Grilled Salmon Salad with Easy Balsamic Vinaigrette
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Transform your summer meals with the zesty goodness of our Grilled Salmon Salad! Think fresh mixed greens, sweet cherry tomatoes, tangy Feta, and crispy shoestring potatoes, all tossed with perfectly grilled salmon and asparagus. Finish it off with a drizzle of my easy, zesty balsamic vinaigrette. Deliciously simple and oh-so-satisfying!
Why You’ll Love This Greek Salmon Salad Recipe
Ingredient Notes
Homemade Dressing (Balsamic Vinaigrette)
- Balsamic vinegar | Adds a tangy and slightly sweet flavor to the salad dressing.
- Garlic | Provides a savory depth of flavor.
- Brown sugar (optional) | Brown sugar offers a hint of sweetness to balance the acidity of the vinegar. If you are using a balsamic vinegar that is not aged, it may be a bit more prickly or sour, and you may want to add a little brown sugar to the vinaigrette as well.
- Olive oil | Enhances the richness and smoothness of the dressing. Use extra virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
Salad Ingredients
- Fresh salmon fillets | Grilled salmon adds a hearty and savory element to the salad. Use your favorite recipe, or use my Best Grilled Salmon.
- Asparagus | Grilled with olive oil, kosher salt, and black pepper, it contributes a fresh, crisp texture and earthy flavor.
- Mixed salad field greens | Provide a variety of textures and flavors, acting as the salad base.
- Cherry tomatoes | Add sweetness and juiciness, complementing the savory components. You can use grape tomatoes if you prefer.
- Feta cheese | Offers a creamy and salty contrast to the other ingredients.
- Shoestring potato sticks | Provide a crunchy texture and additional savory flavor.
- English cucumber | Adds freshness and a mild, refreshing crunch.
- Kalamata olives | Offer a briny, salty flavor that complements the richness of the salmon and feta cheese.
How to Make Easy Salmon Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
This fresh salmon salad can be made using any grilled salmon filet, but I particularly like this Best Grilled Salmon recipe for today’s salad. The sweetness of the salmon marinade and the saltiness of the potato sticks blend together for a nice flavor contrast.
Easy Homemade Balsamic Vinaigrette Recipe
In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the vinaigrette except for the olive oil.
While whisking briskly, add the olive oil in a steady stream and combine well until the dressing is emulsified. Then, set aside to drizzle on top of the salad just before serving.
STEP 1 | Grill the salmon
First, marinate and grill salmon filets. You can use your go-to grilled salmon recipe or try this recipe that’s perfect for today’s salad.
STEP 2 | Cook the asparagus
Next, wash and trim the asparagus, then toss them with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium-high heat for 3-4 minutes or until crisp-tender, turning frequently.
STEP 3 | Assemble the salad ingredients
Now, add the salad greens to a large bowl and top them with tomatoes, grilled asparagus, and Feta cheese. Add your grilled salmon and top with the crispy potato sticks.
STEP 4 | Add dressing and enjoy!
Last but not least, drizzle the salad with the homemade balsamic vinaigrette and serve!
Tips from the Home Chef’s Kitchen
Who says grilling is just for meat? Check out more salad recipes where the grill does all the work, like this Citrus Grilled Shrimp Salad, Grilled Panzanella Salad, and my Grilled Chicken Salad with Mango Dressing– Yum!
Variations and Substitutions
- Greek Salad Dressing. Try my Greek Salad Dressing instead of the balsamic for a slightly different flavor.
- Salad Greens. Build this salad on your favorite greens or bed of lettuce, whether it be romaine lettuce, iceberg, spinach, or a combination of greens.
- Cheese. You can substitute alternatives like goat cheese, blue cheese, or grated Parmesan for the feta cheese in this recipe.
- More Fresh Veggies. Make it your own with your choice of veggies! Try crunchy veggies for added texture, like red onion and chopped or sliced bell pepper. You can also add more cooked vegetables, like roasted beets, grilled zucchini or summer squash, or steamed green beans.
- Potato Sticks Substitutions. Get all the crunch without the optional shoestring potatoes by swapping them with crunchy pepitas, toasted almonds, sunflower seeds, or croutons.
- Protein Options. Enjoy this delicious salad recipe with a different protein altogether, like hard-boiled eggs, grilled chicken, steak, or even chicken salad.
Pan-seared Salmon Recipe
No grill, no problem! Check out my Mediterranean Salmon recipe to see how you can pan-fry the salmon for this salad.
Air-fried Salmon Recipe
Make this salmon salad even easier by preparing the salmon in the Air fryer! Here’s how:
- First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F for 3-5 minutes.
- Then, pat dry the salmon fillets using a paper towel. Rub each fillet with olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper on both sides.
- Next, place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket, ensuring the skin side is down if they have skin. Cook them at 400°F for 10-12 minutes, adjusting based on the fillets’ thickness. The air fryer cooks them evenly without needing to flip.
- The salmon is ready when it flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. Remove it from the air fryer basket and let it rest for a couple of minutes. If you want, you can add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and garnish with herbs before serving.
Easy Baked Salmon Recipe
Sometimes, throwing things in the oven for hands-free cooking is just a bit easier. See my Salmon and Rice Bowl with Homemade Teriyaki Sauce recipe or Honey Soy Salmon Sheet Pan Dinner for my recommended time and temperature and the perfect oven-baked salmon.
Storage and Reheating Tips
- It’s generally not a great idea to store an assembled salad because the greens can get wilted, and everything might end up soggy. If you know you will have leftover salmon salad, keep the components separate and assemble the individual salads so you can store the ingredients appropriately. Meal prep containers come in handy here.
- Additionally, grilled salmon will keep in the fridge for about 3 to 4 days if stored properly in an airtight container or wrapped tightly with plastic wrap.
- You can also store the homemade dressing separately for up to four days.
Frequently Asked Questions
Balsamic vinegar is a pure, dark brown vinegar with a slightly sweet flavor. On the other hand, balsamic vinaigrette combines balsamic vinegar with olive oil, sugar, salt, and sometimes other spices, commonly used as a salad dressing but versatile in many kitchen recipes.
Salmon salad is good for you because salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are great for your heart health, and brain. It’s also packed with protein, vitamins, and minerals, making it a nutritious choice for a balanced diet. Not to mention, it’s delish!
Sure! Note that it will make the dressing much sweeter.
Yes, this homemade dressing is very healthy. Making it from scratch means no additives. Balsamic vinegar, the main ingredient, is fat-free, low in sugar, helps with cholesterol and blood pressure, promotes healthy skin, regulates blood sugar, and supports weight management by keeping you feeling full longer.
Looking for more Easy Salmon Recipes?
Add more nutritious and versatile salmon to your weekly menu with Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce, perfect for serving over brown rice or quinoa or crispy and savory Southern Salmon Croquettes. If you want to skip the marinating process, this citrus dry rub for salmon is a tasty alternative for grilling the fish.
What to Serve With Grilled Salmon Salad
Enjoy the salmon salad as a light lunch or dinner on its own, or bring the fine-dining experience to your home with freshly made bread with Italian Restaurant-Style Olive Oil Bread Dip.
You can also make these Air Fryer Coconut Shrimp with Orange Chili Sauce to munch on while you wait for dinner to be ready.
Or, for the perfect soup and salad combination, serve this yummy salad along with my Creamy Potato Soup.
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Grilled Salmon Salad
Ingredients
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon brown sugar optional
- ⅓ cup olive oil
Salad
- 2 salmon filets grilled
- 1 bunch asparagus
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper to taste
- 4 cups mixed salad field greens
- 8 cherry or grape tomatoes halved
- 4 ounces Feta cheese crumbled
- ½ cup shoestring potato sticks
Instructions
Balsamic Vinaigrette
- In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients for the vinaigrette except for the olive oil. (Note: if you are using an aged balsamic, you may not need to add the brown sugar as it may already taste quite sweet.) While whisking briskly, add the olive oil in a steady stream and combine well until the dressing is emulsified.
Salad
- Marinate and grill salmon filets – see the link in the notes section to my BEST GRILLED SALMON recipe.
- Wash and trim asparagus. Toss with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill over medium high heat for 3-4 minutes or until crisp tender, turning frequently. (Using a grill basket works well!)
- Add salad greens to a large bowl. Top with tomatoes, grilled asparagus, and Feta cheese. Add grilled salmon and top with potato sticks.
- Drizzle with balsamic vinaigrette and serve.
Notes
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
Beyond the Recipe: Bravo Copycat Grilled Salmon Salad Recipe
I’ve told you before that since my husband finally realized that he likes salmon, we grill it ALL year long! Often, we’ll pair the salmon with a baked sweet potato, but during the Summer months, I enjoy using salmon in a fresh salad.
After trying the salmon salad on the menu of one of our favorite restaurants, Bravo, we found the perfect summer salmon salad. That’s exactly where the inspiration for today’s recipe comes from. So, I hope you enjoy my Bravo Copycat Salmon Salad as much as we do!
That is the prettiest salad! We just bought some Copper River salmon (amazing!) and I’m thinking it’s destined to be part of a meal like this one.
The perfect heathy meal. I love having salmon over the summer, especially in salads!
I love salmon! It’s one of my favorite fishes to cook with!
That is just drop dead gorgeous, I’m loving everything about this salad!
This may actually be a salad my husband would eat! Look at that beautiful fillet!
Such a gorgeous salad!! I love the flavors here 🙂
This looks delicious! You nailed the pictures!