Blackberry Balsamic Salad with Honey Mustard Salmon

Today I have a great summer salad recipe- Blackberry balsamic salad with honey mustard salmon! This is the perfect meal for a quick and easy lunch or if you’re in the mood for a light dinner.

I ran across a version of this blackberry balsamic salad in a magazine and the pictures were so beautiful they made me run out for the ingredients to create my own version the same day! I’m not always a huge fan of salads as I’ve said before but with hearty toppings like salmon, berries, and nuts I’m all in. This salad has it all. The tang from homemade honey mustard on the salmon, sweetness from blackberries, creaminess from the goat cheese and avocado and a good crunch from a sprinkling of walnuts.

Hungry yet? Let’s get into it!

Ingredients

Salad greens: I used a spring mix for my bowl but always feel free to add whatever lettuce is your favorite. Arugula in this salad would be delicious.

Salmon: Wild caught sockeye salmon with the skin removed is what I used for this recipe. Atlantic salmon would work just as well. If you’re not a fan of fish, adding the honey mustard to a chicken breast would be yummy too.

Honey mustard: Dijon, honey, red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, and garlic make the perfect smear of honey mustard to coat your salmon.

Balsamic glaze: Instead of a traditional dressing, I went with a simple balsamic glaze drizzle on top of the salad. You can buy this already prepared in the market so it’s super simple! If you prefer more dressing, try using balsamic vinegarette.

Berries: Obviously, I chose to use blackberries because they are in season now and I love the combination of blackberries with balsamic. Blueberries and strawberries would also work well.

Shallot: I like to shave thin slices of shallot on salads with berries. It helps cut some of the sweetness.

Avocado: For a boost of healthy fat!

Crumbled cheese: Goat cheese is my go-to for almost every recipe, so I knew I wanted to add it to this salad, too. It crumbles well and adds a super tangy and creamy element to the salad. If you’re not a fan of goat cheese, try adding in feta or even blue cheese.

Nuts: In this recipe, I used glazed walnuts. I like the added element of sweetness to balance with the blackberries. Salted or plain roasted walnuts or even pecans would work, but I really recommend the glazed walnuts! It adds something really special to this salad.

The Details

Let’s make this blackberry balsamic salad with honey mustard salmon!

Step 1: Starting with thawed salmon pat each filet with a paper towel to dry the fish. Smear dijon mustard evenly over each filet. Next, sprinkle on red pepper flakes, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Then, drizzle honey over each piece of fish and cook on an oiled sheet tray. I like to air fry salmon to achieve that crispy result, but you can also bake the salmon just as easily.

Step 2: While the salmon is baking, prepare the salad ingredients. In a bowl, add mixed greens and layer on sliced shallots, avocado slices, walnuts and blackberries.

Step 3: Once the salmon has finished cooking, place it on top of the salad and top with crumbled goat cheese and a drizzle of balsamic glaze.

Looking for more delicious easy lunch recipes?

Sweet Potato Fry Salad with Hot Honey Mustard

Couscous Salad with Spicy Tzatziki

Before you go, if you make this blackberry balsamic salad with honey mustard salmon, comment and/or rate down below. I’d love to know what you think!