A delicious new way to flavor up your favorite fish! Harissa Salmon with Shredded Coconut is a healthy new recipe to add to the dinner plate. Gluten-Free, paleo, and whole 30 friendly, so you'll never be bored!
It's been awhile since I shared a salmon recipe. Is has not been awhile since I shared a harissa recipe π Trying to think back, I believe this was the second recipe I made using harissa back when I first discovered its deliciousness! A no-brainer here. The best fish, with (one of) the best condiments! (If you're wondering, yes, don't be surprised if you see me eating salmon with ketchup from time to time!)
Fish of choice? Salmon, always salmon! Nothing beats that rich, buttery, tender bite! And it's pink (I love color!) I think it ranks in the most health-beneficialΒ fish as well. Its protein and Omega-3 content can't be beat. B-12, B-6, and Vitamin D,Β niacin, thiamin, pantothenic acid, selenium, and phosphorous. Heart health, brain health, overall body health! Not to mention, salmon just makes you FEEL good and nourished when you eat it! i.e. happy taste buds, happy belly!
I did not grow up eating salmon (or any "real" fish for that matter). We were the canned tuna and fish stick kind of family (I miss those greasy fried then frozen and oven-baked sticks...dipped in ketchup of course!) Not even sure what kind of "fish" they put under that breading. We did eventually graduate to Gorton's frozen grilled fillets and I think there was some popcorn shrimp thrown in there at times.
I just don't think anyone in my family really knew how to cook fish. I can't recall when we did eventuallyΒ really start to add simple fresh white fish, like tilapia, to our diet. My mom of course never partook due to her allergy, but my brother and I loved it. I think the first time I had salmon was when my dad got one of those huge fillets from Costco one summer for the grill. First taste? HEAVEN!
Now that I'm the primary grocery shopper for the family and myself, I make sure salmon is a weekly thing. (I'm also the only one who knows how to cook fish properly). The "fish butchers" (what are those people called), know me well at the fish counter in our local grocery. I always scan the fresh fish selections to a "T" and we're been pretty lucky this year with the salmon options. (Update...believe it or not, this week they did not have the salmon I usually buy, only organic $20 salmon...it's a salmonless week here...).
Growing up on those processed varieties of "fish", my mom seemed to always serve them with plain white rice as well. We were store-brand "enriched" white rice kind of people too. No shame! Sometimes I just crave plain white rice. It's delicious, fluffy, easy, and nice on the tummy. So a little throw-back to the good old days, I served up this harissa salmon with a simple side of plain old white rice (you can choose what ever side you'd like though! I hear plantainsΒ make a rather tasty addition!)
Harissa Salmon with Shredded Coconut
Harissa Salmon with Shredded Coconut
A delicious new way to flavor up your favorite fish! Harissa Salmon with Shredded Coconut is a healthy new recipe to add to the dinner plate. Gluten-Free, paleo, and whole 30 friendly, so you'll never be bored!
- Category: Main
- Cuisine: Middle Eastern
Ingredients
- Fresh Wild-Caught Salmon Fillets
- Per Fillet:
- 2 TB Mild Harissa
- 1 TB Unsweetened Shredded Coconut
- Β½ Tsp Lemon Juice
- Β½ Tsp Lemon Zest
- ΒΌ Tsp Cumin
- ΒΌ Tsp Garlic Powder
- ΒΌ Tsp Dried Cilantro
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400Β°F.
- Place the salmon fillet(s) on a greased, foil-lined baking sheet before spreading on the harissa, coconut, lemon, and spices.
- Cook the salmon in the oven for 15-20 minutes until it flakes apart easily with a fork.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
Β 
Is it bad that I'm really craving fish sticks right now? I should be craving salmon, but those greasy sticks (dipped in ketchup) are calling me. #OnThisWeeksGroceryList (I'm pretty sure Ian's makes some nice gluten/soy/egg/dairy free sticks!) Haha, no shame here! But, if they have my usual on-sale salmon again...
So tell me:
Β + Fish stick kind of kid or were you blessed with fresh fish? Why is there a stereotype that little kids don't like fish?
+ What type of fresh fish do you buy most often? Salmon and then whatever else looks nice. This week it was catfish!
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Monika Dabrowski
This recipe looks and sounds delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you!
Dee
We were the fish stick family too! It's been a long time since we've had salmon, and this looks so good that I have to put it back on the menu ASAP.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Gotta bring salmon back!!
Anya
Love salmon recipes. This one sounds so delicious and flavorful.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You can never go wrong!
Lacie Ring
This recipe looks great! My husbands not a coconut fan but he does like Salmon. I'm going to give it a try. Pinning!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well it's mostly harissa, obviously not very coconutty.
Fran Back With A Bump
We're keen healthy eaters and gymgoers and live off chicken and salmon. We tend to buy a couple of whole fresh salmon when its on offer at the supermarket and we just got 2, so I'll have to try this out as it sounds really nice! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Salmon and chicken are LIFE! Haha!
Nikki Frank-Hamilton
Ha! We did have fish sticks occasionally when we were young. And it always had tarter sauce on the side. Perhaps that's why I'm obsessed with tarter sauce. Now we eat fish as ofter as we can. Salmon is the fish of choice, but tilapia and any fish we catch at the lake or in my parents stocked pond is fair game! I've never tried it your way, but it looks delish!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fresh caught...that would be lovely!
janice Wald
I love salmon; I had it last night.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I have some defrosting for tomorrow!
Corina
I love salmon and harissa and coconut so this sounds like a recipe that we'd really like here too!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Fantastic!
Pauline Molinari
This looks fantastic! Thanks so much for sharing your yummy salmon recipe!
Jess @hellotofit
I've never cooked wtih harissa before!! Or even added coconut to salmon...but it sounds like a match made in heaven!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Do it! You'll love it Jess!
Jacqueline Bellefontaine
This salmon recipe sounds lovely. I like Harrissa a lot too so must give it a go. - jacqui
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I hope you do!
Donna @ Soul Survival
I really love salmon when it's fresh and prepared well! This sounds like a delicious recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes, yes! The fresher the better! You can tell!
Melissa Ruddy
Most often we have mild white fish but my husband loves salmon and never had Harassa. Sounds interesting. Thanks for shariing
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Well, this will be a totally BOLD dish to try then!
Jenny
Oooh, this looks unreal! I just bought coconut yesterday, looks like I nee to get some salmon!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yup! That component would help π
Angela @marathonsandmotivation.com
Looks Fabulous! I LOVE harissa!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The best!!
Tiffany
This looks absolutely incredible and your photos are making me drool! I am always looking for new ways to make salmon, instead of my tried-and-true lemon and olive oil! Thanks for giving me a totally new recipe to use!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Aw, thank you so much, Tiffany!!! There are so many ways to amp up the flavor! Always try new crazy combos and be adventurous!
Zoe and Mia
This looks incredible! What a genius idea for a easy healthy weeknight meal! Can't wait to try this! I absolutely love salmon! I'm going to try substituting gochujang (korean chili paste) for harissa and see how that works!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
You'll be missing out since harissa is not just chili paste.
jane @ littlesugarsnaps
You made me smile - it seems everybody typically hates fish as kids apart from fish fingers! I wonder what age it changes. I absolutely love your recipe. The harissa and coconut are additions I've not come across before, but would so like to try asap... I think THIS week. Pinning.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think most parent's "think" their kids won't like fish, but I know I would have loved eating fresh salmon! But again...I was also the first grader bringing brussels sprouts for snack time π
Kristen @ The Endless Meal
I LOVE harissa and coconut ... brilliant combo!!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
A delicious combo!!
Debbie
This looks delicious Rebecca! I have not tried harissa yet. In England we would call a fish butcher a "fishmonger". This would be a store or person who specifically sells or prepares fish. Can't wait to try this recipe. Have a wonderful week!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yup! Someone else mentioned that in the comments!
Marla
Hi Rebecca,
I love wild caught salmon and this sounds wonderful with the coconut coating. what a great idea! Pinned & tweeted!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Totally the best!
Miz Helen
What a great preparation for that beautiful Salmon!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thanks!
Vicki Montague
This looks amazing! I love salmon.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The best!
Ashley@CookNourishBliss
So I am that person who just doesn't seem to like fish! And yet I really want to like it, especially salmon, since it's so good for you!! I need to give it another go .... love that you used harissa with this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
YES!!! And make it salmon! You can't NOT like salmon!
Cheryl @ ReimerandRuby
This looks yum especially with rice... I grow up eating fresh fish all the time, fish back home in Phils is cheaper compared to meat, so we always end up with fish most of our meals. No wonder I was attracted to this dish. Thanks for sharing this recipe!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O well that's good to hear! Fish is such a wonderful staple to any diet!
Cheryl @ ReimerandRuby
Totally agree!
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
I didn't really grow up eating real fish either - just the frozen, packaged, not-so-great kind. But now salmon is my absolute favorite and I try to eat it weekly! Great idea to pair it with harissa here - how can you go wrong?!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, it's so sad that that seems to be the case for all of us! So many missed years! Bahaha!
Harriet Emily
Yum yum yum, this sounds great Rebecca! I love Harissa! The addition of shredded coconut is such an amazing idea too! Thanks for sharing such a delicious recipe! <3
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Thank you! Harissa always makes a wonderful dish!
Chrissa - Physical Kitchness
I didn't grow up on salmon either - totally with you on the canned tuna and fish sticks!! But now it's a staple in my house. I've never tried harissa. I'm so intrigued! This is totally my kind of dinner!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
We need to make fish a THING for future little kiddos!
OOOOOO! Girl, get yourself some harissa STAT!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt
This looks so good! What a perfect flavor combination for salmon. My family did fish sticks too .... π White rice... and even microwave meatloaf... That last one might be why I'm a pescatarian.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Bahahahaha! I never had microwaves meatloaf at least π
neil@neilshealthymeals.com
Isn't harissa delicious? But to pair it with salmon is something I haven't done yet. I normally just stick it in a salad π
Great recipe idea as usual Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Put some harissa on your salmon AND your salad!
Farrah
You know I'm most definitely alllll about salmon (and coconut!), so this is right up my alley!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The salmon life!
Shannon
That looks so good right about now! I've never had or even heard of Harissa, so I'm definitely going to need to look into that!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O gosh, you need o fix that stat!
Sunny@andloveittoo
Oh man, I cannot wait to try this!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Enjoy!
Kristen
We buy fresh salmon every Thursday where I live, and I've been looking for some different ways to prepare it. This looks wonderful... I know what's for dinner tomorrow night!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Ah!!! This was perfect timing then π
Adriana Lopez-Martin
Harissa is one of may favorite sauces I need this salmon in my life =)
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Same here!! I hope you grab some soon π
Michelle @ The Complete Savorist
That is one gorgeous piece of fish. I am not a huge salmon fan, but I'd make an exception for this.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Wah :O I've never heard such a thing! You WILL love this!
Elsie @ Sharing Healthiness
Hi! I came across your recipe by surprise and I just had to stop and look at it. At first I thought, is that pizza topping over salmon? I mean a salmon base sounds delicious! But really I am so intrigued by these flavors... π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, no, but this is harissa pizza!
Ellen @ My Uncommon Everyday
Fishmongers! That's what they're called π
And I started with tuna noodle casserole, then some combo of fish sticks and tilapia, but I never really loved it. Sometime in middle school, I allowed mahi mahi to grace my plate, and then salmon and all sorts of other stuff I now love. I've still never tried harissa, but this still sounds right up my alley.
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O gosh, I think you're right!!! That's the word!! #SmartCookie
Oooo my mom's tuna noodle casserole was the bomb!!! I miss that :O
Get some harissa...and salmon...and make this stat!!!
Shashi @ RunninSrilankan
Salmon is my favorite too - you are right, it's hard to beat that "rich, buttery, tender bite!" And Rebecca, I love your combo of harissa, coconut, citrus and a hint of cumin - so delicious!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Haha, yes!! The only way to describe salmon is buttery and rich...without the "butter" π
Thank you my friend! xo
Lindsay Cotter
Love salmon and definitely loving the flavors you used for this salmon dish!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I knew you would π
jules
Haven't tried Harissa yet, but it sounds delish! And yes, wonderful on this beautiful recipe with coconut - yum!
~jules
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Wah!!? O girl, you would LOVE harissa!!
Laura
Coconut is always so delicious wherever it is used, and I am such a fan of harissa. My go to hot sauce recipe for bowls and dipping!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes!!! Harissa is just such a great fun way to kick anything up!
Celeste
Salmon is a favorite of mine, too. This one is gorgeous Rebecca!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
The best! Thank you Celeste!
Kasee Erickson
That salmon looks so delicious!!! I need to try this π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
Yes you do!!
rachel @ Athletic Avocado
I try to make sure that we have salmon at least once per week too! It's so good!!! I also made some a few days ago and i need to have it again soon π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I wish I could have it every day!!! I would....I really would...just like potatoes π
Emily @ My Healthyish Life
We never had fish sticks growing up (and really only liked tuna fish for a long time!). I started with tilapia in middle school and then became a salmon lover/addict in high school π
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I think that's the typical progression π But I'm sad you never got to experience FISH STICKS haha! One of the best childhood foods!
Robyn @ Simply Fresh Dinners
I have a jar of Mina harissa in my fridge so I'm making this! So perfect on salmon. Love your gorgeous recipes, Rebecca π Sharing!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
O yay!!! It's the best harissa! It's always in my fridge too π
Thank you dear!
Allie
I just bought a jar of Harissa last week to make Harissa butter for a recipe I found. Glad to see I have another use for it. Thanks!
Rebecca @ Strength and Sunshine
I have tons of harissa recipes for you to try!