This Spicy Cinnamon Blackened Salmon with Pumpkin-Cranberry Salsa is the perfect fall dinner!
Excitement cannot even describe the way I’m feeling about sharing this recipe today. You know why? Cause I feel like a genius and that doesn’t happen very often!
So we all know that its not a secrets that I’m a lover of all things pumpkin! I eat that stuff even before fall (its a four season deal for me). While I usually make sweet recipes with the golden squash, I made a u-turn with this recipe.
You see, as I was laying in bed trying to go back to sleep on Saturday trying to make myself sleep in (which didn’t work btw, I woke up at 7:30) I started to brainstorm about recipes that I could make with pumpkin.
I started having flash backs of the awesome blackened salmon dishes I had in the summer with mango salsa. The idea struck my mind that I should make a fall-inspired salmon recipe to recreate my favorite summer dinner! My idea was pretty successful to say the least.
I’m pretty proud of myself that I came up with this recipe because its not often when I succeed by totally winging a recipe! I thru together a spice rub and prayed that it would taste well, and thank God it did! Cinnamon on salmon may sound weird, but I promise you its totally worth it.
The cranberry and pumpkin salsa totally makes this dish that much better! It also may sound weird adding cubed pumpkin and cranberries to salsa, but again, its totally worth it. This recipe sounds like a strange combo but don’t knock it till you try it!
Spicy Cinnamon Rubbed Salmon with Cranberry Pumpkin Salsa
Ingredients
- 4 4-6 oz salmon fillets
- 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp. coconut sugar or date sugar
- 1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp. chili powder
- 1/2 tsp. paprika
- 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
- salt and pepper
- SALSA:
- 1 to mato finely chopped
- 1/4 onion finely chopped
- 1/2 cup fresh cranberries finely chopped
- 1 cup baked pumpkin cubed (cubed butternut squash would also work)
- 1 Tbsp. lime juice
- 1/2 tsp. cumin
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
- Combine all spices in a shallow bowl.
- Coat salmon fillets evenly in spice blend and place on a cooking sheet coated with cooking spray. Bake for 12-15 minutes, or until done.
- While salmon is cooking, Add all ingredients together for salsa.
- Top salmon with salsa.
- Enjoy!
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Linking up with Sprint to the Table for Strange but Good!
What an awesome recipe and great photos. That fish looks so delicious and inviting it has everything I love. Thanks for bringing spicy salmon to Fridays Blog Booster Party #27
Kathleen
Kathleen recently posted…The Pinterest Game #14a
Girl you are totally a genius! That salsa sounds flippin awesome.
Ashley @ Fit Mitten Kitchen recently posted…Spiced Matcha Latte [dairy-free, vegan, paleo]
Definitely intrigued by this! All flavors that I love so I don’t see why they wouldn’t work in combination…something I’ll have to try one of these days 🙂
Lauren recently posted…Happy Hockey Season! A Few Words.
blackened spice is my favorite!! looks like a delicious combination of everything. love that you threw some squash into the salsa too
Beverley @ sweaty&fit recently posted…Adidas #runmore 10K DAYLIGHT SAVINGS Race
Oooo I am totally intrigued by this. We usually have salmon once a week, and I typically do the same thing. I can’t wait to try something new with this unique recipe!
Chrissa – Physical Kitchness recently posted…Must-Have Kitchen Tools For Healthy Eating & Easy Meal Prep
What a creative combo!! I love combining sweet flavors with salmon. Definitely trying this soon
Christina recently posted…Chicken, Bean & Sweet Potato Noodle Soup
Oh this looks amazing! With my youngest really loving salmon right now we will take what we can get and I think this might have to be on the menu for dinner this Sunday, the only night we will be home for dinner in the next few days, with a nice glass of white wine!
Sarah recently posted…Easy As Apple Pie Cherry Muesli Bake
Great recipe! My husband and I are huge salsa eaters! Pinning this so I can make it!
Brenda Pace recently posted…Trick or “Not So” Treat?
You might just be my fall #strangebutgood hero for this one. It looks amazing!!!
Laura @ Sprint 2 the Table recently posted…Pumpkin Quinoa Chia Pudding [Recipe]
You had me at “spicy cinnamon” and then I got even more excited about the cranberry pumpkin! Sounds amazing 🙂
Alexandra @ Made to Glow recently posted…Happy Fall, Y’all! My Favorite Fall Recipes, Style, and Decor
thank ya! Its a tasty combo 🙂
yay I’m so honored! 🙂
you will love this! let me know if you make ti 🙂
you should totally try this! such a great way to eat salmon 🙂
thank you! It’s an awesome combo 🙂
I’m sure your family will LOVE this! let me know how it goes 🙂
its a weird but amazing combo!
thank you! It is flipping awesome 🙂
Wow! What an interesting combo! Again, I love the savory dishes with pumpkin because it is so good for you and can be a filling nutrient dense food.
Kari recently posted…Curry Pickled Peaches
This recipe looks SO good! I love the different combination of spices and the salsa looks amazing. Can’t wait to try this!!
Amber @ Homemade Nutrition recently posted…Roasted Garlic-Thyme Root Vegetables
Hello delicious dinner! When we go salmon we go all out!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine recently posted…Friday Finisher 10/9/15
it is mighty tasty! Salmon=best dinner eva!
thank you! the combo might sound strange, but its to-die-for!
yes! Thats why i love pumpkin other than the taste of it 🙂
Pumpkin cranberry salsa sounds amazing–so perfect for fall! (+ I love and adore salmon, so this is a total win in my book!)
Farrah recently posted…Chocolate Hemp Cherry-Berry Smoothie
thank you! It tastes soo yummy 🙂
Hi Bethany & Rachel,
I love salmon and adding the cranberries sounds absolutely delicious. Great recipe. Thanks for sharing on Real Food Fridays. Pinned & tweeted.
Marla recently posted…“6 Plus Green Solutions for Pest Prevention in Your Home!”
thank you!
This was amazing. I was looking for new ideas for pumpkin. We had so much from our CSA and my family isn’t a fan of the sweet cinnamon recipes. When I found this I was skeptical and wrong. It turned out awesome! -and was great as a cold lunch, too.
I’m glad you liked it! Its a strange but good combo 🙂