Use leftover baked salmon to make this easy entree salad using summer's best produce: fresh blueberries, ripe tomatoes, and crisp lettuce greens. Drizzle the easy fresh basil salad dressing over the top and toss. If you've got leftover wild rice, it adds a wonderful heartiness to the dish.
Our family loves salmon but since we prefer fresh over frozen fillets, it doesn't appear on our menu often. On a whim, I picked up a very large salmon during a recent Costco trip. I normally avoid buying fish there since the quantity is way more than we would eat during one meal and I'd rather not freeze the leftovers.
Lucky me, this time I had a plan for that entire package of fish! I stumbled upon this recipe from Better Homes & Gardens magazine. It has a crazy long list of ingredients that all sounded fresh and delicious together. I didn't have everything on the list, so I picked and chose based on what's in my fridge at the moment. I think you could make endless combinations of this salad and it would always be just a little different.
The fish and leftover wild rice were an amazing addition to a green lettuce salad. I would never have imagined putting rice in there, but it was fantastic.
The additional recommended ingredients you could add or mix in as you wish included: various grains including quinoa, wild or brown rice, 1 cup cantaloupe cubes, 1 small zucchini cut lengthwise in narrow ribbons, ½ cup walnut pieces, fresh herbs over the top: dill, basil, mint. I can't wait to try this again by adding in cantaloupe! I'm guessing my sugar snap peas will appear in this salad once harvest time hits, too.
So we had baked salmon with wild rice for dinner on day 1 and this summer salad with the leftovers on day 2. Two completely different meals. I've included our very easy salmon recipe at the end just in case you've never tried making it at home. Ridiculously easy and it is our very favorite way of preparing it.
Summer Salad with Leftover Salmon
This refreshingly easy summer salad has seasonal fruit and tomatoes mixed together with a fresh basil dressing. Top with wild rice and leftover baked salmon for a simple meal.
Ingredients
- 4 cups mixed spring greens
- 2 cups blueberries
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1 cup wild rice, cooked and cooled (leftovers are perfect)
- ½ cup green onions, chopped
- 4 oz. leftover baked salmon, flaked
For the Dressing
- 1 cup lightly packed fresh basil leaves
- ¼ cup lemon juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 4 teaspoon minced garlic
Instructions
1. For the basil dressing, in a blender or small food processor combine the 1 cup basil, lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, ¼ teaspoon salt, and ¼ teaspoon black pepper. Cover and blend or process until nearly smooth, stopping to scrape down sides as needed; set aside.
2. In a medium bowl stir together the cooked rice and green onions. Stir in about 2 tablespoons of the basil dressing to coat.
3. For the salad, line a large bowl with greens. Top greens with remaining ingredients presented in clusters. Drizzle with half the remaining basil dressing; toss gently.
Tiffany
Our container is so old, I am not sure where you could find it locally. My mother purchased it for us and found it right in the seafood department of her grocery store. (As opposed to the spices section.) I would start by asking for it with the seafood counter! Definitely worth hunting down, especially if you enjoy mustard as a flavor ingredient. It complements the salmon beautifully.
Kristina
Do you have to order the seasoning on-line or can you find it locally? Sounds and looks yummy!