Quinoa Salmon Salad with Creamy Dressing

This quinoa salmon salad is made with herbs for freshness and vegetables for crunch and comes with an easy lemon-mayo dressing. It's satisfying and delicious, easy to make and, if you follow my meal prep tips, can be put together in minutes.

This quinoa salmon salad combines fluffy quinoa, salmon, refreshing cucumber, earthy spinach, crunchy pistachios and sweet and juicy pomegranate. Fresh herbs and a zesty lemon dressing complete this delicious salad.

This quinoa and salmon salad is also high in protein and fibre, as well as healthy fats, which makes it perfect to enjoy as a stand-alone, satisfying, nutritious salad meal. Another high-protein salad with quinoa you might also like beet and quinoa salad.

Quinoa salmon salad ingredients and substitutions

• Quinoa: use any. You can either cook quinoa from scratch (see Step 1 below), or buy ready-to-eat quinoa.
• Salmon: I used leftover cooked salmon but you can use canned if preferred (see also salmon potato salad). You can also try adding smoked salmon (see Variations below for details).
• Cucumber: adds freshness and is the perfect accompaniment to salmon.
• Spinach: adds flavour and colour. You can use arugula/rocket leaves instead of or in addition to the spinach.
• Herbs: a combination of dill and chives.
• Dressing: mayonnaise, vegetable oil, lemon juice and zest, and honey. If you want to keep the calories of your salmon quinoa salad down use half mayo half yogurt.
• Garnish: adds texture, flavour and colour. I used pomegranate seeds and pistachios, but you can use dried cranberries (briefly soaked in some lemon juice) and flaked almonds instead.
• Salt and pepper to taste.

Step-by-step recipe instructions

1.Prepare quinoa: Boil the quinoa according to packet instructions (alternatively use ready-to-eat quinoa). Set aside to cool completely.

2. Make dressing: Whisk together the mayonnaise, oil, lemon zest and juice, and honey until smooth and creamy. Set aside.

3. Prepare vegetables: Cut the cucumber lengthwise into 4 strips, cut out the seeds then slice each strip in half and finely dice. Chop the spinach and herbs.

4. Assemble salad: To a large bowl add the cooked quinoa, salmon chunks, cucumber, spinach, and fresh herbs. Pour in the dressing and stir until thoroughly combined. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

5. Garnish: Scatter the pomegranate seeds and pistachios over the salad, refrigerate for 30 minutes, if possible, and serve.

Serving suggestions

This creamy salmon and quinoa salad makes a delicious stand alone meal perfect served just with lemon wedges. You can also serve it with vegetable sides including broccoli and green beans, as well as toasted sourdough or rye bread.

It makes a delicious lunch as well as healthy meal to-go.

What can I make ahead

• Quinoa: you can refrigerate cooked quinoa (covered) for up to 4 days.
• Dressing: can be made up to 3 days in advance. Keep covered and refrigerated.

Salmon quinoa salad variations

This healthy quinoa salad with salmon is extremely versatile and can be modified to suit your taste and whatever ingredients you have on hand. You can try adding the following:

• Protein: 2 hard-boiled eggs, 2 slices of smoked salmon, crumbled feta.
• Vegetables: avocado, cooked asparagus, green beans, petits pois, broccoli florets, grilled zucchini, sweetcorn.
• Zest: capers, finely chopped pickled beets.

TIP: If you decide to use smoked salmon I recommend adding no more than 2-3 slices and using it in combination with the cooked salmon. Using smoked salmon alone might overpower the other ingredients.

Top tips 

• You can cook the quinoa ahead (according to packet instructions) and once cooled, refrigerate it, covered, for up to 4 days.
• When stirring the ingredients do so gently so the salmon retains its texture.
• Zest the lemon before juicing it.
• Add the dressing just before serving.
• Best served the day it was made. Leftover quinoa salmon salad can be refrigerated for up to 2 days.
• Not suitable for freezing.

Related recipes to try next

• Salmon Egg Salad (Low Fat)
• Bulgur Wheat Salad (High Protein)
• Herring Salad Polish-Style
• Chicken Cottage Cheese Salad

See also these other easy, delicious salad recipes!

Recipe

Keep in touch!

If you make this quinoa salmon salad recipe I'd love to know how it turned out! Let me know in the comments below, your feedback is important to me! Thanks:)

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