Cajun Salmon with Mexican Rice & Fresh Garden Salad

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🐟🌶️ Cajun Salmon with Mexican Rice & Fresh Garden Salad

A perfectly seasoned Cajun salmon fillet served with fluffy Mexican rice and a crisp garden salad. This colorful meal is fresh, satisfying, and ready in about 35 minutes.

📝 Ingredients

For the Cajun Salmon

  • 4 salmon fillets (about 6 oz/170g each)
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1 lime, cut into wedges 🍋

For the Mexican Rice

  • 1 cup long-grain white rice
  • 2 tbsp vegetable oil
  • 2 tbsp tomato paste
  • 2 cups chicken broth
  • 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 tsp ground cumin
  • Salt to taste

For the Garden Salad

  • 2 cups chopped romaine lettuce 🥬
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 🍅
  • 1 cucumber, diced 🥒
  • 1/4 red onion, thinly sliced
  • Your favorite salad dressing (ranch, vinaigrette, or creamy Italian)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the Mexican Rice

  • Heat the oil in a saucepan over medium heat.
  • Add the rice and cook for 2–3 minutes, stirring until lightly golden.
  • Stir in the tomato paste, garlic powder, onion powder, and cumin.
  • Pour in the chicken broth and season with salt.
  • Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18–20 minutes until the rice is tender.
  • Let stand, covered, for 5 minutes before fluffing with a fork.

2. Cook the Salmon

  • Pat the salmon dry and rub with olive oil.
  • Season evenly with Cajun seasoning, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, salt, and pepper.
  • Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat.
  • Cook the salmon for 4–5 minutes per side, depending on thickness, until the fish flakes easily with a fork.
  • During the last minute of cooking, add the butter and spoon the melted butter over the salmon.

3. Make the Salad

  • Combine the lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, and red onion in a large bowl.
  • Toss with your preferred dressing just before serving.

4. Assemble the Plate

  • Spoon a serving of Mexican rice onto each plate.
  • Add a Cajun salmon fillet.
  • Arrange the fresh garden salad alongside.
  • Garnish the salmon with a lime wedge and serve immediately.

💡 Tips

  • For extra smoky flavor, grill the salmon instead of pan-searing it.
  • Add sliced avocado or sweet corn to the salad for more texture.
  • Adjust the amount of Cajun seasoning to suit your preferred spice level.
  • Freshly squeezed lime juice over the salmon just before serving brightens all the flavors.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4

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