Super easy salmon tacos loaded with a mango, sweet corn, and cucumber salsa!

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Lindsay’s Notes

These tacos are THE dinner for me right now!

A few nights ago, I made them (again), and I set the sheet pan of salmon down on the table and my whole family literally descended upon it and started grabbing at the salmon with their hands and forks as I stood by watching in half shock, half pride. It was a feeding frenzy.

Of course, we love salmon. It’s a great source of nutrition and protein and, when cooked well, it gently slides apart into buttery, juicy, delightful little flakes.

But I’m not going to lie to you: the main event here is that mango corn salsa.

The salmon itself is completely SOS (taco seasoning and THAT’S IT), which is why I think it makes sense to put all your effort and energy into the salsa. This salsa is also the thing that’s going to keep you sitting at the table long after you’re done eating tacos, just scooping some extra salsa bites all on its own and suddenly thinking of it as more of a salad? It can be a salad, right? I would totally eat this salsa on its own as a salad.

Each bite is extra crispy and unexpected from the raw sweet corn and cucumber with a little burst of juicy flavor. But it’s also mainstream enough with the mango that my two young kids are usually happy to devour it right along with us.

I love a million sauces on my tacos (okay, fine, on every recipe). But with this one, all it needs is a bit of extra lime and honey to finish it off. Simple, minimal effort, max deliciousness.

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Super easy salmon tacos loaded with a mango, sweet corn, and cucumber salsa! Perfect with black beans or avocado tucked into a corn tortilla.

Salmon Tacos:

Mango Corn Salsa:

Extras:

1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. Season the Salmon: Toss the salmon with the taco seasoning and avocado oil until well-coated – you can do this in a bowl or directly on the baking sheet. If your taco seasoning does not have salt, add some salt to the salmon.
3. Bake the Salmon: Bake the salmon for 8 minutes, close to the top of the oven, or until it slips apart easily when pressed with a fork. 
4. Make the Salsa: While the salmon is baking, chop up your salsa ingredients and toss together in a bowl. Season to taste.
5. Soften the Tortillas: To soften the corn tortillas, I usually heat up some oil in a large skillet and then give the tortilla a very quick one-sided dip into the hot oil and transfer to a paper-towel lined plate. I stack them up as I go so the heat and oil kind of distributes between all the tortillas. You can also wrap the tortillas in a few damp paper towels and microwave for 30 seconds to steam them so they become more pliable and yummy to eat. 
6. Assemble the Tacos: Mash avocado or spread refried beans on the bottom of the tortilla. Add a couple pieces of salmon; press to gently smash them. Top with a big scoop of the salsa. I often finish these with lime squeezes and a drizzle of honey!

Notes

Purchasing Salmon: For this recipe, I look for salmon fillets that are nice and thick so you can cube it! I usually cut the skin off and then cut into large cubes; I love the cube shape because they cook nice and evenly and make for a fun shape to squish apart in the taco. It’s also totally fine to just sprinkle your seasonings onto a thinner fillet and flake the fish apart to put into the tacos.

Salmon Doneness: People cook salmon to varying degrees of doneness depending on your preferences and the quality of the salmon. I like to cook it to medium well, where everything is almost totally cooked through but it’s nice and soft and slips apart easily when you press it with a fork. Here’s a guide with more info on cooking salmon and how to tell when it’s done.

Salsa Spiciness: As written, this salsa is not spicy at all, but a jalapeño would be a great addition! I keep it mild for my kids, but if that is not your journey, go for the heat!

Try This Next Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes with Parmesan Orzo Recipe

Tortillas: In the photos, I was using a thicker type of tortilla (corn and flour blend) that I charred in a dry cast iron skillet. When I usually make this, I use regular corn tortillas and I follow the recipe directions for softening them.

Taco Seasoning: All brands are different, but if you’re using a mild one and you want more going on with your salmon, sprinkle it with some extra chili powder, onion powder, and garlic powder. *chef’s kiss*

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 minutes
• Category: Tacos
• Method: Bake
• Cuisine: Caribbean-Inspired

Keywords: salmon tacos, salmon recipe, mango salsa

What Taco Seasoning Do You Like?

Lately I’ve been using the one from Kowalski’s (a local grocery store) – that’s my favorite in this recipe right now.

I also like the Siete brand mild taco seasoning (affiliate link) – the spicy one is a bit much for my kids, but the mild is great.

What Tortillas Do You Like?

In these photos, I’m using the La Tortilla Factory corn and flour blend tortillas! They are a bit thicker than your average tortillas and they hold up well, which is why I picked them for the photos.

If I’m making these at home, no photos necessary, I usually use just a standard yellow corn tortilla.

Can I Use Something Else Besides Salmon?

Yes, this would be delicious with chicken or shrimp! Just adjust your baking time a bit – chicken needs more like 10-12 minutes (depending on the size of your pieces) and shrimp would be about 8 minutes.

Can I Make This Vegetarian?

I would roast up some cauliflower in place of the salmon, following the same method of coating it with the taco seasoning and increasing the roasting time to 25-30 minutes.

If you’re looking for extra protein, tofu would also be good. Here’s our guide to cooking tofu – I would recommend the crispy baked method!

Can I Make This Gluten-Free / Dairy-Free?

It should be both gluten-free and dairy free as written!

Double-check your taco seasoning and your corn tortillas for any added wheat or dairy; otherwise, all the other ingredients are good to go!

How Does This Keep As Leftovers?

I wouldn’t recommend this as a leftovers meal. The salsa gets a bit soggy and the salmon doesn’t do great reheated (everyone is different, but this is just my personal opinion).

If you are cooking for one or two people, I would just keep the salsa ingredients separate and toss them before serving, and maybe even keep the extra salmon un-baked until right before serving.

More Tacos To Love

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Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes with Parmesan Orzo Recipe

Shrimp laced with buttery garlic and thyme and a burst tomato sauce served on a creamy Parmesan orzo.

Juicy, succulent shrimp laced with garlic, butter, and thyme, tucked into a silky burst tomato sauce, and piled high on creamy, luscious Parmesan orzo. WHAT A DREAMBOAT DINNER. I love this recipe!

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How To Make This Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes (with Pictures)

Step 1: Blister and Smash the Tomatoes

Get the tomatoes hot and blistery; then give ’em a gentle smash with the back of a spoon or a small plate. It’s… very fun.

Step 2: Cook the Shrimp

Make a little clearing right in the center of the tomatoes where you can add your shrimp to cook for a couple of minutes. Salt it up!

Step 3: Get the Garlic and Butter Going In There

Throw in a bunch of freshly sliced garlic and a knob of butter. Stir it up a few times until it’s dreamy.

Step 4: Make a Creamy Orzo

Put a lid on the shrimp and make a quick creamy orzo – butter, Parmesan, cream, lemon, and salt.

Step 5: Put It All Together

Piping hot orzo goes on the plate first, and then we pull our shrimp and tomatoes back out to pile on top.

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Lindsay’s Notes

This recipe is in heavy rotation at the moment – and it never fails to make me feel like I’m eating at a fancy restaurant and/or generally have my life together. Is my laundry all over my table? Yes. Have I been using dry shampoo for the last 4 days? Yes. But am I also eating a kind of fancy and beautiful dinner? YES! Three cheers for doable “fancy” recipes. 10/10 recommend.

Creamy orzo with the twang of Parmesan, sweet burst tomatoes gently bubbled into a sauce, and a pile of jumbo, delicate, buttery, garlic-laced shrimp. Pass me a glass of wine and I am living my best life.

As far as family approval goes, Bjork and I love the whole big, beautiful thing – no thyme for him (a true crime and I don’t want to spend any more time talking about it), and lots of thyme, salt, and pepp for me. The girls are hit and miss with the shrimp and tomatoes, but you better believe they love the creamy Parmesan orzo which is, of course, just mac and cheese in disguise. They’ll usually eat a few of the fresh little tomatoes on the side, too. Winning for everybody!

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Shrimp laced with buttery garlic and thyme and a burst tomato sauce served on a creamy Parmesan orzo.

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Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes:

Creamy Orzo:

Popular Recipe Thai Chicken Drumsticks (Baked)

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1. Cook the Orzo: Cook according to package directions. Drain, toss with a bit of oil, and set aside.
2. Soften the Tomatoes: Add the tomatoes and olive oil to a pan over medium high heat so they can soften and get a bit blistered on the outside. I usually cover the pan to avoid extra splatters.
3. Smash the Tomatoes: Once they’re soft (5 minutes or so), give them a gentle smash with the back of a spoon or applying even pressure with a plate or similar flat object. You want the tomatoes to be partially burst / smashed so they release some juices.
4. Cook the Shrimp: Make a little clearing in the center of the tomatoes and add your shrimp right in; season them with 1/2 teaspoon salt and cook for 2 minutes on each side.
5. Give it Some Flava-Flave: Add the garlic, butter, and 1/2 teaspoon salt to the pan and stir to mix it all together. Let it get saucy and bubbly; then remove from heat and cover with a lid.
6. Make the orzo: Mix the orzo with butter, half and half, Parmesan, and lemon. Stir to combine; warm it up over the heat if necessary.
7. Pile it up: Serve immediately so the orzo doesn’t get too starchy and sticky! Pile it on a plate with a big scoop of steamy shrimp and tomatoes. Top with thyme. So good!

Notes

This amount usually makes enough for just Bjork and I to finish the shrimp, with plenty of orzo for us and the girls. If you wanted to serve 4 adults, I would use 2 pounds of shrimp!

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 40 minutes
• Category: Dinner
• Method: Saute
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: shrimp and orzo, orzo recipe, shrimp and tomatoes

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Frequently Asked Questions For Garlic Shrimp and Tomatoes

What can I use instead of shrimp?

Chicken would be delicious! I would probably pan-fry the chicken first, then take it out and set aside while you build your tomato sauce, then add the chicken back in at the end.

How long do the leftovers last?

You can definitely eat this meal as leftovers for 1, maybe 2 days after you make it, but it’s one of those meals that really shines when it’s made fresh.

Can you make this vegetarian / meatless?

Use zucchini in place of the shrimp! Or, similarly, this recipe is great.

How do you make this gluten-free and/or dairy-free?

Use gluten free orzo, dairy-free butter (or olive oil), and something else creamy in place of the half and half and Parmesan – a knob of dairy-free cream cheese would be good!

Another option would be to skip the creamy orzo and serve this with quinoa or another gluten-free, dairy-free option.

My Favorite Shrimp Recipes

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