Lemon Herb Salmon Salad (Printer-friendly)

Flaky salmon paired with quinoa, mixed greens, and fresh herbs dressed in a bright lemon vinaigrette.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salmon

01 - 4 salmon fillets, skinless (4.2 oz each)
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
05 - Zest of 1 lemon

→ Quinoa

06 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
07 - 2 cups water
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Salad

09 - 4 cups mixed salad greens (arugula, spinach, romaine)
10 - 1 cup fresh herbs, chopped (parsley, dill, mint, basil)
11 - 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
12 - 1/2 cucumber, sliced
13 - 1/4 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Citrus Vinaigrette

14 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
15 - Juice of 1 large lemon (approximately 3 tablespoons)
16 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
17 - 1 teaspoon honey
18 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
19 - 1/4 teaspoon salt
20 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

# Directions:

01 - In a medium saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes. Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork and cool slightly.
02 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking tray with parchment paper. Place salmon fillets on the tray, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and lemon zest. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, or until salmon is just cooked through and flakes easily.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, chopped herbs, tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, and cooked quinoa. Drizzle with half the vinaigrette and toss gently to combine.
05 - Divide the salad among plates. Top each with a warm salmon fillet. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the salmon and serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • It tastes bright and clean without feeling like diet food, just real ingredients that happen to make you feel good.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes when hunger strikes.
  • The citrus vinaigrette does double duty on the greens and the salmon, tying the whole bowl together.
  • Leftovers actually hold up well, especially if you keep the salmon separate until serving.
02 -
  • Don't skip rinsing the quinoa or you'll end up with a slightly bitter, soapy taste that no amount of dressing can hide.
  • Let the salmon rest on the tray for a minute after baking so the juices redistribute and it doesn't fall apart when you move it.
  • If your vinaigrette separates, add a tiny splash of warm water and whisk again to bring it back together.
03 -
  • Use a silicone brush to coat the salmon evenly with olive oil so the zest sticks and the fillets don't dry out.
  • Toast the quinoa in the dry saucepan for a minute before adding water to bring out a subtle nutty flavor.
  • Massage the greens gently with a pinch of salt before dressing them to soften their texture and reduce any bitterness.
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