Flatiron Pepper Co

 Recipe by Nom N Nutrition: This sweet and spicy seared salmon bowl combines bright Island flavors of mango and lime with the warm heat of Ancho, the Caribbean Scotch Bonnet, and red bell peppers. This unique pepper flake blend is from Flatiron Pepper Co. and has subtle heat and a ton of flavor, making it the perfect seasoning for salmon.

Serve this pan-seared spicy salmon on a bed of cilantro lime rice with black beans, cabbage, avocado, and pickled onions, and top with sweet and spicy mango salsa for the perfect balance of sweet and heat.

How to make the Cilantro Lime Rice:

2 cups of white or brown rice

2 cups of water

Zest of 1 lime

1/4 cup of finely chopped cilantro

2 tsp of olive oil

1/4 tsp of salt

I made this in my Instant Pot by combining rice, water, olive oil, lime juice, half of the cilantro, salt, and pressure cooking for 4 minutes. After releasing pressure, I fluffed the rice with a fork and added the remaining fresh cilantro and a squeeze of fresh lime juice. If you don’t have an Instant Pot, cook the rice the way you normally would and add fresh cilantro and lime zest before serving!

Sweet and Spicy Mango Salsa:

1 large mango, diced
1/2 red onion, diced
1/4 cup of cilantro, finely chopped
1 cup of grape tomatoes, quartered
3 tbsp of lime juice
1 tsp of olive oil
1 tsp of Flat Iron Pepper Co. Hatch Valley Green pepper flakes

How to “Quick Pickle” Red Onions:

Combine in a jar…

1 medium red onion, sliced thinly

1/4 cup water

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar, white vinegar, whatever you have on hand!)

2 tbsp granulated sugar

1 tsp salt

red pepper flakes (I used Sweet Heat by Flatiron Pepper Co.)

Microwave for 2 minutes, then leave in the fridge for at least 30 minutes for the perfect pickled onions!

Spicy Salmon Marinade:

1/4 tsp of brown sugar

1 tbsp of olive oil

1 tbsp of lime juice

1/4 tsp of Flat Iron Pepper Co. Sweet Heat pepper flakes (adjust to fit your desired heat level!)

1/4 tsp of pepper flakes is really the minimum. Feel free to add pepper flakes liberally, as these flakes, while spicy, are really more about the flavor than the heat. The brown sugar really brings out the flavor of the peppers and helps get a nice sear on the salmon. After marinading the salmon, sear in a pan on medium-high heat until cooked thoroughly (time depends on thickness of salmon fillet!)

Once cooked, serve the salmon on a bed of the cilantro lime rice with shredded purple cabbage and black beans. Top salmon with mango salsa, fresh cilantro, a squeeze of lime juice, and avocado slices. If you want even more heat, sprinkle on some more pepper flakes!