Sweet and Smoky Baked Salmon with Roasted Tomato Salsa
This Sweet and Smoky Baked Salmon is an easy to make baked salmon recipe. It's covered in a sweet and smoky rub and served with juicy roast tomato salsa. It’s a healthy and delicious 30-minute meal!

It's a funny thing, this food blogging. Here we are, me at my desk (aka my kitchen table), you with your computer (or maybe your phone) and we get to connect. I write. I create recipes. I take pictures. And, you read, look at the pictures, and make some recipes. You tell me what you changed in the recipes and give me ideas to try the next time I make it. We really have a thing going on here, you and I.
Sometimes though, I feel like it's a bit of a “Facebook” friendship. You know, we share the good, maybe the bad, but not the ugly. Happy times only.
But here's the thing … there's this baked salmon recipe that I really want to share with you. It's sweet and smoky and every bit delicious and I just know you're going to love it. It's perfect for summer. Perfect for this weekend. But (you knew there was a but coming, didn't you?) I'm just not feeling all that happy-happy joy-joy today, and I'm not very good at faking it.
In the spirit of friendship, and because I really don't want to keep this salmon recipe from you a day longer, I'm going to break from the routine and put myself on the line.
Two days ago, my handsome man got in his work truck and drove away. Poor poor me. I feel a little silly complaining cause I really only have to make it through the next 2¾ days till I can get on a plane and see him again, but almost 5 days without him feels like an eternity. I want to tell you that I'm taking this little time apart to focus on myself, connect with friends, read, meditate, etc, etc, etc, but right now the house just feels empty, and I want him back.
It's a funny thing to have someone in my life that fits so well even a short absence leaves a hole. Four years ago I was fiercely independent and never knew what it was like to miss someone. Four years younger me would have laughed at me now.
I've never been one to turn to food for comfort, bourbon perhaps, but never food. I think it might be time to change that. I'm going to make some sweet and smoky baked salmon. I'm going to cover it in roasted tomato salsa. I'm going to pull a bottle of wine from my fridge and pour a glass. Who's up for coming over for dinner?

Thanks for listening to all the poor me talk. You really are the best. Now let me tell you about something a little happier: this baked salmon. I've made a simple rub for it using smoked paprika, brown sugar, thyme and a little bit of cayenne. It's where both the sweet and smoky in the title and the ultra-bright orange-y red color of the salmon comes from.
If your house is a bazillion degrees and the idea of turning on the oven has you sweating already, you can definitely try this on the BBQ. It's not something I've done myself but, as the temperature keeps creeping higher, I suspect it'll be happening shortly.
I know I've gone on and on before about how important it is to not overcook fish, so I'll just keep it simple here. Please please do not overcook your fish. Bake it just until an instant-read thermometer tells you it is 140 degrees Fahrenheit, or until the flesh flakes with the most gentle touch of your fork. ♥

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Roast Salmon with Tomato Salsa Recipe
If you love this recipe as much as we do, let us know with a 5-star rating!
Ingredients
- 4 cups cherry tomatoes
- 5 tablespoons minced onion
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons coconut sugar
- 1 tablespoon Spanish paprika
- 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, finely minced
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
- 4 pieces salmon
- 2 tablespoons basil leaves, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon, chopped
The Salad
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
- ½ teaspoon dijon mustard
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- Sea salt and pepper, to taste
- 8 cups lettuce leaves
Instructions
- Turn your oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking tray with parchment paper.
- Put 3 cups of the cherry tomatoes and 4 tablespoons of the onion in a small baking dish. Drizzle the top with 1 teaspoon of olive oil and sprinkle ½ teaspoon of sea salt over the top. Put the tomatoes into the oven (don't wait for it to heat up) and let them roast for 20 minutes. Quarter the remaining cherry tomatoes and set them aside.4 cups cherry tomatoes, 5 tablespoons minced onion, 2 teaspoons olive oil, 1 teaspoon sea salt
- While the tomatoes are roasting make the salad dressing. In a medium-sized bowl, whisk the apple cider vinegar, honey, balsamic, and dijon mustard. Slowly whisk in the olive oil. Season to taste with sea salt and pepper.2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar, ½ teaspoon dijon mustard, 3 tablespoons olive oil, Sea salt and pepper
- Make the rub by mixing the coconut sugar, Spanish paprika, thyme, and cayenne powder in a small bowl.2 tablespoons coconut sugar, 1 tablespoon Spanish paprika, 1 teaspoon fresh thyme, ¼ teaspoon cayenne powder
- Place the salmon on the prepared baking tray and sprinkle the rub evenly over top of each piece. Drizzle the tops with the remaining 2 teaspoons of olive oil.4 pieces salmon, 2 teaspoons olive oil
- When the tomatoes are finished roasting, remove them from the oven and turn the heat down to 320. Keep the oven door open for a few seconds to lower the heat. Put the salmon in the oven and let it roast for 10 minutes, or until it has reached an internal temperature of 140 degrees, and flakes easily with a fork. Do not overcook the salmon!
- Add the remaining cup of cherry tomatoes, the remaining tablespoon of onion, basil, and tarragon to the roast tomatoes and mix together well.2 tablespoons basil leaves, 2 tablespoons fresh tarragon
- To serve, toss the lettuce leaves with the dressing. Spoon the roasted tomato salsa over the salmon and serve with a heap of salad on the side.8 cups lettuce leaves
I finally got the chance to try this recipe & it was terrific! Glad I have a new salmon recipe! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you so much for the feedback, Kristi! I’m so happy you enjoyed it!!
Wow, Kristen! This salmon recipe is definitely a MUST-TRY. My mouth is already watering. Pinning!
Thanks for the pin!!
Wow, this fish looks packed with flavor and deliciousness! My kind of meals. 🙂 I am pinning it to try later. Seriously, it looks stunning!
I hate when my husband is away too and like you said, the house feels so empty, it feels like part of me is missing, and we have been married for only 3 years. Hope you get to see him soon and have a wonderful time together!
Thank you so much, Neli! I flew out to the little town of Fernie, BC where he is working so we’re together again … and I’m so much happier. It really does suck when they’re away, doesn’t it?!
Thank you for the pin!
Kristen, this looks DELICIOUS! Straight to my “must make” list! I totally feel ya with the emptiness of being without the husband. Mine is working and living in Seattle until I move up there in August. I see him on the weekends, but every Sunday night he leaves. Again, and again, and again. It’s been since April, and I can’t believe I have another 2 months left. If only you and I lived near each other! I would gladly drink a glass of wine with you and cook, and chat. Hang in there!
Oh Trish that sounds terrible! I feel bad that I was complaining about just a couple of days. I too wish we lived near each other … I’d love to share a glass (or two or three) of wine and some dinner. You hang in there too, girl!!
I’m sorry that you are sad, but I think it is so sweet that you miss your man. I’ve been married for almost 25 years and have two young adult kids at home, I welcome having a few days at home by myself. 🙂
The salmon looks fantastic! I would love to have it for dinner tonight.
Thank you, Thao. You’re words mean a lot to me. It is nice to have some space too sometimes, but an afternoon or a workday seems to be enough for me lol.
It’s funny how people change us, isn’t it? That’s a good thing! I know you’re missing your man, but it’ll be worth the wait when you see him again! This recipe… holy smokes it looks amazing! I had a bad salmon experience a while ago, so I haven’t had salmon since, but before my “incident” I used to eat this style of rub all the time! It looks soooo good! I feel like I can taste all of the wonderful flavors from here! Great job, Kristen!
It totally is! And you’re right … changing is a good thing.
I hope the bad incident doesn’t stick with you forever. I really hate it when some bad food ruins my taste for something I normally love.
Thank you so much, Jess!
This salmon looks gorgeous – love the smoky flavour from the paprika! Roasted tomatoes are my favourite. Pinning to try soon! Thanks for sharing, Kristen!
Hang in there, Kristen. The time will fly. and you won’t remember the unhappiness when you’re together again.. In the meantime, thanks for this great recipe.. As always, I can’t wait to try it.
Thanks, Judy! I’ve been counting down the sleeps like a little kid. One more to go!
You’re so welcome for the recipe. Hope you love it as much as I do.