Summering it up with this sesame ginger salmon salad! This grilled salmon salad is unlike any you’ve had before! A smoky salmon filet flaked and served on top of a bed of grilled romaine with sweet and tangy sesame ginger dressing, crispy and cool cucumbers, crunchy almonds, and toasted sesame seeds. It’s a light summer salad that’s protein-packed with salmon and almonds. The inspiration comes from a salad I’ve had tons of over the years. I threw the lettuce on the grill and salmon cooked on a cedar plank to give this a more distinct steakhouse-inspired taste. Grilled romaine truly gives this such a unique touch. Side note: have you ever had grilled romaine? I’ve used it in another salad with shrimp before, and we love it. It changes your entire perspective on romaine lettuce in a heartbeat! It’s smoky, crunchy and it brings so much to this recipe. Umami-laden salmon, tangy ginger vinaigrette, honey-roasted almonds, charred romaine, and toasty sesame seeds all come together perfectly to make one amazing bite.
Ingredients to make sesame ginger salmon salad:
Salmon: I like to use fresh salmon for this recipe. We marinate it in a few select seasonings before tossing it on the grill.Honey: there’s honey in the marinade for the salmon as well as the sesame ginger dressingSoy Sauce: Soy sauce adds a deep umami flavor profile to the marinade and the dressing.Seasonings: You’ll need kosher salt, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and red pepper flakes to season the salmon filet.Toasted Sesame Oil: sesame oil goes in the dressing and the marinade. Sauteing the ginger and garlic in sesame oil before adding it to the dressing will help curb some of that hot ginger flavor.Fresh Ginger + Garlic: ginger is the heart and soul of the marinade for the salmon and the sesame ginger dressing. Grated garlic cloves help flavor the ginger dressing we use on this salad.Romaine: hearts are sliced lengthwise, drizzled with high heat oil, and seasoned with salt and pepper before charring them on the grill quickly! They cook within seconds.Cucumbers: I like to use English cucumber for this recipe. They add crunch to the salad and pair beautifully with the ginger in the dressing.Toppings: Honey-roasted almonds add a delicious sweet taste. I also sprinkle some toasted sesame seeds or black sesame seeds right at the end.Cedar Plank: We’ll cook the salmon on a cedar plank. I found mine near the fish section of the grocery store for under $3. You can also purchase a plank online here. Oil + Vinegar: high heat oil is drizzled on the romaine before tossing it on the grill. You’ll also need oil for the homemade dressing. Rice vinegar is used in the dressing we’ll make for the salad. The mild and sweet flavor will work beautifully with the smoky char of the romaine and the salmon.
How to make smoky sesame ginger salmon salad:
Other salmon recipes you might enjoy:
Broiled Miso Ginger SalmonCrunchy Garlic Lemon Pepper Baked SalmonCreamy Spinach Artichoke Stuffed Salmon
Other salad recipes to try:
Everyday Kale Crunch SaladLemon Basil Arugula Pasta SaladMoroccan Chickpea Quinoa Power Salad
Salmon: You can also broil it in the oven. If you broil, I suggest making at least 3 filets from the salmon so that it cooks evenly. Broil for 7-12 minutes or until a minimum internal temper of 145ºF is reached.
