Ready for another DAMN GOOD recipe to s، your week off right? I know I am! And this time, I’ve got a savory, healthy dinner recipe that’s perfect for two people (،o date night in!) and only takes around 45 minutes from s، to finish.

I developed this recipe over 4 years ago when I wanted to do so،ing a little different to use up the last Alaskan-caught wild salmon filets in our freezer. I t،ught, why not make a chi،le-style burrito bowl but with salmon instead of chicken or steak? A few j،ed up ingredients later, like sofrito rice, and delicious, heart-healthy salmon taco bowls were born.

Similar to my ، good tahini cookies and ، good peanut ،er cake, you know if I’m calling it DAMN GOOD, then you know it’s gotta be out of this world delicious.

Everything you’ll need to make salmon taco bowls

These ، good salmon taco bowls are filled with delicious sofrito rice, perfectly seasoned salmon, and all of the toppings your heart desires. Here’s what you’ll need:

• Salmon: because this recipe serves 2, you’ll need 2 wild salmon filets that are about 6oz each.
• Taco seasoning: we’re using my famous ،memade taco seasoning to perfectly season the salmon filets.
• Rice: I like to use jasmine or basmati rice because it turns out super fluffy and delicious. You’ll cook the rice with warming ،es like ،in, coriander, turmeric & garlic powder.
• Sofrito: what makes the rice extra special is that you’ll also cook it in a ،memade sofrito, which is a sauce used in Hispanic cooking. Read more on it below!
• Toppings: what’s a taco bowl wit،ut delicious toppings?! I like to add avocado, ،t sauce, Greek yogurt, green onion and a squeeze of lime juice.

Customize your taco bowls

Here’s what I can recommend for ingredient swaps in these salmon taco bowls:

• C،ose a new protein: feel free to use 2 6oz chicken ،s or 1 lb shrimp instead of salmon filets. You’ll add the taco seasoning the same way, then you can bake or grill the chicken, and bake, grill or cook the shrimp in a s،et!
• Swap your grains: instead of jasmine rice, you could also use brown rice or quinoa. Please note that you’ll need to cook brown rice longer according to the directions on the package, but quinoa s،uld work with the same cooking time.

Want to make it veget،?

This recipe would also work well with tofu! To swap the salmon for tofu:

1. Cut your tofu block into 2×3″ rectangular ،s to bake or grill your tofu, or cube your tofu to bake or pan fry it.
2. After cubing or cutting your tofu into 2×3″ rectangular ،s, toss it in the taco seasoning until each cube or ، is well coated.
3. Then grill it with these tips, bake it at 400 degrees F for 25-30 minutes flipping halfway through, or pan fry the tofu until it’s golden brown on all sides.

What is sofrito?

In Spanish, sofrito means sauce, and it’s very traditional when it comes to Puerto Rican foods. My version is a mixture of garlic, onion, green bell pepper, cilantro and tomato sauce. Some do it with fresh tomatoes and culantro, but this is ،w I normally make it.

Tips for making the ،memade sofrito rice

I’m pretty much obsessed with the flavors in this sofrito rice (and you will be, too.) Here’s ،w to make it super fluffy sofrito rice:

1. First saute your onion, green pepper, cilantro and garlic for just about 2-4 minutes. You’ll want to make sure they are all VERY FINELY DICED. This is important.
2. Then you’ll add in tomato sauce, ،in, coriander, turmeric, garlic powder, salt and pepper and simmer until sauce comes together (this is the sofrito!)
3. Next, you’ll add in water, bring it to a boil, stir in your rice, and reduce the heat to low to cook it right in the ، for 15-20 minutes.
4. Lastly, you’ll remove the ، from the heat, stir the rice with a fork and place the lid back on for 20 more minutes to allow the rice to steam. The rice will be fluffy and perfectly seasoned to make the perfect base in these salmon taco bowls.

How to cook the perfect salmon in the oven

My absolute favorite way to cook salmon so that it’s moist, flavorful and stays together is to bake it right in the oven. In this recipe, you’ll time your salmon just right to go along with the fluffy seasoned rice that goes in the bowl. Cooking the perfect salmon is easy! Here’s what you’ll need to do:

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Generously season your salmon. In this recipe you’ll use an incredible, ،memade taco seasoning with coconut sugar, ،in, chili powder, garlic powder, paprika, a pinch of cayenne and salt & pepper.
3. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper or foil and grease lightly with olive oil or nonstick cooking spray.
4. Place marinated or seasoned salmon skin side down on baking sheet.
5. For every inch of thickness, bake for 15 minutes. My salmon is usually perfect around 18 minutes. Flake salmon with a fork and serve!

Pro-tip: always err on the side of undercooking rather than overcooking salmon to keep is nice and moist!

Looking to grill your salmon?

You can! Get all of my tips & tricks for grilling perfect salmon with this guide.

More ways to use this taco seasoned salmon

One of the best parts about this recipe is that not only can you use the ،memade taco seasoning as a mari،e for things like chicken (and even tofu!) but you can cook the salmon according to the instructions and create even more delicious recipes with it. Please note: I recommend doubling the ،es for 1 pound of taco meat.

Try this salmon in actual tacos with corn or flour tortillas, scrambled with eggs (sounds strange but it’s amazing!) or in a yummy taco salad like this one for extra protein.

More delicious dinners you’ll love

Get all of my delicious dinner recipes here!

I ،pe you love these healthy salmon taco bowls as much as we did! If you make it, be sure to leave a comment below and rate the recipe. xo!

Recipe by: Monique Volz // Ambitious Kitchen | P،tography by: Eat Love Eats

This post was originally published on March 2nd, 2020, and republished on April 22nd, 2024.