reserve1/3 cup of this mixture in a small nonreactive bowl and leave it at cool room temperature; it will be used for the glaze when the fish has been cooked. Pour the rest of the marinade in a shallow non-reactive dish.

2. Place salmon fillets on a work surface; run your fingers over the flesh, and using clean tweezers remove any bones you feel. Place salmon, skin-side up, in the marinade. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or up to 2 hours.

3. To grill salmon, oil a grill rack generously, and arrange it 4 to 5 inches from the heat. Prepare grill for a hot fire (high temperature). Remove salmon from marinade and season with salt. Place salmon fillets, flesh-side down, on grill and cook 3 to 5 minutes. With a metal spatula, turn over and cook 3 to 5 minutes longer until flesh is opaque and flakes easily when pierced with a sharp knife. (Cooking time can vary with the type of grill used so watch carefully so that you do not overcook the fish.)

4. Brush each fillet with some of the reserved marinade, and then remove to a serving plate. Sprinkle fish with extra chopped cilantro and serve with lime wedges. Serves 6. Copyright Betty Rosbottom 2014

Print This Recipe Print This Recipe

4 thoughts on “Grilled Salmon with Spicy Apricot Lime Glaze for the Weekend

  1. We liked the salmon very much – next time I will try using marmalade instead of the apricot jam. Our grand kids ages 7,10 & 14 liked this dish. I cut the sriracha to 1/2 teaspoon; for adults I would use 1 tsp as directed.
    Thank you!

  2. I made the salmon on Memorial Day and my brother and I loved it. The only change that I made – I used Tobasco. I will definitely make it again. Thanks for a great recipe!

Leave a Reply to Juliana Shayne Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.