Lemon Herb Salmon Salad (Printable Version)

Flaky salmon, fluffy quinoa, crisp greens, and fresh herbs tossed in a zesty lemon vinaigrette. Easy, nutritious, and ready in 35 minutes.

# Ingredient List:

→ 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, 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, minced garlic, salt, and black 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.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It feels indulgent but leaves you energized, not heavy.
  • Everything can be prepped ahead and assembled in minutes when hunger hits.
  • The lemon zest on the salmon makes the whole kitchen smell like summer.
  • You can swap almost any component and it still works beautifully.
02 -
  • Do not overcook the salmon, it keeps cooking a bit after you pull it from the oven and dry salmon ruins this dish.
  • Dress the salad right before serving or the greens will wilt and lose their snap.
  • If your lemon is not very juicy, you might need two to get enough juice for the vinaigrette.
03 -
  • Let the salmon rest for a minute after baking, it makes it easier to transfer without it falling apart.
  • Taste your vinaigrette on a piece of lettuce, not a spoon, so you know how it will actually taste in the salad.
  • If your red onion is too sharp, soak the slices in cold water for five minutes before adding them.
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