Lemon Herb Salmon Salad (Printable Page)

Flaky salmon, fluffy quinoa, crisp greens, and fresh herbs tossed in zesty citrus vinaigrette. 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 - 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

# Steps:

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 sheet with parchment paper. Place salmon fillets on the sheet, drizzle with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, pepper, and lemon zest. Bake for 12-15 minutes until salmon is just cooked through and flakes easily.
03 - In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, honey, minced garlic, salt, and pepper until emulsified.
04 - In a large bowl, combine mixed greens, chopped fresh herbs, halved tomatoes, sliced cucumber, sliced 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. Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels fancy but comes together faster than ordering takeout, and you actually feel good after eating it.
  • The vinaigrette does all the work, tying together every ingredient without you having to fuss over flavors.
  • Leftovers taste even better the next day when the quinoa has absorbed all that lemony goodness.
02 -
  • Don't overbake the salmon, it keeps cooking a little after you pull it out, so aim for just opaque in the center.
  • Dress the salad right before serving or the greens will wilt and lose their crunch.
  • If your vinaigrette separates, just whisk it again before drizzling, it happens and it's fine.
03 -
  • Use a sharp knife to slice the red onion paper-thin, it makes all the difference in texture and prevents overpowering bites.
  • Zest the lemon directly over the salmon so the oils fall right onto the fish, it's a small step that adds huge flavor.
  • If you're not a fan of raw garlic, rub the bowl with a cut clove instead of mincing it into the dressing.
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