Smoky Salmon Caesar Salad (Printable)
Savory Caesar salad with smoky roasted salmon, crisp romaine, and homemade dressing.
# What You'll Need:
→ Fish
01 - 2 salmon fillets, about 10 oz total
02 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
03 - 1/2 tsp sea salt
04 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
05 - 1 tbsp olive oil
→ Salad
06 - 2 large heads romaine lettuce, chopped
07 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
08 - 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
09 - 1 cup garlic croutons
→ Caesar Dressing
10 - 1/3 cup mayonnaise
11 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
12 - 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
13 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
14 - 1 tsp Worcestershire sauce
15 - 1 clove garlic, minced
16 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
17 - 2 tbsp olive oil
# Directions:
01 - Preheat oven to 400°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
02 - Rub the salmon fillets with olive oil, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper. Place them skin-side down on the prepared baking sheet.
03 - Roast the salmon for 12 to 15 minutes until just cooked through. Remove from the oven and let cool slightly, then flake into large pieces.
04 - In a bowl, whisk together mayonnaise, grated Parmesan, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, minced garlic, and olive oil. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
05 - Toss the chopped romaine lettuce with half of the Caesar dressing. Arrange on serving plates. Top with cherry tomatoes, Parmesan shavings, flaked salmon, and garlic croutons.
06 - Drizzle with the remaining dressing and serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The smoky paprika crust on the salmon makes this taste like you spent hours over a grill, but the oven does all the work.
- Homemade Caesar dressing comes together in about two minutes and tastes nothing like the bottled stuff.
02 -
- Overcooked salmon turns dry and crumbly instead of rich and buttery, so pull it from the oven when the center still has a hint of translucence.
- Dressing the lettuce in advance makes it wilt, so always toss at the very last moment.
03 -
- Let the salmon rest five minutes before flaking so the juices redistribute instead of running all over the plate.
- A pinch of smoked paprika stirred into the dressing ties the whole dish together without anyone knowing your secret.