Lemon Herb Salmon Salad (Print Version)

Flaky salmon, fluffy quinoa, fresh herbs, and zesty citrus vinaigrette combine in this light, nourishing main dish.

# 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

# How to Make It:

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 until salmon is 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 and well combined.
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 four plates. Top each with a warm salmon fillet and drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the salmon.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • It feels fancy but comes together faster than ordering takeout, and you can prep most of it while the quinoa simmers.
  • The citrus vinaigrette brightens everything without drowning the delicate salmon flavor, and leftovers actually taste better the next day.
02 -
  • Dont overdress the salad at first, you can always add more vinaigrette but you cant take it back once the greens are soggy.
  • Let the quinoa cool for a few minutes before tossing it with the greens, or the residual heat will wilt everything and turn the salad limp.
03 -
  • Zest the lemon before juicing it, trying to zest a juiced lemon is frustrating and messy.
  • If your salmon fillets have uneven thickness, tuck the thinner tail ends under so they dont overcook while the thick part finishes.
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