Greek Salmon Quinoa Salad

salmon quinoa salad with red wine vinaigrette

This Greek salmon quinoa salad is fresh, easy, and packed with flavor. Tossed in a light red wine vinaigrette with romaine, feta, olives, tomatoes, cucumber, and onion. It’s got 25g of protein—perfect for dinner or meal prep!

5 from 4 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 10

Total Time 20

Serving servings

Ingredients

The Salad:

½ cup dry quinoa, I like tricolor
4 salmon portions, 4-6 oz each, skin removed
2 tablespoon dressing, recipe below
1 tablespoon avocado or olive oil, for cooking salmon
3 - 5 cups arugula or romaine hearts
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
½ cup kalamata olives
½ cup feta crumbles
⅓ cup very thinly sliced red onion, soaked in cold water for 10-15 minutes
1 large cucumbers, sliced
Fresh dill for garnish

The Dressing:

6 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
4 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1 tablespoon dijon mustard
1-2 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon dried oregano

Instructions

Prepare Quinoa: Cook quinoa according to package instructions. ½ cup dry quinoa should yield about 1.5 cups of cooked quinoa.
Soak Red Onions: Thinly slice red onions and soak them in cold water while you cook the salmon and quinoa. This helps mellow the onion flavor. Let them soak for 10-15+ minutes.
Make Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, red wine vinegar, dijon mustard, water, and dried oregano to create the dressing.
Prepare Salmon: Drizzle about ½ tablespoon of the dressing over each salmon portion. Rub the dressing over the salmon to coat.
Cook Salmon in Skillet: Heat about 1 tablespoon of oil in a skillet and sear the salmon for 4 - 5 minutes on the top side. Flip the salmon and finish cooking to your desired doneness (approximately 3-5 minutes more).
Cook Salmon in Air Fryer: Preheat your air fryer to 380°F, add your seasoned salmon fillets into the basket, and the air fryer for 8 – 12 minutes, flipping halfway through. I recommend checking at the 6-minute mark to ensure the salmon is cooking properly.
Assemble Salads: Portion out arugula (or romaine), cooked quinoa, sliced cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, and olives onto plates. Drain the soaked red onions and add them to the salads. Place the cooked salmon on top of each salad and crumble feta over the salads. Finally, drizzle the assembled salads with the prepared dressing and sprinkle fresh dill on top. Enjoy!

Notes

Frozen Salmon: Place the frozen fillets in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost function on your microwave. Alternatively, you can seal them in a plastic bag and submerge the bag in cold water, changing the water every 30 minutes until the salmon is thawed.

Greens: Try spinach, kale, or mixed salad greens for variety.

Quinoa: Replace with brown rice, couscous, bulgur, or farro for different grain textures.

Salmon: Substitute with grilled chicken, shrimp, or tofu for alternative protein options.

Dairy-Free Option: Go dairy-free by replacing the feta with vegan cheese or skipping it altogether.

Dressing: Try this avocado green goddess dressing, Caesar dressing, the yogurt dill one, or a store-bought Greek dressing.

Meal Prep Tip: Make life easier by prepping components in advance. Cook the quinoa and salmon ahead of time, store them separately, and assemble your salad just before digging in. It’s a time-saving move for a quick and tasty meal.

Storing: Store the salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days, keeping the dressing separate until serving to maintain freshness. To extend the salad’s crispness, consider storing components separately and assembling them just before consumption.

Reheating the Salmon: Reheat salmon by placing it in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, use a microwave on low power in short intervals, checking for doneness between bursts to avoid overcooking. Don’t heat the salad!

Nutritional information accounts for the dressing!

Nutrition

Course Dinner, Lunch

Cuisine Greek

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?Please leave a comment and star rating on this post and tag @HealthfulBlondie on Instagram & hashtag it #healthfulblondie!