This is an oven-baked totally healthy salmon curry in a hurry recipes! And a total favorite of mine, with crunchy sauteed veggies in a green curry coconut milk sauce. It’s pretty much my definition of comfort food.

Flatlay shot of curry veggies over salmon filets and rice in bowls

The lovely folks at Copper River Salmon send me their product however to try. However, my love of the wild Alaskan fish is what keeps me creating recipes with it.

I am not sure when I had my first curry, and that’s a little sad, because I know it was one of those life-changing moments. In that first bite, curry became my go-to takeout dish. My cozy comfort Netflix and chill bestie meal and my number one way to sneak a million veggies into one creamy dish.

Homemade Curry Is Easy

Also, one of those dishes I spent far too long not making at home. Thinking that that rich broth must be super complicated to make, I didn’t experiment with curries until I was exploring the Korean market behind my old comic shop. I discovered little tins in bright colors with only one word I could read, Curry. Knowing they were different varieties but having no clue which was the one I loved, I bought them all. Came home. And got to cooking.

Turns out, all are absofreakinlutely amazing but I loved the red curry the best. And it goes amazing in quick recipes like this, is totally divine over pork, or to knock the socks off anyone you know with a delicious pot pie.

Easy Salmon Curry

This quick salmon recipe is one of my go-to favorites not for when I am looking to impress anyone with a five-star experience, but when I want them to appreciate flavors in a healthy fresh way. It’s the kind of recipe that makes even those friends that are all like ‘I hate coconut milk’ into believers. And, if they are still against trying it, more for you. They don’t have any idea what they are missing!

Oh, and did I mention, it’s incredibly quick to make – so a perfect meal for healthy weeknights after work. Yep, life is good.

What you need

ingredients for salmon curry arranged to

A quick curry recipe that just needs any and all the fresh veggies you have on hand, like carrots, onions, peppers, mushrooms, green beans, sweet potato or butternut squash diced, and honestly, just about any other vegetable, I find in my fridge calling to be used.

The coconut milk is seasoned with ginger, garlic and green curry paste, though I love red curry for this dish too. Use what you have on hand. Remember, adding more curry paste increases the flavor and spice, so start with a few tablespoons and add more for your tastes. You can find curry paste in the Asian section of most markets these days. I love the kind that I get in small tins at my local Asian market tho.

A whole salmon filet portioned out into 2″ slices. I did this so that when I served I wasn’t cutting into a whole filet, causing the salmon to flake apart. Salmon slices easier before it’s cooked.

What Exactly Is Curry Made Of?

Curry has been around for thousands of years. Different regions, cultures, ethnicities all have their variations. But at its core, most curries contain a combination of spicy peppers, turmeric, coriander, ginger, and cumin. If you don’t have curry on hand, but you have those spices then try mixing up your own.

Curries are considered “red”, “green”, or “yellow” based on the base ingredients. Some curries are super spicy, while others less spicy and more herbal.

I personally love trying different styles of curry and always look for new ones to try. The ones I find at the Asian markets are “wet” rather than dry and might contain ingredients like lemongrass for example.

How to make quick curry

step by step photos for sautéd veggies for curry

This dish is like a stir fry, in that, it’s best if you prep everything ahead of time. Once it’s all chopped, it comes together in under 30 minutes for a delicious dinner.

You simply start by sauteeing the onions and carrots until they are tender and then add the peppers and mushrooms for a few minutes longer. But, I like a crunch to my veggies, so I don’t overcook them.

Adding the curry paste is the only ‘hard’ part, just because you want to cook it for 30 seconds or so before stirring to coat all the veggies. From there you pop in the garlic and ginger, and then whisk in the coconut milk and par-cooked potatoes. It simmers while the salmon bakes in the oven and you prep your rice or noodles.

I add green beans at the very last minute to make sure they are bright green and crunchy when I serve my curry.

To plate, I pile things in bowls starting with my rice, then a salmon filet and top it all with a huge portion of creamy delicious curry over top with a ton of veggies to mix in with the rice and salmon. It looks super fancy and fresh.

Close up of quick salmon curry in a white bowl showing rice topped with salmon and creamy coconut curry loaded with veggies

What type of salmon do I buy at the market?

Shopping for fish at your local market is increasingly hard. I always ask my fishmonger what’s fresh and what they recommend. I personally love Copper River Salmon, the fish is a deep red that hasn’t been dyed and the flavor is the cleanest salmon I ever enjoyed. Salmon runs in seasons so that will affect what is at the market.

Sockeye, coho, and king all run at different points in the summer. All are delicious but coho and king definitely top the scales for fine dining. (You will spend more for them.) Especially if it comes from a special place like the Copper River Alaskan Salmon.

If you are as particular as I am, you want to make sure the salmon is labeled Copper River Salmon or Prince Edward Sound for my favorites.

What to serve with salmon curry

Salmon curry is perfect ladled over rice – or cauliflower rice if you are sticking to a whole 30 diet. It is also fun served over thick udon noodles to slurp. I love serving it in big bowls, over any of the above, with a fresh-baked filet on top.

If you feel it’s needed a grilled naan bread is also delicious to help scoop up the extra curry and veggies from the bowl.

above shot of two bowls of comforting salmon curry with veggies over rice

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Quick Salmon Curry

5 from 8 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 20 minutes
Resting Time: 5 minutes
Total: 35 minutes
Servings: 12
2 bowls of salmon curry over rice with peppers and herbs laying about
Everything about this fast and healthy recipe is so good. Salmon curry is loaded with comforting spicy flavor and is perfectly clean eating comfort food.

Recommended Equipment

Ingredients  

  • 2 lb salmon portioned into 3 to 4 oz servings
  • 1 tbsp salt divided
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1/2 onion sliced
  • 3 carrots diced
  • 1 bell pepper stemmed, seeded and sliced
  • 1 cup mushrooms sliced
  • 1 tbsp ginger finely grated
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 – 4 tbsp green curry paste
  • 2 cups coconut milk
  • 1 cup green beans chopped into 2" pieces
  • 2 cups rice cooked

Instructions 

  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Pat the salmon dry and season with 1 teaspoon salt.
  • Arrange the salmon on a baking dish greased with 1 tbsp olive oil, skin side down.
  • Bake for 17-20 minutes, until salmon flakes easily with a fork.

Meanwhile, Make the Curry

  • Preheat a large Dutch Oven over medium heat. Add the remaining tablespoon olive oil and swirl to coat the pan.
  • Sautee the onion 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Add the carrot and cook 2 to 3 minutes longer to soften.
  • Add the sliced peppers and mushrooms and cook 1 to 2 minutes longer.
  • Work in the curry paste and allow it to cook for about 30 seconds to a minute before stirring it in to coat the veggies.
  • Add the garlic and ginger and cook 30 seconds longer.
  • Whisk in the coconut milk and bring to a low simmer. Allow the curry to simmer while the salmon bakes.
  • Add the green beans right before serving and cook for a minute or two.
  • When ready to plate, spoon rice into bowls and top with a salmon filet. Ladle a hearty portion of veggies and curry over top.
  • Garnish with minced cilantro and lime wedges if desired.

Notes

I love serving this over rice, or cauliflower rice when I am doing whole 30. But it’s also great over zoodles and thick udon noodles as well. 
To store leftovers, save each in individual air tight containers for up to 3 days. 
Reheat individually as well to prevent the salmon from getting soggy.
Often times whole filets are cheaper than the pre-portioned ones at the market. If that is the case, buy and slice yourself. Cut them about 1 1/2 to 2″ thick – or about 3 to 4 ounces each. Portioning before you cook the salmon makes for clean cuts. 
Thai Kitchen makes whole 30 compliant curry paste. Be sure to always check the ingredients but I use this a lot! 

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 332kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 42mg | Sodium: 633mg | Potassium: 610mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 2952IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 35mg | Iron: 2mg
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: asian
Author: Kita Roberts

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Well, Hey, Y’all.

Kita is a multi-talented individual, boasting numerous accomplishments such as being an award-winning recipe developer, world-traveled professional photographer, and journalist. As the lead creative force behind Girl Carnivore®, she is widely recognized as an authority on all things meat.

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5 from 8 votes

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Comments

  1. Now this is a yummy twist on seafood! I’ve never had curry flavors on my seafood dishes but it sounds like it’s time to expand my horizons! YUM!

  2. 5 stars
    Will I have tried so many different curries including different fish, I have never tried salmon curry. Why did I think of it before!? I am definitely tryign this curry for my next meal. Thank you for the inspiration!

  3. 5 stars
    This one is new to me. I never even thought about this combo. It is a fresh and healthy curry that brings each flavor out.

  4. 5 stars
    I LOVE curry and yet have never made it with salmon before! I am always trying new recipes with seafood because my husband love it so much. I bet he’s going to love this salmon curry – thanks!

  5. 5 stars
    What a gorgeous dish!! The ingredients are all so full of flavor and colorful to boot. This is an ideal dish for the middle of the week when everything seems so ho hum. And the best part is that the meal is brimming with nutritious goodness. I’m looking forward to making the curry.

  6. 5 stars
    You had me at salmon and coconut milk but the ginger and all the veggies are just amazing in this dish. Love when comfort meets healthy.

  7. I’m always looking for new curry recipes – I never thought to use salmon as the protein. But, it sounds delicious!

  8. 5 stars
    I am going to enjoy this next week. Just added it to my menu and can’t wait to make it and enjoy the delicious flavor.

  9. I think you left the curry paste out of your recipe. I can’t seem to find it. I love curry, too!