This Dry Rub Cajun Salmon Salad is fresh, light and healthy – perfect for an easy weeknight dinner!
Monday’s post told you this weather is making me crave summer, which means bathing suit weather is coming soon. Yeah!!! And YIKES…! I don’t know about you, but I’m totally not ready for that! 🙂
Enter healthy eating, and hellooooo Cajun Salmon Salad. We love you… Now get us to skinny, won’t you? 🙂 Before I used to eat salmon, I used to think, can you cook salmon from frozen? When I found out that you could, salmon has become my best friend when it comes to cooking healthier meals.
Do you ever feel that way? You stare at the salad thinking “Man, if I’m going to eat you – you better be healthy and make me look good – otherwise I’m going for the french fries with gravy and a big juicy burger!” Or, is that just me?
I’m pretty sure it might be just me. Which is why this salad and I met. We’re working toward swimsuit weather together.
Thank goodness it tastes so good! I think you’ll love it.
It’s full of bright, fresh, colorful veggies – like tomatoes, yellow bell peppers, celery and green onions. All tossed with some mixed Baby Spring Greens, which are one of my favorite mixes of lettuce!
I love how colorful the mix is, and the various shapes of the leaves. I know…it’s a silly thing to like about lettuce, but I love a plate that’s colorful and artful. Because when everything comes together, it not only tastes good, it looks good too – and let’s admit – we all eat with our eyes!
Based on the Reader Survey, at least 1/2 of you are ready to aboard the health food train with me! w00t! Let’s do this. But, I’m going to need your help! If we’re going to be in this together, we need to do it together.
Tell me – what are your go-to favorite healthy recipes to get you ready for summer? Please, tell me in the comments!
I’d love to share my take on your recipe ideas!!!
And, if you’ve tried a healthy recipe I’ve posted here on IK and you loved it… please comment so that I know what to make more of!
One of the many things I learned from the survey I did, is that my readers love the word ‘healthy’ and ‘easy’ when it relates to recipes. Which means we are both off to a great start in getting fit and healthy for summer! Guess what though? We are refusing to sacrifice flavor! Yes? Are you with me on this? I thought you might be!
p.s. here’s a homemade recipe for Cajun Seasoning if you want to make your own!
Enjoy!
- ½ cup toasted sesame dressing and marinade
- ½ to 1 teaspoon cajun seasoning*, optional
- 1 pound salmon filet, skin off
- 2 tablespoons cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 (5 ounce) bag baby spring mix greens
- ¾ cup chopped celery
- ½ cup yellow bell pepper, sliced
- ¾ cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 3 green onions, diced
- Mix dressing with cajun seasoning* and set aside. (See note)
- Rinse and lightly pat dry salmon filets. Rub 1 tablespoon cajun seasoning onto each side of the salmon filet.
- Get a cast iron skillet hot over high heat**, then carefully add 1 tablespoon olive oil and swirl around until the bottom of the pan is completely coated with oil. Gently place salmon filets in pan and sear 1-2 minutes, then turn the filets over and sear another 1-2 minutes***. Remove from pan and let salmon rest.
- Place spring greens on a plate and layer with celery, bell pepper, cherry tomatoes and green onions. Place salmon filets to the side, and serve with dressing!
**The key to not having the salmon stick is to have a very hot pan. My pan was slightly smoking from the heat which caused my salmon to cook really fast. Also, my salmon was very thin.
***Be sure to cook the salmon to your taste preference. I like our salmon done throughout, but again, my filets were really thin - that's why there is such a short cooking time for each side! Cook as long as you need to, to get to desired doneness.
I´m with the rest of your readers, healthy and easy is so important. As a mother it is important to me that my children eat healthy but because my life is so busy I need easy recipes that taste good but provide the nutrients they need!
ps. love your photos!!
Thank you Johlene! I love spending time in the kitchen, but sometimes time just doesn’t allow me to spend a lot of time there. So the healthy and easy recipes are always welcome. Thank you for the compliments on the photos! Have a beautiful week!
I love how colorful this dish is. It really screams summer and yumminess!
Thank you Daniela! I am so ready for summer – and any yummy recipe is welcome! 🙂
This looks so delicious.
Thank you Julie! I am so glad you like it!
I just made a batch of jambalaya and the Cajun seasoning really makes it. I’d never thought about putting it on salmon – love the idea! This looks delicious, Kristi!
I **LOVE** jambalaya and cajun seasoning Marissa – when can I come over? 🙂 Yes, put it on salmon – you won’t go back to cooking salmon any other way!
Kristi, this beautiful dish looks like the perfect meal to kick off spring in just a couple of weeks! I’ve just been thinking about ways to incorporate more salmon into my diet.
Thank you Jean! I love salmon and love to incorporate it any way I can. So healthy and easy! Have a beautiful week!
I’ve had blackened fish on the brain, so I think you’re rubbing off on me. Just saying, don’t be surprised if you see something pretty soon! This is my kind of salad, too — beautiful colors, and full of sustenance! A girl wants to look good, but she’s got to be satisfied or she may hit the chocolate. (oh that’s just me). You know this is pinned!
HAHAHAHAHA! You always make me laugh Marcie! xoxoxoxo
That’s exactly what i need for my spring diet. I need to lose weight so bad and be prepared for my vacation. Is this some sort of Mediterranean diet? It looks absolutely amazing.
I need it for my spring diet too Dylan! 🙂 So, you aren’t alone – which is exactly why I made it! No, it’s not a Mediterranean diet – I just came up with it to help me get ready for summer!
Summer is definitely nowhere to be seen around here, temperatures have plummeted! I am sure a little cajun spice will make me feel better though!
Oh my gosh Mariana – I am SO sorry for the bad weather! We have had unusually nice weather (which is so strange this time of year) – yet, because it’s so rare, I’m taking advantage of it as much as I can! I’ll send good weather wishes your way!
Yum! This looks so fresh and healthy.
Thank you Mary Frances! I’m so ready for good weather, I need get ready for it!
LOL! While I definitely enjoy a good burger and fries, I do love salads too! This one looks awesome– salmon is my fave and the seasoning on this sounds great!
Thanks Jess! I’m getting much better about being creative with salads! When I am, I enjoy them a lot more! 🙂
I love how bright and beautiful the colors are in this dish! Salmon is my favorite fish and I am always looking for new ways to jazz it up! Love the perfect sears and the cajun seasoning here 🙂 It looks amazing!
Thanks Kelly! I use a cast iron skillet with a grill/grate bottom – I absolutely love it for searing meat! It gets so hot, which is the key! Have a great week!
Such a gorgeous, fresh salad!!! I want this.
Thank you Allie! It was really tasty!