Blackened Salmon Kale Caesar Salad

This delicious recipe puts a smoky twist on a classic favorite—Blackened Salmon Kale Caesar Salad! This quick and healthy meal is made with homemade caesar salad dressing that is so creamy and flavourful it will surely be a winner with your entire family. This is one of my favourite recipes to make on a busy weeknight, especially if I've already made the dressing and blackening seasoning in advance.  I’ve chosen to leave out the traditional croutons and swap in some quick-pickled red onions for a little crunch and to make this recipe gluten-free.

Whether you're craving a lighter meal or a side that steals the show, this salad delivers a perfect great balance of protein, fibre and healthy fats leaving you satisfied for hours. Let’s get started!

Jump to:

• Why you’ll love this salmon Caesar salad
• Ingredients
• Tools you'll need
• What is blackening seasoning? 
• How to Make Blackened Salmon Kale Caesar Salad
• Substitutions and additions
• Related
• Blackened Salmon Kale Caesar Salad

Why you’ll love this salmon Caesar salad

• This recipe is gluten-free
• It only takes 25 minutes to cook up
• The dressing is made with A2 dairy (sheep’s milk), which is less inflammatory than A1 dairy (cow’s milk)
• It’s packed with healthy omega-3 
• It is a balanced meal with a great amount of fibre, protein and healthy fats
• It’s extremely filling and will hold you over until your next meal
• It’s something the entire family will love to eat
• You will feel great about yourself after eating this 

Ingredients

• Garlic cloves
• Anchovy fillets or paste, don’t skip on these!!
• Lemons
• Worcestershire sauce
• Mayo, preferably made with avocado oil or olive oil
• Pecorino Romano cheese
• Sea salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Smoked paprika
• Cayenne pepper
• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Dried thyme
• Sea salt
• Dried oregano
• Wild salmon filets, skin is optional 
• Avocado oil
• Red onion
• Red wine vinegar
• Water
• Kale
• Pecorino Romano cheese

See recipe card for quantities.

Tools you'll need

• Sharp knife
• Wooden cutting board
• Large salad bowl
• Salad spinner
• Cast iron pan, or another non-stick material
• Spatula
• Cheese grater
• High-speed blender

What is blackening seasoning? 

Blackening seasoning is a cajun spice mix used to create a charred, flavorful crust on meats and fish when cooked at high heat. It typically includes a blend of spices like paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, thyme, oregano, salt, and black pepper. The high-heat cooking method, typically using a cast iron skillet,  creates a dark black crust on the food with a smoky flavor. 

How to Make Blackened Salmon Kale Caesar Salad

Make the homemade Caesar dressing

To make the caesar salad dressing, add 1 clove garlic, 1 anchovy fillet, 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice, ½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce, ½ cup mayo, ¼ cup Pecorino Romano cheese, pinch of sea salt, pinch of freshly ground black pepper to a small blender and blend until smooth. Set aside. This dressing should make enough for 2 servings of salad.

Healthy tip: Pecorino Romano cheese is made with sheep’s milk, which is an A2 milk.  It is believed that A2 beta-casein protein is easier to digest and less inflammatory than A1 beta-casein protein from most cow’s milk you would commonly find in North America. 

Prepare the salad

Get started on the quick-pickled red onions. Add the thinly sliced red onions, 2 tablespoon red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoon of water and a pinch of sea salt to a small bowl and mix together. Ensure the red onions are completely covered in the liquid and let them sit for at least 10 minutes. 

Wash the chopped kale and dry it in a salad spinner before adding it to a large salad bowl. Massage the kale with your hands for about 3 minutes, or until the kale is tender. 

Healthy tip: Kale is extremely fibrous and can be very hard to digest when it is eaten raw. This is why you should always massage or cook kale before eating it. Your stomach will thank you for it. 

Make the blackening seasoning 

To make the blackening seasoning, add 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, ½ tablespoon cayenne pepper, ½ tablespoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, ½ teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon sea salt and ¼ teaspoon dried oregano to a small bowl and mix together thoroughly. You will likely have leftover of this spice mix, so just transfer it to an airtight container and save it for next time. 

Cook the blackened salmon

To get the salmon skin crispy you will want to pat dry the salmon fillets with a paper towel. Brush the salmon with some avocado oil on both sides. Then spread 1 teaspoon of the blackening seasoning on each side. 

Heat 1 tablespoon of avocado oil over medium-high heat in a steel or cast iron pan (both are naturally non-stick). Place the salmon in the hot pan, skin side down. It should sizzle when you add it to the pan.  Cook for about 6 minutes, resisting the urge to move the salmon. Flip salmon and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Remove from the heat and let the salmon rest on a cutting board. You may need to adjust the cook times depending on the thickness of your salmon. 

Healthy Tip: Avocado oil is a great option for high-temperature cooking because it has a high smoke point of 520°F. This means it will not break down or burn as easily and produce harmful toxins.

Assemble the salad

To complete the salad, mix the dressing, red onions and ¼ cup grated Pecorino Romano cheese into the large bowl with the chopped kale. Divide the salad onto two plates and add a piece of salmon to each place with some additional lemon wedges. Serve immediately and enjoy!

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Substitutions and additions

Make it Dairy-free. Feel free to substitute your favourite dairy-free parmesan cheese for the Pecorino Romano.

Substitute Pecorino Romano. If you know dairy is not an issue for you, you can also use the traditional Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese in this recipe. 

Substitutes for salmon.  If you don’t have salmon on hand you can substitute steelhead trout, arctic char or make it a chicken caesar salad instead. 

Substitute for kale. Not into kale? Just use the classic romaine lettuce instead. 

Store-bought caesar dressing. Putting together a healthy dinner completely made from scratch can be difficult with a busy schedule. So if you are short on time go ahead and substitute the dressing for your favourite caesar dressing. Look for options that are gluten-free and free of harmful seed oils or canola oil. 

Store-bought cajun spice. You can also buy some premade cajun spice to use as your blackening seasoning and it will likely taste just as good. 

Add bacon or pancetta. I left out the bacon in my recipe to save time and to keep the salad fresh and healthy. But if you feel like something is missing go ahead and add a little bit of crispy bacon or pancetta. 

Add gluten-free croutons. If you are missing the crunch of a crouton in this salad feel free to add your favourite gluten-free croutons. 

Related

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