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For years, one of my favorite salads ever was the Costco kale salad kit. You know the one I’m talking about – plenty of kale, loads of superfood greens, dried cranberries, pumpkin seeds, and sweet poppy seed dressing. I often added smoked salmon to make it a complete meal. One day I looked at the ingredient list, and realized the dressing is loaded with sugar, soybean or canola oil, and preservatives — so I came up with my own using just the greens from the mix. This smoked salmon salad is healthy, just as easy as the kit, and perfect for an easy lunch!
This salad is a delicious way to recover after heavy meals, much like my detox soup. Plus, it stores as easily as my favorite layered salad, so I always have a healthy choice on hand — and it comes together fast!
Why You’ll Love This Smoked Salmon Salad Recipe
- Variety of flavors and textures
- Fresh, crunchy greens with creamy avocado and sweet blueberries
- Sweet, creamy poppy seed vinaigrette (that’s naturally sweetened!)
- Smoked salmon makes it a complete meal
- Ready in 10 minutes, with almost no chopping required
- Easy, healthy lunch idea!
Ingredients & Substitutions
This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for smoked salmon with lemon vinaigrette dressing, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.
Salad:
- Sweet Kale Salad Mix – I like to buy a sweet kale salad kit and remove the add-ins it comes with, but you can use any salad mix you like, or just one type of leafy greens, such as baby spinach, arugula, or kale. You can also make your own by combining kale, green cabbage, red cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and chicory.
- Smoked Salmon – Buy cold smoked salmon, or use homemade lox. You could also use oven baked salmon or blackened salmon instead (use leftovers or make it for the salad).
- Blueberries – For a burst of sweetness and antioxidants. Other berries, including homemade sugar-free dried cranberries, would taste delicious here.
- Pistachios – Add subtle crunch. You could also use walnuts or pecans, or sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds for nut-free options.
- Avocado – Cube into bite-sized pieces.
Smoked Salmon Salad Dressing:
- Mayonnaise – I make my own homemade mayo with avocado oil, but you can use your favorite store-bought version, too. The dressing does not contain any salt because I found the mayo to provide enough, but you can add it to taste if needed.
- Olive Oil – This recipe uses extra virgin olive oil, but you could also use any vegetable oil or salad oil you prefer.
- Lemon Juice – Squeeze fresh lemon juice for the best flavor, or use bottled for convenience. Apple cider vinegar or white vinegar make good substitutes if needed. You can also add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard to the dressing if you like.
- Garlic Powder – Use a high quality garlic powder for the best flavor.
- Honey – For natural sweetness. I usually make mine with sugar-free honey, but regular works as well. You can also use powdered sugar if your lifestyle allows, or any powdered sugar substitute you like. Granulated sweeteners might be a little grainy in a dressing, so just keep that in mind.
- Poppy Seeds – Optional, but they add a nice savory and nutty flavor to the dressing. If you omit them, I recommend at least adding black pepper.
VARIATION: Add other mix-ins!
Add other mix-ins of your choice such as leftover baked sweet potatoes, diced cucumbers or tomatoes, chopped cherries, green or red onions, hard boiled eggs, crumbled goat cheese, or fresh herbs, like fresh dill.
How To Make Smoked Salmon Salad
This section shows how to make a smoked salmon avocado salad, with step-by-step photos and details about the technique, to help you visualize it. For full instructions, including amounts and temperatures, see the recipe card below.
- Combine smoked salmon salad ingredients. Toss salad mix, smoked salmon, and blueberries in a large bowl.
- Make dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together mayo, olive oil, lemon juice, honey, garlic powder, and poppy seeds, until emulsified.
- Combine. Drizzle the dressing and toss with the salad.
- Add nuts and avocado. Add the pistachios and cubed avocado, then toss again.
Storage Instructions
Place smoked salmon salad in an airtight container and store it in the fridge. It will stay fresh for up to 3 days. If possible, avoid adding the avocado and pistachios until right before eating, as the avocado will brown and nuts can lose their crunchy texture if stored with the dressing. If making the salad ahead, store the dressing separately.
More Easy Healthy Salad Recipes
Skip boring bowls of lettuce and try these recipes when you need new salad inspiration!
Tools To Make Salad With Smoked Salmon
- Salad Bowl – Any salad bowl will do, but I like to use a clear glass bowl when serving to guests.
- Whisk – My favorite for making fast dressings!
Smoked Salmon Salad Recipe
Smoked Salmon Salad (10 Minutes!)
This smoked salmon salad is made with avocado, blueberries, and salmon, and drizzled with creamy sweet vinaigrette. Done in 10 minutes!
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Ingredients
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Sweet Kale Superfood Salad with Smoked Salmon & Avocado
Creamy Lemon Vinaigrette Dressing
Instructions
Tap on the times in the instructions below to start a kitchen timer while you cook.
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Combine sweet Kakle salad mix, smoked salmon, and blueberries in a large salad bowl.
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Whisk together all dressing ingredients, until emulsified. Toss the dressing with the salad.
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Add the pistachios and cubed avocado, then toss again.
Last Step: Leave A Rating!
Share your recipe picture by tagging @wholesomeyum and hashtag it #wholesomeyum on Instagram – I’d love to see it!
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Recipe Notes
Serving size: 1 1/2 cups
Nutrition info is based on sugar-free honey, but you can use regular. Sugar content will be a little higher.
Nutrition facts are provided as a courtesy. Have questions about calculations or why you got a different result? Please see our nutrition policy.
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18 Comments
Margi
0Definitely trying this recipe. Thanks Maya.
Jane Watson
0Please what is sugar free honey? If you took the sugar out of honey you would be left with almost nothing – maybe a little water. Honey IS sugar.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Jane, My sugar free honey substitute is made with natural ingredients, but it’s not watery at all. You can learn more and read the ingredients in sugar-free honey here.
Darlene Penner
0It is my understanding that, the sugar free honey recipe, uses a product called: Wholesome Yum, Sugar Free, Keto Honey Substitute. There is inverted sugar in this which was not disclosed in ad for product. It concerns me. I have not tried this recipe yet. But I intend to. I will just use ordinary Honey.
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Darlene, The dressing can be made with regular honey or sugar-free honey substitute. There is no inverted sugar (or any kind of sugar) in any Wholesome Yum product, including the honey. Hope this helps!
Julia
0OMG! This is now my favorite salad! I never expected to love such an interesting handful of ingredients! I did choose to leave out the pistachios, but I think next time I will be using them as well. So delicious!
Matt
0I love this smoke salmon salad recipe. It is incredibly easy to make and that lemon vinaigrette is awesome!
Pam Ayars
0The creamy lemon dressing sounds just the thing for my broccoli salad but I did not see the amounts of the dressing recipe. Could you please tell me how how many Tbsps and/ or tsps of the ingredients
Thanks so much.
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Pam, The ingredients and amounts are listed in the recipe card. Please use the ‘Jump to recipe’ button at the top of the page and it will bring you directly to the information you are looking for. Enjoy!
Julia Sheridan
0Hi I was curious as to how long this lasts once made up?
Wholesome Yum M
0Hi Julia, Fully prepared and dressed? Only a day or two. Any longer and the greens will start to saturate and wilt.
Renee
0Great recipe! I made a large bowl of chopped kale, broccoli, Brussel sprouts and green cabbage. I did add a couple of drops of lemon essential oil to the Lemon Poppy Seed dressing. Taking it to a Father’s Day BBQ today. It’s a great KETO Salad. Thank You!
Theresa Capri
0Delicious! I had all the ingredients except pistachios so used pecans. Well, actually I didn’t have the salad mix, but kale and cabbage that I just cut up. Super easy and my husband loved it as well. Thanks for this easy versatile recipe!
Jenn, from Keen for Keto
0I LOVE that Costco salad! Thanks for letting me share this on Keen for Keto!
Massie B.
0WOW I made this last night for dinner and it was SO GOOD!!!! I will have to keep this recipe in rotation!
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0I am so happy to hear that, Massie! Thank you!
Natalie
0Your baked lemon herb Parmesan crusted salmon led me here! I always love to try any salad. Is it okay if I don’t add the pistachios?
Actually I’m thinking to make this salmon kale superfood salad into the style of sushi. It would be amazing, I think. xD
Maya | Wholesome Yum
0Hi Natalie, You can skip the pistachios if you want to. Or, you could use another type of nuts or seeds. Not sure what you mean by the sushi but I do have a low carb sushi recipe here.