Lemon Herb Salmon Salad (Print version)

Flaky salmon atop quinoa, mixed greens, and fresh herbs with a bright lemon vinaigrette. Nourishing and 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

# 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 plates. Top each portion with a warm salmon fillet. Drizzle remaining vinaigrette over the salmon and serve immediately with additional fresh herbs if desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like something from a bistro menu but comes together in about half an hour with no fancy techniques required.
  • The combination of warm salmon and cool salad creates this satisfying contrast that keeps every bite interesting.
  • Leftovers hold up surprisingly well, so you can pack lunch for the next day without everything getting soggy.
02 -
  • Don't overcook the salmon or it will dry out and lose that tender, buttery texture you're after.
  • Rinse the quinoa even if the package claims it's pre-rinsed, because that bitter coating can ruin an otherwise perfect dish.
  • Toss the salad with only half the vinaigrette first so you can control how dressed it gets without ending up with a soggy mess.
03 -
  • Let the cooked quinoa cool for a few minutes before tossing it with the greens so it doesn't wilt them on contact.
  • Use a microplane to zest the lemon directly over the salmon so those oils land right where you want them.
  • Taste the vinaigrette before you dress the salad, a pinch more salt or an extra squeeze of lemon can make all the difference.
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