Lemon Herb Salmon Salad (Print Version)

Flaky salmon, fluffy quinoa, crisp greens, and fresh herbs tossed in zesty citrus vinaigrette. Light, nourishing, and ready in 35 minutes.

# What You 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
10 - 1 cup fresh herbs, chopped
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, about 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 serving plates. Top each with a warm salmon fillet. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the salmon. Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It feels indulgent but leaves you energized instead of sluggish, perfect for lunch or a light dinner.
  • Every ingredient plays a role, there's nothing here just for filler.
  • The citrus vinaigrette brightens everything and doubles as a marinade if you make extra.
  • You can prep the quinoa and vinaigrette ahead, then throw it all together in minutes.
02 -
  • Don't overdress the salad all at once, you can always add more vinaigrette but you can't take it back once the greens are soggy.
  • Let the quinoa cool for at least five minutes before adding it to the greens or the heat will wilt everything.
  • If your salmon has skin, ask the fishmonger to remove it or do it yourself with a sharp knife before cooking, it won't crisp in the oven and just gets chewy.
03 -
  • Always taste your vinaigrette before dressing the salad, it should be bright and bold because the greens will mellow it.
  • If your herbs start to wilt, dunk them in ice water for a few minutes and they'll perk right back up.
  • Use parchment paper under the salmon, it makes cleanup instant and keeps the fish from sticking.
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