Lemon Herb Salmon Salad (Printable Version)

Flaky salmon paired with quinoa, fresh greens, and herbs tossed in a bright lemon vinaigrette. Light, nutritious, and ready in 35 minutes.

# 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
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 - 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
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 portion with a warm salmon fillet. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the salmon and serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It feels indulgent but leaves you energized, not heavy.
  • Everything comes together in half an hour, even on your most chaotic evenings.
  • The citrus vinaigrette is so good you will start putting it on everything.
  • Leftovers actually taste better the next day once the flavors meld.
02 -
  • Overcooking salmon turns it dry and chalky, so check it at 12 minutes and pull it out as soon as it flakes.
  • Dress the greens right before serving or they will wilt and lose their crunch.
  • If your quinoa tastes bitter, you didn't rinse it long enough, run it under cold water until the water runs clear.
03 -
  • Make a double batch of the vinaigrette and keep it in a jar, it lasts a week and works on roasted vegetables, grain bowls, and chicken.
  • If you are meal prepping, cook the salmon and quinoa ahead but wait to assemble the salad until you are ready to eat so everything stays fresh.
  • Use a fish spatula to flip or move the salmon, it is wide and flexible enough to keep the fillets intact.
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