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Quinoa Salad with Salmon – so delicious, nutritious and easy to make. It takes only 20 minutes to make and it’s perfect for dinner or lunch. Full of bright and zesty flavors it’s a great healthy family meal.
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Today, I am going to share with you a very simple quinoa salad with salmon. The dressing in this salad makes all the difference though – quick and easy to make and yet it has a sophisticated taste.
The flavor is truly amazing – white wine vinegar, water, coconut sugar, garlic and jalapeno slices are mixed together and cooked for a couple of minutes on the cooktop. It adds a really nice sweet tangy taste to the salad and pairs well with the salmon.
For more salmon recipes, be sure to try my honey sriracha salmon and blackened salmon tacos.
Ingredients to Make Quinoa Salmon Salad
- Wild salmon fillet
- Salt, pepper and garlic powder
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Quinoa
- Cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onions and basil leaves.
For the dressing
- White wine vinegar + Water
- Coconut sugar
- Garlic cloves
- Jalapeno
- Salt and pepper
How To Make Quinoa Salad with Salmon
- Bake the salmon in the oven until cooked through.
- Wash the quinoa thoroughly and cook according to package instructions.
- Wash the vegetables and chop/dice them.
- When salmon is done, flake fillet with a fork into small chunks.
- Combine cooked quinoa, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber and onion, chopped basil leaves and salmon, in a large mixing bowl.
- Season with the remaining salt and freshly ground black pepper.
- Drizzle with olive oil and the salad dressing on top, and toss gently to combine.
Can you make it ahead of time?
You can cook the quinoa ahead of time and store it in the fridge. That way it won’t take you but 15 – 20 minutes to prepare this quinoa salad with salmon the next day. The dressed salad will keep well in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days, so it’s great for meal prep lunches.
I like to serve this salad warm, but you can also serve it cold.
What’s the best salmon to use?
I like to use wild fresh salmon fillets in the recipe. You can use frozen, but be sure to thaw them and pat off any extra moisture before baking them. If you are in a pinch, you can use tinned salmon, just drain it and add it straight to the salad.
Is quinoa good for you?
Quinoa is a great addition to any well-balanced diet. It is gluten-free, high in protein, and contains essential amino acids. It’s a great substitute for rice and it is a great base for this hearty quinoa salad with salmon.
Recipe Notes and Tips
- Depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets, you may need to adjust your cooking time. The salmon is cooked when it easily flakes with a fork.
- Be sure to rinse your quinoa before you cook it. It can sometimes have a bitter taste otherwise.
- You can also freeze cooked quinoa. Simply let it cool and place it in a container or freezer bag. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before using it.
More Quinoa Recipes
- Butternut Squash Quinoa Salad
- Greek Quinoa Salad with Chicken
- Balsamic Glazed Chicken with Citrus Salad and Quinoa
More from Delicious Meets Healthy
Quinoa Salad with Salmon
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Ingredients
- 1 8 oz wild salmon fillet
- 1 teaspoon salt, divided
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 Tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 ½ cups cooked quinoa, about 1/2 cup uncooked
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ English cucumber, quartered lengthwise and thinly sliced crosswise
- ½ large red onion, diced
- ½ cup chopped fresh basil leaves
Dressing
- ¼ cup white wine vinegar, plus more for drizzling (optional)
- ¼ cup water
- 1 teaspoon coconut sugar, or you can use honey
- 2 garlic cloves, smashed
- 2 Tablespoon jalapeño pepper slices
- coarse salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- Sprinkle salmon evenly with 1/4 tsp salt, 1/8 tsp freshly ground black pepper and 1/4 tsp garlic powder. Place salmon on a foil lined baking sheet and broil for about 10 minutes.
- Combine vinegar, water, sugar (or honey), garlic, jalapeno slices, and 3/4 tsp salt in a small bowl.
- When salmon is done, flake fillet with a fork into small chunks.
- Combine salmon, cooked quinoa, halved cherry tomatoes, diced cucumber and onion, and chopped basil leaves in a large bowl. Season with the remaining salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle with olive oil and with the salad dressing on top, and toss gently to combine. Serve warm or cold. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
- Depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets, you may need to adjust your cooking time. The salmon is cooked when it easily flakes with a fork.
- Be sure to rinse your quinoa before you cook it. It can sometimes have a bitter taste otherwise.
- You can also freeze cooked quinoa. Simply let it cool and place in a container or freezer bag. Thaw it in the fridge overnight before using.
So I made this with canned salmon, dried basil, and skipped the jalapeno but it tastes amazing. I can’t imagine how good it would be with the proper ingredients!! I’m honestly so excited for my lunch tomorrow! Thank you for the recipe!
This was so simple to make, but delicious flavours โ thank you!
Your Salad has everything in it: Beauty, glamor, freshness, goodness, sunshine, warmth, life.
Thanks for such an inviting recipe ๐
This food blogging is giving me quite the waistline. This looks fantastic for quick and easy meals thatโs healthy and flavourful! and I LOOOOVE salmon!! ๐ Thanks for this
I really need to eat more salmon and this looks like the perfect recipe to get me started! I love quinoa and a healthy meal that only takes 20 minutes? Sold! Canโt wait to make this!
I get a lot of salmon from my in-laws, and have been looking for new ways to prepare it. This recipe looks so fresh and healthy! Perfect for an after-workout meal or lunch to bring to work.
Oh I can see this flavorful salad in my meal prep future! Love all things salmon and quinoa!
Absolutely delicious! Great way to use leftover salmon from dinner for lunch the next day. I added some feta cheese and I think Iโll top with avocado next time too.
I liked this salad so much that it was really hard not to eat more than my share. Used cilantro in place of the basil and honey in place of the coconut sugar. Grilled the salmon. Wish there were leftovers for lunch.
So glad to hear you loved this salad, Terry! ๐ Thanks for stopping by!