Salmon Watercress Salad

Salmon Watercress Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette: fresh, tender, peppery watercress is tossed with an exquisite dressing and topped with roasted salmon. 

Some of the Best Salad Recipes come from experimentation. I’d never tried watercress before, but it was a terrific foil for sweet berries and salmon!

Why You Must Make

Before I created this scrumptious Salmon Watercress Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette, watercress was off my radar unless it was in soup! Little did I know how hard I’d fall for a watercress salad!

• These tender greens had a peppery bite like arugula, which makes them the perfect complement to a sweet strawberry salad dressing.
• Topping with a piece of salmon glazed with this vinaigrette made this entree salad a fabulous meal!
• This healthy combination of greens, berries, and salmon makes a guilt-free summer entree!

Ingredient Notes

• Kitchen Staples:
• Strawberry jam or Strawberry Preserves (affiliate link)- I have Bonne Maman in my refrigerator.
• Dijon Mustard (affiliate link)- I use Grey Poupon.
• Champagne Vinegar – A light vinegar that’s perfect for salad dressings.
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (affiliate link) – I use the California Olive Ranch brand.
• Salt and Freshly Ground Black Pepper, to taste.
• Other Ingredients:
• Salmon Fillets, skin on (4-6 ounces each)
• Salt and Pepper, to taste (always season before cooking)Salad:
• Bag of Fresh Watercress Leaves (6-8 ounces, depending on how many you are serving)
• Fresh Strawberries – Sliced.
• Green Onions – white and a bit of the green, sliced thinly.
• Slivered Almonds -Toast and cool before using to bring out their essential oils (which means more flavor). Watch carefully as they can easily burn. This can be done in a dry skillet or on a sheet pan in your oven.

A Simple Berry Vinaigrette

Did you know a spoonful of jam can add some delicious sweetness to a salad dressing? I’ve been making a raspberry vinaigrette for years, but thought a strawberry version was perfect for spring. With ripe, fragrant strawberries filling the market, I wanted to add a few to this salad along with sliced green onions and toasted slivered almonds. Plus, it doubled as a fabulous glaze for my seafood. One of the best salad recipes of the season, this Salmon Watercress Salad was a terrific summer entree.

Frequently Asked Questions

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When the weather is hot, or you’ve been overindulging, a lighter entree is appealing. Try some of these tasty entree salads as an alternative to a meat and potatoes menu!

• Shrimp and Orange Salad with Citrus Vinaigrette
• Curried Turkey Salad
• Beef Noodle Bowl
• Mexican Chopped Salad
• Superfoods Salad
• Salade Nicoise
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• More Salad Recipes

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The Recipe:

Salmon Watercress Salad Recipe with Strawberry Vinaigrette

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 15 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Yield 4

Salmon Watercress Salad with Strawberry Vinaigrette: fresh, tender, peppery watercress is tossed with an exquisite dressing and topped with roasted salmon.

5.0 Stars (5 Reviews)

Ingredients

Salad Dressing:

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• 1 tablespoon strawberry jam or preserves
• 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
• 2 tablespoons champagne vinegar
• ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
• Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste

Salmon:

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• 4 salmon fillets, skin on (4-6 ounces each)
• Salt and pepper, to taste

Salad:

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• 4 ounce bag watercress leaves
• 1 cup sliced strawberries
• 2 green onions, white and a bit of the green, sliced thinly
• ¼ cup slivered almonds

Instructions

1. Whisk together jam, mustard, and vinegar. Slowly drizzle in olive oil while whisking until the mixture is emulsified. Add salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place salmon fillets on a sheet pan. Season salmon with salt and pepper. Roast for about 12 minutes, then re-whisk dressing and use about 2 tablespoons to brush over salmon.
3. Turn on the broiler and broil the salmon about 4-6 inches away from the heating element until the tops are slightly browned, about 2 minutes. Watch carefully so the salmon does not burn. Let cool (may refrigerate if you’d like cold salmon on your salad).
4. When ready to serve, toss together watercress, strawberries, green onions, and almonds with enough salad dressing to lightly coat the watercress.
5. Divide between 4 salad bowls or plates. Top with cold or room temperature salmon. Drizzle with any leftover salad dressing, if desired.

Notes

You can use other greens like spinach if you're not fond of watercress.

Recommended Products

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• 
  Dijon Mustard
• 
  California Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 
  10-Inch Wire Whisk

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 672Total Fat: 45gSaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 34gCholesterol: 143mgSodium: 337mgCarbohydrates: 13gFiber: 2gSugar: 7gProtein: 53g

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