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Seared Salmon Caesar Salad

A protein-packed Caesar salad with seared salmon, a lighter yogurt-based dressing, and toasted pumpkin seeds standing in for croutons.

Seared Salmon Caesar Salad
Prep15 min
Cook10 min
Total25 min
DifficultyEasy
Base yield4 servings

Best for high protein · lunch · low carb

No Bread Salad

This is our lighter take on classic Caesar with salmon: no bread, and a dressing that swaps most of the oil for Greek yogurt while keeping all the garlicky, cheesy flavor. Toasted pumpkin seeds bring the crunch that croutons usually do, and thin-sliced radishes add a peppery bite. It eats like a proper lunch, not a side salad.

Ingredients

Servings
servings

Salad

  • 400 g romaine lettuce , roughly chopped
  • 400 g skinless salmon fillets
  • 1 tsp olive oil , for the pan not scaled
  • a pinch chili flakes not scaled
  • 100 g red radishes , thinly sliced
  • 25 g Parmesan cheese , shaved
  • 20 g pumpkin seeds , toasted
  • to taste flaky sea salt not scaled
  • to taste black pepper not scaled

Dressing

  • 5 g garlic clove
  • 30 g Parmesan cheese , grated
  • 50 g large egg
  • 5 g Dijon mustard
  • 8 g white wine vinegar
  • 25 g rapeseed oil
  • 100 g Greek yogurt
  • to taste flaky sea salt not scaled
  • to taste black pepper not scaled

Instructions

Dressing

  1. 1

    Put the garlic, Parmesan, egg, mustard and vinegar in a tall jug or blender cup. Blend smooth with an immersion blender.

    ⏱ 2 min
  2. 2

    With the blender still running, drizzle in the oil in a thin stream until the dressing thickens, then whisk in the yogurt until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.

    ⏱ 3 min

Salad

  1. 3

    Season the salmon with salt, pepper and the chili flakes. Sear in the oil in a hot pan for 3-4 minutes per side until just cooked through (or roast at 200°C/400°F for about 12 minutes).

    ⏱ 10 min 🌡 200 °C / 392 °F
  2. 4

    Toast the pumpkin seeds in a dry pan over medium heat for a minute or two, just until they start to pop.

    ⏱ 2 min
  3. 5

    Rinse and chop the romaine, then toss it in a large bowl with the radishes and enough dressing to coat everything well.

    ⏱ 3 min
  4. 6

    Divide the salad among plates, flake the salmon on top, and finish with the toasted pumpkin seeds and shaved Parmesan.

    ⏱ 2 min

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