Roasted Salmon Quinoa Bowls -

Closeup of a roasted salmon fillet on a bed of quinoa garnished with cucumber and cilantro.

Roasted Salmon Quinoa Bowls

These roasted salmon quinoa bowls with a punchy lime and chili dressing are full of protein, healthy fats, whole grains and, best of all, FLAVOR! They're easy to make and come together quickly on a weeknight.

Course Main Dish

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 20

Total Time 30

Servings servings

Calories 754kcal

Author Ann Otis

Ingredients

1 cup quinoa *see note
4 salmon fillets (about 6 ounces each) *see note
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
1/2 cup tightly packed cilantro chopped
1/2 cucumber thinly sliced

Chili Lime Dressing

1/4 cup olive oil
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lime juice
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon kosher salt
4 tablespoons chopped cilantro

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Salmon

Preheat the oven to 425 F. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and grease with olive oil
Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel and place the fillets skin side down on the prepared baking sheet.
Rub the fillets with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper.
Roast in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, until it just flakes with a fork.

Quinoa

While the salmon is roasting, combine the quinoa with 2 cups of water and a pinch of salt in a medium saucepan.
Bring to a boil uncovered and reduce heat to low to maintain a simmer.
Simmer until all the water is absorbed, about 15-20 minutes.
Remove the pot from the heat and cover for about 5 minutes to let the quinoa steam and finish cooking.
Remove the lid and fluff the quinoa with a fork.

Dressing

With a whisk, combine the olive oil, lime juice, apple cider vinegar, chili powder, cilantro, and salt.
To serve: Combine the quinoa with about 1/4 cup of dressing (to taste). Divide quinoa between 4 bowls. Place a piece of salmon over each bed of quinoa, add cucumber slices and sprinkle with chopped cilantro. Drizzle salmon with additional dressing.

Video

Notes

*Depending on the brand of quinoa you buy, it may be necessary to rinse it before cooking. This is because quinoa has a natural coating, called saponin, that can make it taste bitter or soapy if it's not throughly rinsed off.

That said, most packaged quinoa has been pre-rinsed and should be fine to cook as-is. If you buy bulk, you might want to rinse it to be safe.

*Most salmon sold in grocery stores is farm-raised, but wild-caught salmon is definitely the way to go if you can get your hands on it. It's more nutritious and sustainable. Check with your fish monger!

Nutrition