Lemon Herb Salmon Salad (Printable version)

Flaky salmon paired with fluffy quinoa, mixed greens, and fresh herbs in a zesty lemon vinaigrette. Light, nutritious, and elegant.

# 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
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

# How-To 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 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.
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 portion with a warm salmon fillet. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the salmon and serve immediately with optional herb garnish.

# Expert Hints:

01 -
  • It feels fancy enough for guests but easy enough for a weeknight when you're tired.
  • The lemon vinaigrette makes everything taste alive, like the herbs just got picked.
  • You can prep the quinoa and vinaigrette ahead, then just bake the salmon and toss when you're ready.
  • It's filling without being heavy, the kind of meal that leaves you satisfied but not sluggish.
02 -
  • Don't overbake the salmon, it keeps cooking after you pull it out, so take it out when it's just barely done or it'll turn dry and chalky.
  • Toss the salad right before serving, if you dress it too early, the greens wilt and the whole thing gets soggy.
  • If your lemon tastes too sharp, add a tiny pinch more honey to the vinaigrette, it smooths everything out.
03 -
  • Let the salmon come to room temperature for 10 minutes before baking so it cooks more evenly and doesn't dry out on the edges.
  • Use a microplane to zest the lemon, it releases the oils better and gives you a more fragrant, less bitter zest.
  • Taste the vinaigrette on a piece of lettuce, not straight from the spoon, it should coat and brighten, not overpower.
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