This Asian Ginger Miso Salmon Salad is incredibly fresh and healthy, but also packed with flavor. With so many beautiful colors and flavors, this salad will help you fall in love with healthy eating!
One of my new year’s resolutions is to eat more fish (yes, I have very crazy, highly aspirational resolutions…. other examples include to learn to make pain au chocolat, to make more cocktails, and to make more cheese plates).
I’ve been buying salmon practically every week for the past couple months because it’s one of the healthiest fishes… Can I get an omega-3 up in here?! Did you know omega-3s can actually help make you happier?? Which lord knows we could all use in these depths of winter. They can also make you smarter. Which maybe you don’t need, but I certainly do.
The tryptophan in salmon can also help you sleep. Which I don’t need. Unless of course that tryptophan is going to finish all my work for me, clean my house, to go the grocery store, and cook a week’s worth of dinner and lunches for me. Then I will be free to get a glorious amount of sleep and all will be well with the world. Thank you, tryptophan.
I made this salad because it was cold and rainy one night when I went out to eat, so while the Asian salmon salad on the menu sounded so appealing, the hearty and comforting turkey pot pie won. Plus, I knew I could make my own salmon salad at home that would be packed with all the ingredients I love.
And kale. Because if we’re trying to be healthy here, let’s quit it with the romaine and start eating something with way more nutrition and a ton more flavor. Word.
Since I’ve been buying salmon so much, I’ve been trying new recipes and cooking methods pretty much every week. This week I decided to make a little miso marinade and broil it before slicing it and putting it on all of those lovely vegetables.
I always hear that people are afraid of cooking fish, but guys, it’s the easiest thing ever! Really, you don’t even have to do anything to it to make it delicious. A few simple ingredients can lay on the flavor beautifully.
Asian Ginger Miso Salmon Salad Recipe
Honestly, cooking a piece of salmon with a little olive oil, salt, and pepper is almost always perfection. But sometimes it's fun to go a little wild. As you can see, I threw a little party for my salmon with ginger, miso, soy sauce, rice vinegar, and honey. Plus some black sesame seeds and garnish for garnish.
All I did was whisk together extra virgin olive oil, grated ginger, miso paste, honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Then I brushed a whole lot of it onto the salmon filets and let the salmon sit in the fridge for an hour or so.
Marinate away, my love.
And then I broiled the salmon for 12 minutes. That's it!! I told you miso salmon is easy.
Obviously, you could just dig into this salmon right away, but I really wanted to mix it up into an Asian salmon salad.
In a big bowl, I mixed together some of my very favorite ingredients: kale, shredded red cabbage, red pepper, shredded carrots, avocado, edamame, Thai chili pepper, and mandarin oranges. Feel free to switch up these ingredients however you want.
I also whipped up a simple dressing with minced garlic, freshly squeezed lime juice, rice vinegar, extra virgin olive oil, honey, and minced ginger.
I tossed the salad with the dressing and then topped it with chow mein noodles. omg how good are chow mein noodles??
I sliced the salmon and placed it on top of the salad. And sprinkled sliced scallions and sesame seeds over the top. After garnishing with lime, I dug in.
New favorite way to enjoy salmon? I’m pretty sure this Asian miso salmon salad is it. I instantly felt 9402 times healthier after eating this salad. And smarter. And definitely way happier. However, the tryptophan didn't kick in and do my chores for me. Sob.
All of these ingredients and colors are just the best. When else do you eat those little fried chow mein noodles but in an Asian salmon salad??
OK, maybe those didn’t make me feel healthier, but they sure were delicious. I’m sure they at least partly contributed to the happiness factor. Sorry, omega-3s.
And those mandarin oranges. Those are some of the most underrated things ever, are they not? I also think the only acceptable time for adults to eat mandarin oranges is in Asian salads.
The salmon was one of the most flavorful, tender salmons I’ve had yet. It was room temperature on the salad, which I was a little skeptical about, but ended up being absolutely awesome.
My miso was actually ginger miso, which means this salmon was extra packed with ginger, which is basically my dream come true. I’m the person who eats ginger by the chopstick full when having sushi. The more, the better!!
In case you couldn’t tell, I enjoy making new year’s resolutions that are fairly easy to keep. We’re only on week two here and I’ve done an awesome job with the whole fish thing. Of course, learning to make pain au chocolat has been on my resolution list for the past three years and I’ve had yet to accomplish it (is it even worth it?? should I just keep buying my own chocolate croissants or will it give me a huge sense of accomplishment and pride to make my own??).
The whole going to sleep by 11:00 p.m. each night resolution is not working at all. Clearly the salmon is not helping with that whole sleep thing. Nor does it make me feel happier in the morning when my alarm goes off. Meh, I guess I’ll keep eating it anyway.
How often do you eat fish?
If you're looking for more healthy-ish salads, check out my Magical Kale Salad and my Salmon BLT Salad.
I'm also loving these Salmon Bowls from Blondelish!
📖 Recipe
Asian Ginger Miso Salmon Salad
Ingredients
Asian Ginger Miso Salmon Salad
- 3 cups kale, ribs removed and chopped roughly
- 1 cup shredded red cabbage
- 1 red pepper, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup shredded carrots
- 1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
- ½ cup edamame shelled
- 1 Thai chili pepper, finely chopped
- ½ cup sliced mandarin oranges
- Lime Ginger Dressing (see recipe below)
- ½ cup chow mein noodles
- Ginger Miso Salmon (see recipe below)
- ½ lime, sliced
Lime Ginger Dressing
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoon freshly squeezed lime juice
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon minced ginger
Miso Salmon
- 1 lb. salmon, skin removed
- ½ tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 tablespoon miso paste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- ½ tablespoon soy sauce
- 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
- 4 scallions, thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon sesame seeds
Instructions
Asian Ginger Miso Salmon Salad
- In a large bowl, mix together kale, red cabbage, red pepper, shredded carrots, avocado, edamame, Thai chili, and mandarin oranges. Toss with Miso dressing.
- Serve salad in individual bowls and top with chow mein noodles, sliced miso salmon, and lime wedges.
Lime Ginger Dressing
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together all ingredients. Keep in fridge if not using immediately.
Ginger Miso Salmon
- In a small bowl, whisk together extra virgin olive oil, grated ginger, miso paste, honey, soy sauce, and rice vinegar. Place the salmon in a baking dish and brush with the miso mixture.
- Cover baking dish with plastic and place in refrigerator for about an hour.
- Heat oven to broil.
- Broil the salmon for about 6 minutes, flip over and broil for another 6 minutes.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with sliced scallions and sesame seeds.
Notes
- Don't forget that the salmon needs to marinate for an hour; I recommend getting the salmon in the marinade and assembling the rest of the salad and dressing while it's in the fridge.
Gayle @ Pumpkin 'N Spice says
I definitely want to eat more fish this year, too! This salad looks like the perfect way to get jump started on that. I love the ginger and miso flavors! Sounds delicious!
Alyssa @ My Sequined Life says
This salad has all my favorite things rolled into one! I have no idea why I don't think to buy salmon more often. Thank you for inspiring me!
Pam says
I want this for dinner! YUM.
Ashley | Spoonful of Flavor says
I love the idea of this salad! We eat salmon a least once a week and I always prepare it the same exact way every time. I definitely need to try something unique like this salad!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks says
This looks so delicious. I am loving how salmon has a crispy surface and yes even I can use being more happy and smart! So yes for more salmon!
Odetta says
I like dinners like this because they are tasty and you can feel good about them!!! Nice colors!
Emily aka The Three Bite Rule says
nice! I also intend to eat more fish. I love salmon and need to remember it isn't only for the grill!
Tandy | Lavender and Lime says
This looks fantastic. We eat fish at least twice a week. I look forward to your cocktail experiments 🙂
Culinary Flavors says
We all love salmon is my family and combined with salad makes the perfect meal!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl says
This is my idea of a perfect salad! it looks so fresh and takes away the Winter blues too!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
Salmon is my favorite fish! I try to eat fish regularly but it doesn't always happen so I should copy your new year's resolution!
Gingi says
omgee, this looks like HEAVEN!!! *drool* Beautiful photos btw!
LisaR. says
Looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
Phi @ The Sweetphi Blog says
This looks absolutely great! And one of my husbands' new years resolutions is to eat more fish too, so i'll definitely be making this1
Kitchen Belleicious says
i eat salad every tuesday night for dinner. Its just this thing my husband and I did before we had kids. Tuesdays were salad night so I can't wait to make this for next tuesday
chantelle @ naked cuisine says
Gosh, all I can say is YUM this salmon just looks too good to be true, definitely a good one for getting that winter salad fix.
Thalia @ butter and brioche says
I cook salmon most nights for dinner.. so this asian salmon salad is just perfect for me. Love how healthy it is!