Zesty Springtime Salmon Salad

A fresh, vibrant salmon salad layered with crisp spring vegetables and finished with a citrus-bright dressing. Light, nourishing, and perfect for lunch or a relaxed dinner.
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This salad is one I come back to as the seasons begin to shift. It’s fresh and full of contrast — tender salmon, crisp vegetables, and a zesty dressing that brings everything together without weighing it down. Simple enough for a quick lunch, but generous and satisfying enough to serve as a light evening meal.

 

Introduction

I like to think of salads as something more than a side dish. When they’re built with care — good ingredients, thoughtful textures, and proper seasoning — they become a complete meal.

The key to this one is layering. Rather than tossing everything together, building the salad in stages allows the dressing and seasoning to reach every element, so nothing feels flat or overdressed. The salmon is cooked simply, letting the skin crisp gently in the pan before finishing in the oven, keeping the flesh tender and moist.

The dressing is bright and warming all at once, with citrus, ginger and turmeric adding depth without overpowering the vegetables. It’s the kind of salad that feels both light and grounding — exactly what I want to eat in early spring.

Zesty Springtime Salmon Salad

30 minutes

Cook Mode: OFF

Ingredients

1/2x
1x
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Servings: 2

For the salmon

  • 200 g fresh salmon, boned
  • flaky sea salt & freshly ground black pepper

For the dressing

  • 1 tsp fresh ginger, finely grated
  • 1 tsp fresh turmeric, finely grated (or 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric)
  • 1 tbsp liquid honey
  • 1 orange, zest and juice
  • .25 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

For the salad

  • 2 radish, topped, tailed
  • 3 asparagus spears, ends trimmed
  • .50 beetroot, peeled
  • .25 red onion, peeled
  • 120 g mixed salad leaves
  • .50 avocado
  • 75 g feta
  • 2 tbsp slivered almonds, toasted
  • 1 tbsp pea shoots or mircrogreens (optional)
  • flaky sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

Directions

Cook the Salmon

  1. Preheat the oven to 180°C.
  2. Heat a small ovenproof frying pan over medium–high heat.
  3. Season the salmon generously with salt, and pepper and place it skin-side down in the hot pan (no oil needed as the skin will naturally release oils).
  4. Cook for about 4 minutes, until the skin is golden and crisp.
  5. Turn the salmon over and transfer the pan to the oven for 5 minutes, or until a knife slides easily through the thickest part.
  6. Loosely cover with foil and set aside to rest.

 

Make the dressing

  1. Place the ginger, turmeric, honey, orange zest and juice into a small bowl.
  2. Whisk to combine, then slowly drizzle in the olive oil while whisking until emulsified.
  3. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

 

Prepare the salad

  1. Slice the radishes.
  2. Peel the asparagus into fine ribbons, save the heads for garnish.
  3. Peel or finely slice the beetroot. Lay the slices on paper towels to absorb excess moisture.
  4. Finely slice the red onion.
  5. Slice the avocado.

 

Assemble the salad

  1. Arrange a layer of salad leaves on a large platter or wide bowl.
  2. Scatter over half the salad ingredients.
  3. Drizzle with 1 tablespoon of dressing and season lightly with salt and pepper.
  4. Repeat with another layer of leaves and the remaining ingredients, finishing with a final drizzle of dressing to taste.

 

Add the salmon

  1. Remove the salmon skin.
  2. Gently break the salmon into large pieces.
  3. Lift sections of the salad leaves and tuck pieces of salmon through the layers, then arrange the remaining pieces evenly over the top so the salmon is distributed throughout the salad, not just on the surface.
  4. Finish with pea shoots or microgreens.

Tips

I don’t include the salmon skin in the main method, as resting the salmon while assembling the salad will soften it.

If you’d like crisp skin, remove it before cooking and bake it separately:

  • Scrape away any excess flesh and pat the skin very dry.
  • Season lightly with salt.
  • Place the skin between two sheets of baking paper and sandwich it between two baking trays to keep it flat.
  • Bake at 180°C for 10–15 minutes, checking as it cooks, until golden and crisp.
  • Set aside — it will crisp further as it cools.

Equipment

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I believe food should be nourishing, joyful, and shared. Māia is about giving you confidence in the kitchen and making the everyday a little more delicious. I’m Colleen, and I’m so glad you’re here

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Tips

I don’t include the salmon skin in the main method, as resting the salmon while assembling the salad will soften it.

If you’d like crisp skin, remove it before cooking and bake it separately:

  • Scrape away any excess flesh and pat the skin very dry.
  • Season lightly with salt.
  • Place the skin between two sheets of baking paper and sandwich it between two baking trays to keep it flat.
  • Bake at 180°C for 10–15 minutes, checking as it cooks, until golden and crisp.
  • Set aside — it will crisp further as it cools.

Equipment