This is not your average salad. This is one of the best salads ever in my opinion. The sweet onion vinaigrette makes this salad a 10/10
Let me preface this by saying I can slay some salads. I have been making salads since I was a teenager with my mom. We would use up the fridge ingredients towards the end of the week and sauté all sorts of veggies and through it together and call it dinner. The
Lets Talk Leafy Greens
Leafy greens are full of nutrients including iron. They are such an important part of our diets so I am always looking for ways to incorporate them more.
My favorite base for a good salad is massaged kale. I know a lot of people don't like kale but it's my favorite when it's massaged with oil and lemon. I also love spinach as a base. Both of these leafy greens have a long shelf life compared to mixed greens and other bases. I also find kale and spinach to be more versatile with other food, they breakdown better when cooked compared to others. If you don't have kale or spinach on had, or you don't like the two, use whatever you prefer!
Other Favorite Salad Recipes
Tips on how to cook your salmon
I am very picky with my salmon. It has taken me years to perfect the way I prepare it so it's as tasty as can be. I am now deemed the "salmon master" in my household and no one else is allowed to cook it except me (because it's the best way!) I like the outer portion to be flaky and the middle to be cooked medium. Below are the tips I suggest for the BEST cooked salmon. We buy Butcher Box wild caught salmon filets you can check out their high quality meat delivery options here .
- Defrost salmon if frozen completely. Rinse with water and pat dry on a plate.
- Salt the salmon. Sprinkle a list dusting of sea salt over the meaty side of the salmon after you pat it dry.
- Place it in the fridge for at least an hour before cooking, uncovered. The salt will dry out the top of the salmon so it gets a nice crisp to it it will also season it and cut out any unwanted fishiness.
- Once you are ready to cook the salmon, heat up a cast iron skillet with 2 tbs of avocado oil or any oil. Place the salmon skin side down and cook for 4 minutes with a lid on over the skillet. Flip at 4 minutes and leave it uncovered this time. Total cook time of 8 to 9 minutes. Add sauces, seasoning once it's finished. Viola!
Are you a vegetarian?
That's fine! This salad is so delicious without salmon on top. You can add hard boiled eggs or portobello mushrooms to the to top for some more protein or just eat the salad on it's own. The quinoa adds a little protein to it. The most important piece to this salad is the Sweet Onion Vinaigrette. The dressing is a 10/10 in my book and you will want to put it on all your future salads!
Salmon Salad W/ Sweet Onion Vinaigrette Dressing
Equipment
- Cast Iron Skillet
Ingredients
Salmon
- 2 Salmon Filets (about 4 oz servings)
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp avocado oil or olive oil
- 3 tbsp dukkah seasoning optional!
Kale Salad
- ½ cup chopped tomatoes
- 2 tbsp fresh herbs (cilantro or parsely)
- ¾ cup cooked quinoa
- 6 cup chopped kale
- ¼ cup chopped red onion
- ⅛ tsp salt and pepepr to taste
- 1 tbsp olive oil
Sweet Onion Vinaigrette
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- ½ tbsp chopped shallots
- 1 tsp honey
Instructions
For the dressing
- Add all ingredients together for the dressing and whisk together. You will have extra leftover for another salad.
Kale Salad
- Add chopped kale to a large serving bowl. Pour olive oil over kale and massage kale gently with your hands to soften it (lightly squeeze and massage with finger tips). add salt and pepper to taste. The dressing will do most of the heavy lifting.
- add cooked quinoa (cold or warm), tomatoes, red onions and fresh herbs of choice. drizzle dressing over it and toss well. Top with cooked salmon and enjoy.
For the salmon
- Prepare dressing and salad first.
- Read above about my favorite tip to prepare the salmon before cooking.
- Pour oil in skillet and get skillet nice and hot on medium to high heat. Meanwhile season salmon with garlic and salt on both sides. Place salmon (skin side down in oil once skillet it hot). Sprinkle dukkah on top of the pink side. Cook for 4 -5 minutes each side.
- Add salmon to the top of the salads and enjoy.
R.R.
Thanks for the tips on coming the perfect salmon. Delicious!
Elizabeth Merced
I’m interested in making the salmon salad, but the recipe posted is for the grilled peach salad. Can you post the salmon salad recipe? Thanks!
Bailey
Whoops! I must have messed up my recipe cards yesterday. I fixed it and the salmon salad recipe is now up. Please let me know if you have any questions about it at all. It's a fave of mine.