Salmon Tacos with Cilantro-Lime Slaw
This post is going to be a midweek sob fest, so let me reassure you before we begin: there’s a taco recipe at the end! And the tacos are super quick and so delicious that Mike and I have eaten them for dinner four nights in a row! It’s all gonna be okay!
Now for the depressing story. I love Susie’s Senior Dogs, an organization that advertises senior rescue dogs on social media to increase their chances of getting adopted. Yesterday they shared Kooper, a deformed dog with many health issues at the overwhelmed and underfunded high-kill Miami-Dade Animal Shelter. Kooper immediately won my heart because of how sweet he seemed despite his unhappy circumstances.
Just one day after he was initially shared, Susie’s Senior Dogs posted a heartbreaking update:
Kooper had a forever home waiting for him if he was healthy enough to continue life. Kooper was ready to be loved. [However, upon examination, a vet said that] it would be “irresponsible to continue his life at this point.” […] We spoke to staff member at the vet’s office and she informed us that Kooper had humans around him the entire time. And up until his humane euthanasia, Kooper was eating cookies from her hand.
I wanted so badly to see that dog healed and on someone’s sofa. On the beach. Galloping in a backyard with a tennis ball grin. To know that he came so close but never had that fantasy home — to know that his hard experiences were never redeemed on this earth — just kills me. In Kooper’s honor, can I ask you a sincere favor? Actually, can I ask you a few sincere favors?
- Please adopt a rescue dog instead of buying a dog from a breeder. There are so many amazing pets of all ages, breeds, sizes, and temperaments at animal shelters and rescues. If you want a certain breed, there are breed-specific rescues all over the country. I adopted Byrd from a poodle rescue. Yes, a poodle rescue exists. Because sadly, there’s a need for it.
To be clear: There’s no judgment in this request. I know people who bought their wonderful pups from a breeder before they knew about rescue dogs. That’s okay. Your dogs are blessed to be in your home. But going forward, will you please consider making this commitment?
- Please spay and neuter your own pets to control the population of unwanted animals.
- Finally, if you’re not ready for a pet of your own, please consider fostering an animal from a local rescue. When you temporarily foster an animal, it frees up space for that rescue to pull another animal from a kill shelter — meaning you are effectively saving an animal’s life. Let’s all do our part to make this a no-kill nation, where every dog and cat has a safe home.
Now: big hugs and tacos all around. I think we need it. And maybe a margarita while we’re at it.
These tacos really are a balm in an otherwise hard week. I used a big, fat piece o’ salmon and it was so juicy! The slaw is sweet and spicy and forms the perfect backdrop for the smoky salmon rub and bright, tangy Sriracha aioli. I recommend making the slaw and aioli ahead of time to let the flavors meld. Then dinner is as simple as cooking up the salmon and assembling. I hope you enjoy these as much as we did.
One year ago: Coconut Pudding Spoon Cake
Two years ago: Lemon Cheesecake Morning Buns
Three years ago: Red Velvet Cheesecake-Stuffed Cake Balls
Four years ago: Cream of Mushroom Soup with Crispy Leeks
Five years ago: Ugly as Sin Coconut Cake
- 3/4 cup mayonnaise
- fresh lime juice from half a lime
- 1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons Sriracha
- 4 teaspoons Swerve sweetener (or sugar if you prefer)
- 3 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro
- 1/4 red onion, very finely minced
- about 5 1/4 cups slaw mix (bagged cabbage and carrot shreds)
- ½ cup mayonnaise
- 2 tablespoons Sriracha
- fresh lime juice from half a lime
- 1/2 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon Swerve sweetener (or sugar if you prefer)
- pinch salt
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 pound salmon
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 8-9 low-carb tortillas (I use Mama Lupe's; or corn tortillas if you prefer)
- chopped cilantro
- sliced jalapeños, for topping
- Make the Cilantro-Lime Slaw: (Note: It's best if you can prepare the slaw and Sriracha Aioli a few hours to a full day in advance.) In a medium bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, lime juice, rice vinegar, garlic, Sriracha, and Swerve sweetener until the sweetener is dissolved. In a large bowl, toss the cilantro, red onion, and slaw mix together to mix. Add the mayonnaise mixture about a cup at a time, tossing as you go, until all your vegetables are coated to your preference. I ended up adding all my dressing, but could've probably used a little less. Cover tightly and chill until ready to serve tacos.
- Make the Sriracha Aioli: Whisk together the Sriracha aioli ingredients and cover tightly. Chill until ready to serve tacos.
- Make the salmon: Whisk together the cumin, chili powder, brown sugar, and salt. Rub the spice mix on the salmon (on both sides if it's skinless, but on just the exposed side if it's skin-on.) Heat the olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat until shimmering. Place the fish in skin side down and cook without disturbing for 4-5 minutes before turning over and cooking for 4 minutes on the other side (thicker cuts might need 6-7 minutes per side). Remove the fish from the heat, tent it with foil, and allow it to rest for 10 minutes. The fish will flake apart easily when done.
- Assemble the tacos: Fill each tortilla with slaw, a few hunks of salmon, a small handful of fresh cilantro, a few slices of jalapeño, and a drizzle of Sriracha aioli.
Rachel @ The Stay At Home Chef
February 11, 2015 at 12:01 am (10 years ago)These are looking so good! It’s bedtime and I’m already craving dinner!
Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life
February 11, 2015 at 2:39 am (10 years ago)Poor Kooper. That made me so sad. We have 7 furry family members, 6 of whom are rescue. The 7th came to us as a puppy via a local family in town. He’s our first non rescue animal, and likely our last, because so many animals need homes.
Your tacos though, made me happy. I love any kind of fish tacos! These look delicious! Sending lots of foodie love your way!
Brian @ A Thought For Food
February 11, 2015 at 8:58 am (10 years ago)Fish tacos are my absolute favorite… and they remind me of warm sunny days and margaritas and EVERYTHING I could use right now (I type this as more snow comes down on us).
julia
February 11, 2015 at 9:10 am (10 years ago)I love the idea of salmon tacos! I haven’t tried that before but it is now on my list!
Kirsten
February 11, 2015 at 11:14 am (10 years ago)Julie,
Poor Kooper, I’m glad he was surrounded by love. We hit the jackpot with our latest addition, Robert Barker. He’s both a purebred, was rescued from a neglect situation (weighing 18 pounds full grown!), and happens to be the same breed I grew up with–Basset hound–so I am feeling very blessed.
Perhaps all of our previous rescues (a bonded pair of mature wiener dogs, a mixed pup, and a bonded pair of composting guinea pigs) gave us the karma that brought RB into our home.
These tacos look wonderful–must be if you ate them 4 nights in a row! I’ve been smitten by shrimp lately and keep eyeing the tortillas in the fridge with nefarious thoughts.
Thanks!
Kristina
February 11, 2015 at 11:57 am (10 years ago)hurt and mistreated animals pull at my heart like no other thing, I wish I could help them all. we always rescue, and have had several happy dachshunds as a result.
your photos are stunning, these tacos look bright and vibrant!
Melissa Falk
February 11, 2015 at 12:46 pm (10 years ago)Love fish tacos. These are making me hungry. Thanks!
Sabrina Modelle
February 11, 2015 at 2:22 pm (10 years ago)UG, Kooper. Are you kidding me? One of my dearest friends lost her senior rescue dog this week. I loved little Bugsy so much- and even met him (with my Ruby) on the day she adopted him. We didn’t know if he’d make it home that day much less the three wonderful years he did. Anyway, Kooper died the day after Bugsy and it was just too much for me. Sigh. Poor boy.
Anyway, fish tacos are some consolation. Perhaps I’ll try yours tonight. XOXO
kristi@inspirationkitchen.com
February 11, 2015 at 4:09 pm (10 years ago)These look great! I love salmon (which really helps living near Seattle!
Gina
February 11, 2015 at 9:55 pm (10 years ago)What a sad story about Kooper. We have a rescue dog, and it’s so sad to think that something like this could have ever happened to her! I like reading your blog because you always write about issues that are so important– it’s what makes your blog a must-read for me whenever you publish something.
Jane S
February 12, 2015 at 10:49 am (10 years ago)I am a huge fan of Susie’s Senior Dogs, so was familiar with Koopers story. What a tragedy, and I’m sure this happens more often than we know. Even though we have always chosen our puppies from rescue organizations, after following SSD, we now know how many older dogs are in need of homes…so we will be looking for an older dog the next time we are ready to add to our family!
Julie, thank you for highlighting this important issue!
And now…TACOS!!
Cyndi @ My Kitchen Craze
February 12, 2015 at 1:33 pm (10 years ago)Awww poot doggy. I wished we were dog people cause we would totally adopt. My mom would adopt every dog if she could. On another note, these tacos looks amazing! I would eat them every night for dinner too. Delicious! Pinned. 😉
Michele West
February 12, 2015 at 5:17 pm (10 years ago)This just breaks my heart:( We were given our dog, Rufus, as a puppy at a local park by a family giving them away. I like to think that we saved him from a very uncertain future and he’s going on 11 years strong! I will certainly keep Susie’s in my heart when we are ready to add to our animal family.
BTW – The taco’s look delish!
Stephanie Serleth
February 13, 2015 at 4:32 pm (10 years ago)I just made the cauliflower pancake with the shrimp and siracha mayo. Oh, it was so wonderful! My husband kept asking if I was sure there wasn’t more. Thank you, I think I will make it every day!
Julie Ruble
February 13, 2015 at 7:15 pm (10 years ago)Yayyyyy! That makes me so happy to hear, Stephanie! We LOVED that dish so much and I’m so glad you did too! Thank you for letting me know!
Emily R
February 18, 2015 at 11:49 am (10 years ago)Made these tacos last night for dinner – SO TASTY. I was eating the slaw by the spoonful. We added avocado to ours. So good! Thanks for the amazing recipe!
Rachel
February 25, 2015 at 12:20 pm (10 years ago)Gosh I just love you and your blog SO MUCH!!! My family dog growing up was a poodle from a breeder because my family just didn’t know any better. Now that I know so much more about the situation of dogs and cats in the U.S., I can’t imagine adding to the problem! We have two AWESOME dogs, one my boyfriend adopted from a city shelter in Philadelphia almost 12(!!) years ago, and a 10-month-old pup who stumbled into our yard last summer from the abandoned house across the street (she’s 10 months now… she was only eight weeks old when we found her!) They are both such unique and amazing dogs and I try to proselytize about adopting from a shelter whenever I can. The overabundance of unwanted dogs (it hurts me to write the phrase “unwanted dogs”) is REALLY bad in Oklahoma, much worse than where I grew up in Minnesota (like, rescues here actually send dogs up north to be adopted)… it’s heartbreaking.
But on a lighter note, these tacos look amazing and I even have salmon in my freezer! Yes!!! 🙂
liz
March 3, 2015 at 9:54 pm (10 years ago)just made these tonight – they were great! personally I didn’t think the rub on the salmon brought anything to the party, but the coleslaw and the aioli totally rocked it! thanks for the great recipe! it’s a keeper!
Julie Ruble
March 3, 2015 at 10:30 pm (10 years ago)Oh weird! I find it so spicy and sweet and amazing. MMmm. But I’m glad you loved the tacos overall 🙂
JT
May 3, 2015 at 8:11 pm (10 years ago)This was what was for dinner tonight and it was delicious. I used what was in my fridge so instead of mayo I used greek yogurt, instead of rice vinegar I used balsamic, substitutions didn’t seem to hurt it any. I also put a slice of avocado on each taco and it added a little bit of cool to the taste. Thank you for this great add to the rotation!
Julie Ruble
May 3, 2015 at 8:44 pm (10 years ago)I’m so glad you enjoyed them, JT!
Ann
July 8, 2015 at 9:48 am (9 years ago)This recipe is amazing! So delicious! I want to make this for my mom but she’s not a salmon fan. Have you used or suggest another kind of fish?
Julie Ruble
July 8, 2015 at 10:24 am (9 years ago)I’m so glad to hear that you enjoy it! I haven’t tried any other fish, so I can’t recommend any, but I’m anxious to hear if you find something that is perfect!
Ann
July 12, 2015 at 10:48 pm (9 years ago)It was great with tilapia! 😉
Julie Ruble
July 12, 2015 at 11:03 pm (9 years ago)Hooray!!! So glad to hear it!
Shelly
January 8, 2016 at 10:29 pm (9 years ago)I made these tonight! Im talking best fish tacos my hubby and i have ever had! Thank you
Julie Ruble
January 8, 2016 at 10:40 pm (9 years ago)Yay!! That is so great to hear, Shelly! I’m so glad!
Haley M
February 26, 2016 at 6:53 pm (9 years ago)I’m trying this recipe out now and I am so excited to try it! Also, have to mention that I rescued my dog and am so happy I did! She’s an angel (most of the time!) 🙂
Steven
February 28, 2016 at 3:23 pm (9 years ago)Rescuing dogs is fantastic, but it’s also important to support responsible breeders who strive to breed healthy happy pups
Julie Ruble
February 28, 2016 at 3:48 pm (9 years ago)I really can’t articulate how strongly I disagree. There is no such thing as a responsible breeder when 2.4 million healthy, adoptable pets (including purebreds) are euthanized in American animal shelters each year. There is no such thing as a responsible breeder when you can get a dog of any breed, age, health, temperament, appearance, sex, etc., at a rescue. There is no such thing as a responsible breeder when dogs are bred for characteristics that negatively impact their health and happiness. Breeders are businesses, and dogs are commodities to them whether they feel self-congratulatory about “treating them well” or not. They are businesses that shouldn’t exist, that cause tremendous suffering, and that I will never recommend supporting.
Cindy
July 11, 2019 at 8:24 pm (5 years ago)I just made these and everyone loved them! Husband, 11 year old, and mother (she doesn’t like too spicy). I didn’t add the jalepeno, but did add some slices of avocado. They were absolutely delicious! The slaw balanced with the aioli for the perfect amount of heat. Thanks for the great recipe! By the way…I very rarely leave reviews or comments, but this one earned it!
Julie Ruble
July 15, 2019 at 2:05 am (5 years ago)I’m so glad to hear that, Cindy! Hooray! Thank you for leaving a comment to let me know!
Sabrina
March 31, 2022 at 12:06 pm (3 years ago)My family loves salmon so I’m always looking for new unique delicious ways to make it. This recipe was amazing & did not disappoint. It was packed with SO much flavour & was a huge hit. Thanks for this, it’s a keeper!
Julie Ruble
April 13, 2022 at 10:29 am (3 years ago)So glad you loved it!! It’s one of my favorites!
Tammy
June 7, 2022 at 5:09 pm (2 years ago)I have made these for years now. Everyone that I fix them for loves, and wants them again. We are having them for dinner again tonight. They are a family favorite!!
Thank you!!
Julie Ruble
June 7, 2022 at 6:01 pm (2 years ago)So glad to hear this! One of my favorite dinner recipes!
Chloe
December 15, 2022 at 9:02 pm (2 years ago)Stumbled on this recipe and made it tonight. I didn’t have cabbage, so I subbed Dino Kale – otherwise I did everything to the recipe SO gooooooddd!!!! For the kids I put salmon/cheese and sour cream on a tortilla and my picky eater finished every bite! A keeper
Katina
December 28, 2022 at 3:22 am (2 years ago)Just thought I would share that I have had this recipe saved on my Pinterest for many years now and have gone back to find it more times than I can count. I’ve made this for birthday parties and many other get togethers with friends and family. I get the best reviews and going by my own opinion, from someone who is not a huge salmon fan, these tacos are delicious and soo flavorful. I live in Alaska, and I cling to salmon recipes that I really love since we can get wild salmon so readily and low cost here.
Julie Ruble
December 28, 2022 at 1:40 pm (2 years ago)That makes me so happy to hear, Katina! Thank you for sharing 🙂