Salmon is one of my go-to fish for healthy and quick meal prep. One way we eat salmon is with these salmon rice balls. It’s the perfect gluten-free dinner for a busy weeknight, but I also love it for lunch. And it’s packed with flavor with the honey lime sauce and cilantro lime dressing!
My family loved this bowl. All the flavors blend together and it’s sweet, sour, and a little salty. You can add up to a tablespoon of honey, but I like it less sweet. Some of my kids even added Sriracha for a sweet and spicy kick.
Easy Salmon Balls
Salmon is higher in healthy fats and lower in mercury and other toxins than some other fish. It’s also readily available at most grocery stores. Many salmon ball recipes go for Asian flavors and use brown sugar and soy or tamari sauce for flavor. But I wanted to do something a little different and chose Honey Lime Salmon with Cilantro Lime Dressing.
The result is delicious and refreshing. When cooking salmon, keep it simple and bake it in the oven. If you want, you can use an air fryer, but I haven’t tried it.
I use both skin-on and skinless salmon, depending on what I have on hand. If you want a nice crispy skin on your salmon, place it under the broiler for the last minute or two, skin side up (low-temperature broil).
What rice to use (or not to use)
There are many options for rice. There is brown rice, white rice, and even sushi rice. I prefer white rice because it is lower in phytic acid and arsenic than other options. You can also use lettuce instead for a low-carb version.
If you want the texture of grains but not rice, quinoa is a good substitute. Whichever you choose, cook according to package directions. This is something you can do ahead of time to make meal preparation easier.
Salmon Bowl Toppings
These are already flavorful, but you can add more garnishes for extra nutrition and flavor. For the spicy salmon balls, I like to add a little sriracha to the dressing. Here are some more ideas.
- Chopped green onions or scallions
- Sprinkle some sesame oil on it.
- Spicy mayonnaise
- Sprinkle lightly with rice vinegar
- Red pepper flakes
- sesame
Honey Lime Salmon Bowls with Cilantro Lime Dressing
These healthy salmon balls are packed with flavor and easy to make. Customize with your favorite toppings.
For Honey Lime Salmon
For the rice bowl
- 2 cup rice (or quinoa, or cauliflower rice)
- 2 avocado (sliced)
- 1 cucumber (sliced)
- Mixed vegetables of your choice (spinach, arugula, etc.)
For dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 lime (juice)
- ½ cup Fresh coriander
- 1 cloves garlic
- ½ cup Greek yogurt
- salt (depending on taste)
- black pepper (depending on taste)
- 1 A large spoon honey (or less, optional)
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Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C).
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Make the salmon marinade by combining the honey, olive oil, maple syrup, lime juice, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper in a bowl.
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Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over them, making sure each fillet is well coated. Marinate for at least 15 minutes.
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Place the marinated salmon fillets on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the preheated oven for about 12-15 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
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While the salmon is baking, assemble the rice bowl. Divide the cooked rice or quinoa among the serving bowls and top with the sliced avocado, cherry tomatoes, cucumber, and mixed greens.
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In a small bowl, combine the cilantro lime dressing ingredients: olive oil, lime juice, Greek yogurt, chopped cilantro, garlic, salt, pepper, and honey (if desired).
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Place the cooked salmon in a rice bowl.
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Drizzle the cilantro lime dressing over the rice bowl and enjoy!
Nutritional Information
Honey Lime Salmon Bowls with Cilantro Lime Dressing
Serving Size (1 Bowl)
calorie 775
423 calories from fat
% Daily Value*
province 47g72%
7g saturated fat44%
Trans fat 0.003g
8g polyunsaturated fat
28g monounsaturated fat
Cholesterol 95mg32%
sodium 269mg12%
potassium 1600mg46%
carbohydrate 52g17%
9g fiber38%
19g sugar21%
protein 40g80%
Vitamin A 1820IU36%
Vitamin C 22mg27%
calcium 102mg10%
steel 3mg17%
* Percent Daily Intake is based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
If you want a sweet and spicy version, add a little Sriracha sauce on top.
Want more salmon recipes? Try Sheet Pan Asian Ginger Salmon with Roasted Vegetables, Garlic Powder, and Teriyaki Sauce.
What is your favorite way to enjoy salmon? Let us know by leaving a comment!
