This tender, flaky salmon is glazed in Chukar Cherry Chipotle BBQ sauce and topped with a cherry apple chutney. It’s the perfect summer salmon dish that can be made in a moment’s notice.
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Making Perfectly Cooked Glazed Salmon
This recipe explains how to easily make perfectly tender salmon glazed in a sweet and spicy cherry chipotle BBQ sauce. To top it off, we will be making a zesty, flavorful apple and cherry chutney.
I was inspired to make this recipe after a recent visit to Pike Place Market, where I stopped by the Chukar Cherry stand. Instead of buying my weight in their chocolate-covered cherries (which are so good!) I decided to be a bit more practical and get a jar of chipotle BBQ sauce and some old-fashioned plain dried cherries.
Now, since I love seafood, I decided to pair these richly flavorful ingredients with fresh salmon, but chicken would honestly work so well!
This recipe screams summertime. It’s light, healthy, and easy to make. I’ve also included instructions, tips, and tricks on how to cook salmon perfectly, every single time.
Tips and Tricks
- Buy a fish spatula – it will change your life. The angle makes it easy to scoop up delicate fish, and I use it for everything else too. Here is the one I use every day.
- The easiest way to remove the skin from salmon is to sear it skin side down first. When you flip it up, the skin will peel off easily. I prefer this to slicing it off before cooking.
- Swap your oven for an air fryer set to 400 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Here is the one I use.
- Pull out your salmon slightly before it’s fully cooked. The “carryover” period between removing the salmon and serving it will finish cooking the salmon. If you wait until it’s done, it will get overcooked.
Ingredients
For this recipe, I will be using Chukar Cherries, Chipotle BBQ sauce and dried Bing cherries for the chutney. Chukar Cherries is a company based out of Eastern Washington that specializes in all things cherries, from salsa to chocolate covered – you can’t go wrong!
Now, here is everything you need to make your glazed salmon:
- Salmon fillet
- Cherry Chipotle BBQ sauce
- Oil, for searing
Here’s what you’ll need to make cherry apple chutney:
- Dried cherries (I’m using Bing cherries from Chukar Cherries)
- Green apple
- Yellow onion
- Garlic
- Red wine vinegar
- Oil, for sauteing
- Salt and pepper, to taste
How to Make Chipotle Glazed Salmon
Step One: Saute Salmon
Start by preheating the oven to 325 degrees. Then, add your oil to a medium-sized pan and set the heat to medium-high. Once the oil slicks easily across the pan, place your two salmon fillet skin side down and cook for 2 minutes.
Step Two: Glaze
Flip the salmon and peel the skin off. This should happen in one easy motion. Top your fillets with the chipotle BBQ sauce and place in the oven.
Step Three: Bake Salmon
Cook for approximately 5-6 minutes or until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees.
How to Make Cherry Apple Chutney
Step One: Saute Fruit and Veggies
In a small saucepan, set to medium heat, add oil, and saute garlic and onion for 2-3 minutes. Once fragrant, add salt, pepper, diced apple and dried cherries, and saute for an additional 2-3 minutes.
Step Two: Add Vinegar and Simmer
Add vinegar and let simmer for 5 minutes. Taste and adjust flavor as needed. Sometimes I choose to add maple syrup or sugar. Other times, I prefer it without. If your cherries haven’t gotten plump, add a little extra vinegar and/or water.
How to Store and Reheat Chipotle Glazed Salmon
Cooked salmon will keep in an airtight container in your refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat without drying out the salmon, cook in the oven set to 275 degrees for approximately 15 minutes or until thoroughly heated.
Alternatively, you can place your glazed salmon in an air fryer set to 350 degrees for 3-4 minutes.
Chipotle BBQ Glazed Salmon with Cherry Chutney
Equipment
- 1 Oven safe skillet
- 1 Metal spatula
- 1 Pair of tongs
- 1 Small saucepan
- 1 Knife & cutting board
Ingredients
For Glazed Salmon
- 2 Salmon fillets
- 1/2 cup Chipotle cherry bbq sauce
- Oil for searing
For Cherry Chutney
- 1/4 cup Dried cherries I'm using Bing cherries
- 1/2 Apple medium, cored and diced or 1 small apple
- 1/2 Yellow onion, diced
- 1/4 cup Red wine vinegar
- 2 Garlic cloves minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Oil for sauteing
Instructions
For Glazed Salmon
- Preheat the oven to 325 degrees, then add your oil to an oven safe skillet and set the heat to medium high. Once the pan is hot, place your salmon skin side down and cook for 2-3 minutes, depending on thickness.
- Flip the salmon skin side up, peel the skin off with your tongs, and discard. Top your salmon with BBQ sauce and place the pan in the oven.
- Cook salmon for 5-6 minutes, or until the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 140 degrees.
For the Cherry Chutney
- In a small saucepan set to medium heat, add your oil, garlic, onion, and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until fragrant. Then, add apples and cherries and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Add vinegar and let simmer for approximately 5 minutes. Taste and adjust flavor as needed. If cherries haven’t plumped up, add a splash more vinegar and/or water.
- Serve warm over freshly baked salmon.
