Grilled Sockeye with Blackberry Relish

Rich grilled sockeye, smoky summer corn, and a glossy sweet-tart blackberry relish create an elegant Pacific Northwest dinner with vivid color and bold seasonal flavor.

Ingredients

  • Fresh Sockeye Salmon Fillet Wild Caught (sustainably sourced)
    12 oz $15.99
  • Fresh Sweet Corn on the Cob-Each
    2 ears $0.75
  • Fresh Blackberries - 6 OZ Clamshell
    3 oz (about 20 berries) $2.99
  • Green Onions
    1 green onion $1.19
  • Extra-virgin olive oil
    2 tablespoons
  • Unsalted butter
    1 tablespoon
  • Fresh lemon juice
    2 tablespoons
  • Finely grated lemon zest
    1 teaspoon
  • Balsamic vinegar
    1 tablespoon
  • Honey
    1 teaspoon
  • Fresh thyme leaves
    1 teaspoon
  • Kosher salt
    1 1/4 teaspoons
  • Black pepper
    1/4 teaspoon

Instructions

  1. Preheat a clean grill to medium-high, about 425–450°F. Pat 12 ounces sockeye salmon dry, season it evenly with 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt, and refrigerate it while preparing the other ingredients.
  2. Husk 2 ears sweet corn and thinly slice 1 green onion. In a bowl, mash 5 blackberries, then fold in 15 blackberries, 1 sliced green onion, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon thyme leaves, and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
  3. Rub the seasoned 12 ounces sockeye salmon with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper.
  4. Coat 2 ears sweet corn with 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil and 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt.
  5. Grill 2 ears sweet corn for 10–12 minutes, turning every 2–3 minutes, until tender and attractively charred; transfer them to a platter.
  6. Place 12 ounces sockeye salmon skin-side down, if skin-on, on the grill. Cover and cook without flipping for 5–8 minutes, until the center reaches 120–125°F for moist medium-rare to medium salmon; transfer it to a plate and rest for 3 minutes. For pregnant, older, immunocompromised, or other higher-risk diners, cook the 12 ounces salmon to 145°F.
  7. Melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter in a small grill-safe pan, brush it evenly over 2 grilled ears sweet corn, and drizzle the corn with 1 tablespoon lemon juice.
  8. Divide 12 ounces grilled sockeye salmon and 2 buttered ears sweet corn between two plates, then spoon about 1/2 cup blackberry relish over and around the salmon.

Total time: 40 minutes

Estimated cost: $18–$21

Health notes: About 590 calories per serving, with roughly 38 grams of protein, heart-healthy omega-3 fats, and fiber from the berries and corn.

Drink pairing: A lightly chilled Pinot Noir echoes the blackberry relish, while Chardonnay complements the buttery charred corn.