These are my tender and juicy Grilled Lemon Salmon Skewers and they are the only grilled salmon recipe that you need, this summer! They come together with a delicious spice blend and slices of red onion and fresh lemon for a light, refreshing, better-for-you protein.
Friends, if you’re looking for the perfect grilled salmon recipe this summertime, this is it! Salmon (and fish in general) can be tough to grill, but if you follow this recipe to a t, I promise it’ll turn out to perfection. Just see below for my easy hack for nonsticking a grill – it works like a charm, every time!
But these skewers are bright, delicious, and packed with flavor, making them perfect for a pescatarian crowd – or, anytime that you want a lighter and healthier option! This summer, I’ll be grilling up these skewers alongside my Grilled Middle Eastern Chicken Kebabs for all of my backyard parties. Oh, and if you really want to “steal” my perfect backyard party menu, don’t forget the Crunchy Cucumber Salad and Sheet Pan Mac n Cheese on the side for the perfect pairings. Wash it down with a glass of my Honey Ginger Lemonade (or my Frozen Aperol Spritz, if you’re feeling frisky) and there’s truly no better way to enjoy the summertime sunshine!
What You Need to Make This Perfectly Seasoned Salmon
- 🍣 Salmon: Of course, you’ll need salmon in order to make these skewers! Make sure that the skin is removed from the salmon and that it’s cut into cubes. You can do this at home or, if you ask nicely, your butcher should be able to do this for you.
- 🫒 Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Olive oil is full of healthy fats and adds a delicious flavor to this salmon recipe!
- 🍋 Lemon: To season the salmon, you’ll need both lemon juice and lemon zest. But in addition to this, you’ll also want fresh lemon wedges for the skewers themselves.
- Spice Blend: The spice blend for this salmon comes together with cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper. It’s so simple and delicious!
- 🧅 Red Onions: The layers of red onion add a delicious taste to these salmon skewers.
- Fresh Parsley: This is optional, but I love garnishing these skewers with a sprinkle of fresh parsley for the perfect finishing touch.
🐟 The Secret Hack to Grilling Fish
As mentioned above, fish can be tough to grill. The delicate texture combined with the high heat can often lead to the fish sticking to the grill and falling apart. And with food prices on the rise, nobody has the time (or budget) to deal with sticky fish!
To nonstick the grill, simply cut half of a potato and rub it across the grates of a hot grill. This is the perfect way to ensure that the fish won’t stick!
And if you don’t have a potato, you can also grease the grill generously with oil.
How to Prepare This Perfect Summertime Grilled Salmon
To make these skewers, start by preparing the salmon. Remove the skin from the salmon and slice it into cubes – I ask the butcher at my local grocery store to do this for me! Add the salmon cubes to a large bowl.
While you prepare the salmon, prepare the skewers by soaking them in a bowl of ice cold water for a minimum of 30 minutes. This will ensure that they don’t burn on the grill! Next, in a small bowl, mix together the seasoning blend: the cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.
Add the seasoning blend to the bowl with the salmon, alongside the olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Toss until the salmon is fully coated in the seasoning. Next, slice the red onion into cubes and the lemon into wedges.
Once the skewers are done soaking, assemble them by alternating a piece of salmon, red onion, and a lemon wedge on each one. Repeat until all of the skewers have been assembled. Next, heat your grill to 425 F. Once the grill is hot, nonstick the surface by cutting a potato in half and rubbing it across the grill grates, or spray the grill with oil. This is important, so that the delicate fish doesn’t stick to the grill!
Next, add the assembled skewers to the grill and allow them to cook, undisturbed, for 5 minutes. Then, gently flip the skewers to the other side and allow them to cook for another 5 minutes. Once the fish is cooked, remove the skewers from the grill and transfer them to a plate.
Garnish the skewers with fresh chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon, if desired. Then, serve and enjoy!
If you make this recipe, please be sure to leave a review and rating below! To see more recipes and behind the scenes, follow along on Instagram, TikTok, and Youtube! I’m also now on Pinterest, so stop by and take a look at what’s new.
** Photography by Tanya Pilgrim
Equipment
- 8 Wooden Skewers
Ingredients
For the Salmon:
- 2 Pounds Salmon, skin removed and cut into large chunks
- ⅓ Cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Lemon, zested and juiced
For the Spice Blend:
- 1 Tablespoon Cumin
- 2 Teaspoons Paprika
- ½ Teaspoon Chili Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Garlic Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Onion Powder
- 1 Teaspoon Kosher Salt
- ½ Teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
For the Skewers:
- 2 Red Onions, cubed
- 3 Lemons, sliced 1/2 inch thick
For Garnishing:
- Fresh Parsley, chopped
- Lemon Wedges
Instructions
- To make these skewers, start by preparing the salmon. Remove the skin from the salmon and slice it into cubes – I ask the butcher at my local grocery store to do this for me! Add the salmon cubes to a large bowl.
- While you prepare the salmon, prepare the skewers by soaking them in a bowl of ice cold water for a minimum of 30 minutes. This will ensure that they don't burn on the grill!
- Next, in a small bowl, mix together the seasoning blend: the cumin, paprika, chili powder, garlic powder, onion powder, kosher salt, and ground black pepper.
- Add the seasoning blend to the bowl with the salmon, alongside the olive oil, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Toss until the salmon is fully coated in the seasoning.
- Next, slice the red onion into cubes and the lemon into wedges.
- Once the skewers are done soaking, assemble them by alternating a piece of salmon, red onion, and a lemon wedge on each one. Repeat until all of the skewers have been assembled.
- Next, heat your grill to 425 F.
- Once the grill is hot, nonstick the surface by cutting a potato in half and rubbing it across the grill grates, or spray the grill with oil. This is important, so that the delicate fish doesn't stick to the grill!
- Next, add the assembled skewers to the grill and allow them to cook, undisturbed, for 5 minutes.
- Then, gently flip the skewers to the other side and allow them to cook for another 5 minutes.
- Once the fish is cooked, remove the skewers from the grill and transfer them to a plate.
- Garnish the skewers with fresh chopped parsley and a squeeze of fresh lemon, if desired. Then, serve and enjoy!
Rate & review
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Response
My family loved this!