Grilled Salmon Salad with Avocado Cucumber Salsa served over a bed of little gem lettuces, with a creamy, yogurt-based Cilantro Lime Dressing. Make this in 30 minutes- a healthy, delicious low-carb meal.
Looking for more? Check out Grilled Salmon Salad with Creamy Cilantro Lime Dressing & our 20+ Cool & Refreshing Cucumber Recipes!
Here’s a simple delicious recipe for Grilled Salmon Salad topped with Avocado Cucumber Salsa over a bed of Little Gem Lettuces (or romaine), dressed with a creamy, tangy cilantro yogurt lime dressing.
This grilled salmon salad can be made in 30 minutes flat! Salmon fillets are rubbed with chili powder and cumin, then seared to perfection on a hot grill. They are placed over little gems (or baby romaine) tossed in a zesty, creamy yogurt-based cilantro lime dressing, then topped with a cool avocado cucumber salsa. Easy, healthy and tasty…and can be made quickly! A perfect weeknight meal.
During the summer months, I opt for lighter meals that can be prepared outside, very simply and quickly on the grill, allowing time to relax and enjoy the glorious weather and light, while sipping on a glass of vino. To me, that’s heaven- the perfect way to unwind after work. Being outside and enjoying nature, even if it’s just in the backyard for a little while, can be medicine for the soul, so restorative.
Ingredients in Grilled Salmon Salad
- salmon filets
- salt, pepper, chili powder, cumin
- avocado
- cucumber
- jalapeno
- cilantro
- lime- juice and zest
- Olive oil
- Greek yogurt
- garlic
- cilantro
- salt and pepper
- little gem lettuces or romaine hearts
How to make Grilled Salmon Salad
Step one: Salmon is rubbed with cumin, chili powder and salt and placed on a hot grill. Sear for just a few minutes on each side.
Step two: Combine Avocado with cucumber, scallions, lime zest and cilantro, and mix with olive oil and lime juice. Season with salt and pepper.
Step Three: Simply whisk the tangy dressing up in a bowl.
Assemble the Grilled Salmon Salad
Toss the dressing with greens. Little gems or baby romaine work great here- crisp enough to hold up to the warm salad! Make a bed for the salmon to sit on. Place the warm grilled salmon over top, then spoon with some of the avocado salsa.
Voila! Dinner is ready. So delicious, light, but satisfying!
Grilled Salmon Salad– a delicious and satisfying summer meal!
Let us know what you think in the comments below!
xoxo
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Grilled Salmon Salad with Avocado Cucumber Salsa
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 8 mins
- Total Time: 22 mins
- Yield: 4 1x
- Category: Salad, salmon, grilled
- Method: grilled
- Cuisine: Northwest
Description
An easy Summer salad with grilled salmon, avocado cucumber salsa over little gems lettuce with a creamy cilantro lime dressing….inspired by http://www.thecookierookie.com/salmon-with-avocado/
Ingredients
Mexican Spiced Salmon:
- 4 x 6 oz salmon filets
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon pepper
- 2 teaspoons cumin
- 2 teaspoons chili powder
- Lime for garnish
Avocado Salsa:
- 1 avocado (ripe, but slightly firm) diced
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- ½ jalapeno, finely chopped
- ¼ cup chopped cilantro
- 1 lime- juice and zest
- 2–3 teaspoons Olive oil
- ½ teaspoon salt
Creamy yogurt dressing:
- ½ C plain Greek yogurt
- lime juice from one small lime
- 1 garlic clove minced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ⅛ cup chopped cilantro
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
3-4 heads little gems lettuce ( or baby romaine) 1 per person
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium.
- In a small bowl, make the spice rub -mix salt, pepper, chili powder and cumin. Rub all sides of salmon with the spice rub.
- Make the salsa. Mix all ingredients except avocado in a medium bowl. Gently fold in avocado last so it stays in tact, and don’t over mix, you don’t want it mushy.
- Make the dressing. Whisk all ingredients in a small bowl.
- Quarter lettuce vertically. Set aside.
- Grill salmon over medium heat on a well-greased grill, a few minutes on each side until desired doneness….preferable medium or medium rare. A thin metal spatula is best here to turn. Squeeze with a little lime juice.
- Assemble: Toss lettuce gently with a little dressing, just enough to coat. Lay on a plate, creating a bed for the salmon. Place salmon over top, then spoon the avacado salsa over top. Serve with lime wedges and cilantro sprigs.
Notes
You can also pan-sear the salmon in a little olive oil or use a grill pan.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 9.3 g
- Sodium: 1356.1 mg
- Fat: 26.3 g
- Saturated Fat: 4.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 31.5 g
- Fiber: 14.9 g
- Protein: 49.2 g
- Cholesterol: 91.5 mg
It was hot (for here!) yesterday and grilled salmon with avocado salsa was cool and delicious for dinner. Thank you for all the inspiration!
Thanks Cheryl- glad you enjoyed this!
I can’t wait to try this recipe. What could be healthier than a combination of salmon, avocado and yogurt? And it looks delicious. I try to eat salmon twice a week on average, so it’s always great to see a new (and simple) treatment.
Thanks John!
This is my absolute favorite way to serve salmon. On a hot day like it was yesterday, it’s fast, easy and refreshing. More satisfying than a Cesar salad with salmon on top, even my husband walks away full. Got my hands on some Gem avocados so it was a really special treat.
That is awesome Roxanne- glad you gave it a go!
This looks and sounds so good. Even the picky eater in the house is excited to try this!
Great to hear!
This is a keeper. The avo-cucumber salsa is divine.
Thanks Barbara!
Another 5 Star recipe! Made this tonight for my sons and their girlfriends. Easy, delicious and can be partially prepped ahead of time. I decided to cook the salmon in the oven (350 for 12+ minutes depending upon desired doneness and thickness of the fish). Wish I would have taken a photo but the presentation was beautiful and the salmon absolutely delicious. Will make again in a heartbeat. Thank you Sylvia!
Awesome Eve- so happy you enjoyed this!
I love to serve salmon with various fruit salsas and love the idea of combining avocado with cucumber. Since I have (skin on) salmon and all the salsa ingredients, it will be what’s for dinner this coming week. Thanks!
PS: I hope you put a hot link to a product or a clarification of what you mean by “chile powder”, because I don’t know if you mean a particular powdered chile or the seasoning mix. In the meantime, I’ll use ancho powder.
I added a hotlink to the recipe card. I love Rancho Gordo brand that we sell at our Bowl and Pitcher STore.
Out of this world! Thank you Sylvia!
thanks Grant!
I made this a few nights ago and it was delicious. I didn’t have any greens so I served it with your cilantro rice recipe instead of the lettuce. I put a big dollop of the dressing on top of the rice which I then layered with the salmon and then the salsa. It was a hit.
Sounds really good Ann!
Made this last night with a few substitutions and loved it. I replaced the lettuce with a bed of grilled zucchini and left the skin on the salmon which allowed for a deliciously crispy skin.
Really excellent recipe. Will make again.
thanks so much Jackie! Glad you liked it!
We love this recipe – have made it with little gems, baby Romain or baby spinach – all work well with the creamy lime dressing. Have also used pickled jalapeños when we didn’t have fresh on hand – super yummy either way!
sounds perfect!
Excited to try! Do you think we could sub soft tofu for the yogurt for our lactose intolerant friends?
P.s. thanks so much for your blog! The recipes are consistently great and approachable for someone who gets decision/kitchen anxiety!
Thanks Gillian! Yes, I think silken tofu would be fine here. You may need to kick up the lemon juice and salt and add more olive oil.
This is probably my 10th time making this recipe – I’m just not that consistent with reviewing. I have a salmon CSA of sorts and get a years worth of salmon fillets in September. This is a perfect, easy, dinner to serve guests or as a weeknight dinner with lunch leftovers. I have loved almost every recipe from your blog and this one is in regular rotation. Thanks so much for your creative, healthy and pretty accessible delicious recipes!
Awesome, thanks so much Dana, appreciate this! 🙌
Awesome. Just the right amount of spice and the cucumber avocado salsa was the perfect compliment. Will definitely make this again.
Once again, a HIT!! so light, refreshing and still so much depth to the dish! To be honest, i was bummed i didn’t make extras for seconds/left overs. I was a little skeptical of 2 things: the (large) amount of chili powder and the fact that it was only 1 clove of garlic (and it was in the salad dressing), but Sylvia you really know how to balance flavors in such a great and surprising way! Making your Bali fish curry tonight, wish me luck!
Because salmon is our favorite fish I have a go to recipe I love. This recipe looks so good. My question is, can you recommend a substitute for the salmon with another fish???
Thank you!
Simple. Fresh. Delicious.
Salmon is always a family favorite and this recipe will be added to our rotation! Avocado cucumber salsa was very refreshing on a hot Southern California evening!
Thanks Theresa, appreciate your comment and happy you enjoyed it!
Made this last week and we absolutely loved it. Our new favorite salmon recipe!
Super easy and delicious! I prepped the salsa, dressing and rub in the morning. Put the salmon in the oven (instead of grilling) that night and dinner was ready in 12 minutes!
Awesome Angie, glad you liked it!
The salmon looks beautiful and I never used this. I use this ingredient first time in dish.it is a summer salad and it is healthy.
thanks Kelly, give it a try! I think you will be happy with it!
My husband returned last week from his annual salmon fishing expedition to Alaska with more than 100 pounds of beautiful sockeye, so I am always looking for new ways to prepare salmon. We are also very fond of avocado and cucumber as accompaniments. I made this dish tonight, and we enjoyed every bite. The rub did not overwhelm the salmon and everything tasted fresh and healthy. Thanks! Your recipes (and photographs) are an inspiration.
Awww, thanks Robin. And how lucky you are to have access wild Alaskan Salmon! So delicious and good for you! I’m not sure where you live …but one of my all time my favorite salmon recipes is with pickled huckleberries, if you can get your hands some. 😉 Here is the recipe link!
This was a winner! It encorporates all of our favorites and they play so nicely together. Loved the dry rub on the salmon countered by the creamy dressing and avocado salsa. I’ve been asked to add it to our regular lineup. Thank you!
Thanks Joanna- Glad you enjoyed!
This was our diner two nights ago, and we loved it ! all the “parts” balance each other perfectly, and it tastes very fresh (and also, green, it looks as good as it tastes) and is just spicy enough. Thanks for this recipe !
Yay!!! so happy you liked it! Thanks for sharing!
The salmon looks absolutely beautiful! I can only imagine how refreshing the avocado cucumber salsa tastes with it. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Mary Frances!!