Take a classic Caesar salad up a notch by adding perfectly seasoned blackened salmon. With its bold flavors and satisfying textures, this Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad recipe is a winner! This is a great salmon salad to prepare for lunch, dinner and/or meal prep.
What is a Caesar Salad
A Caesar salad is a classic salad dish that typically consists of romaine lettuce, croutons, Parmesan cheese, and a Caesar dressing. The salad is named after its creator, Caesar Cardini, an Italian-American restaurateur who reportedly invented the dish in Tijuana, Mexico, in the 1920s.
The dressing traditionally includes ingredients such as garlic, anchovies, egg yolks, olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and Parmesan cheese, blended together to create a creamy and tangy dressing.
How to Blacken
If you are looking to amp up any meal with big and bold flavors, a blackening seasoning blend will do the trick! Yes, blackening seasoning is spicy and it does bring a little heat, but not overpowering like other fiery seasoning blends. However, if you are looking to add a blast of heat to your dish, you can easily adjust the amount of cayenne pepper.
Although this Cajun-type of seasoning is available for purchase, I highly recommend making your own. Honestly, you likely have everything to make this delicious homemade seasoning in your spice drawer. Leftover seasoning can be sealed in an airtight container, and will last up to three months.
Just to clarify, the term blackening actually refers to the cooking technique, using a cast iron pan with high heat. Cooking the protein in this manner will give it a charred crust on both sides.
If searing salmon in a cast iron pan makes you nervous, easily use the seasoning and prepare the salmon in a non-stick pan. Technically, the salmon would not be “blackened,” but you still achieve an incredible, flavorful crust.
Salmon Alternatives
Although blackened salmon pairs well with this Caesar salad, any of the following blackened proteins are great substitutes/alternatives:
- chicken
- shrimp
- ahi tuna
- white fish (ie. cod, flounder, mahi, grouper)
Air Fryer Salmon
Here’s how to use the air fryer to prepare the salmon:
- preheat the air fryer to 390°
- spray the inside of the basket with non-stick spray
- place the seasoned salmon
- air fry the salmon for about 8 to 10 minutes, flipping halfway (internal temperature should be 145°F(63°C).
Ingredients to Make a Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad
- Salmon: Easily substitute with blackened chicken, shrimp or your favorite fish.
- Romaine Lettuce: Although Romaine is traditionally used, you can substitute with mixed greens, spinach or kale.
- Lemon Juice: Freshly squeezed lemon juice is best, but bottled lemon juice can be used as a substitute.
- Croutons: Store-bought croutons can be used, or make your own using different bread varieties.
- Parmesan Cheese: Use pecorino romano or asiago cheese as alternatives.
- Dijon Mustard: Spicy brown mustard or stone ground mustard can be used as substitutes.
- Worcestershire Sauce: To achieve that umami flavor, easily substitute with soy sauce or balsamic vinegar.
- Hot Sauce: Adjust the heat level with your favorite hot sauce or omit it altogether.
- Olive Oil: Substitute with avocado oil.
- Anchovy Fillets: Anchovy paste is a great substitute.
How to Prepare a Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad
To make this recipe efficiently in about 20 minutes while multitasking, you can follow these steps and manage your time effectively:
- Preparation (5 minutes):
- Preheat your oven to 415°F (213°C) for the croutons.
- Prepare the blackening seasoning.
- Make the Caesar dressing by combining the ingredients in a bowl and whisking until smooth.
- Chop the Romaine lettuce and set aside.
- Sear the Salmon (8 minutes):
- Pat the salmon fillets and drizzle with lemon juice. Sprinkle with the blackening seasoning.
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a non-stick or cast iron pan over medium-high heat.
- Add the salmon and sear for about 3-4 minutes per side.
- Making the Croutons (5-7 minutes):
- While the salmon is searing, toss the cubed bread with olive oil and garlic powder in a bowl until well coated.
- Spread the bread cubes on a baking sheet. Bake for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.
- Assembling the Salad (2 minutes):
- While the salmon finishing, toss the chopped Romaine lettuce and croutons with the prepared Caesar dressing.
- Plate the dressed salad onto serving plates or bowls and place the seared salmon.
How to Store Salmon Caesar Salad
Store leftovers of the Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Here are some tips for storing leftovers properly:
- Separate the salmon from the salad components, if possible, to prevent the salad from becoming soggy.
- If the salad was dressed before serving, store any remaining dressing separately from the salad to maintain its freshness.
- Consume the leftovers within 2-3 days for the best quality and flavor.
- When ready to eat, consider refreshing the salad with additional dressing, lemon juice, or olive oil to revive the flavors.
- If you have a large quantity of leftovers, consider portioning them into smaller containers for easier reheating and serving.
More Blackened Recipes to Love
- Blackened Salmon Lettuce Wraps
- Blackened Salmon Rice Bowls
- Blackened Grouper Sandwich
- Blackened Shrimp
Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
Description
Take a classic Caesar salad up a notch by adding perfectly seasoned blackened salmon. With its bold flavors and satisfying textures, this Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad recipe is a winner!
Ingredients
- 2 skinless salmon fillets (approximately, 6-ounces each)
- 2 heads Romaine lettuce, chopped
- 1 teaspoon lemon juice (for salmon)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup croutons (see below how to make homemade croutons)
- 1/2 teaspoon cracked black pepper (for garnish)
- 2 tablespoons shaved Parmesan cheese (for garnish)
For the Caesar Dressing:
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2–3 anchovy fillets
- 2 teaspoons lemon juice
- 2 egg yolks
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
- A few dashes of hot sauce, optional
- 1/2 cup light olive oil
- 1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
For the Blackening Seasoning:
- 1 tablespoon garlic powder
- 1 tablespoon paprika
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons onion powder
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons salt
- 2 teaspoons black pepper
- 1 to 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
For Homemade Croutons:
- 1 cup cubed bread
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 415°F (213°C).
- In a small bowl, prepare the blackening seasoning by combining garlic powder, paprika, dried oregano, onion powder, dried thyme, salt, black pepper and cayenne pepper. Mix well and set aside (you only need about a tablespoon of seasoning for this recipe, store the remaining).
- On a flat surface, create a paste with the back of a large knife out of the minced garlic, salt and anchovy fillets. Transfer the paste to a large salad bowl.
- Add the lemon juice and egg yolks into the bowl with the paste. Whisk.
- Whisk in the Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, hot sauce and cracked black pepper.
- Gradually whisk in the olive oil until the dressing emulsifies. Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese. If the dressing is too thick, you can thin it out with a little more olive oil.
- Toss the cubed bread with the olive oil and garlic powder. Bake on a sheet pan for 5-7 minutes, or until golden brown and crunchy.
- Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Squeeze lemon juice over them, then generously coat both sides of the fillets with the prepared blackening seasoning.
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a non-stick or cast iron pan over medium-high heat. Once hot, add the salmon fillets and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side, or until the salmon is cooked through and blackened on the outside.
- While the salmon is cooking, toss the chopped Romaine lettuce and croutons in the Caesar dressing until evenly coated.
- Garnish the salad with shaved Parmesan and more cracked black pepper.
- To serve, divide the dressed salad onto plates, then top each serving with a blackened salmon fillet.
- Serve immediately and ENJOY!
Notes
- On a flat surface or cutting board, use the side of a large knife to create a paste out of the garlic, salt and anchovies.
- If the Caesar dressing becomes too thick after adding Parmesan cheese, simply whisk in a little more olive oil.
- Tailor the blackening seasoning to your preference by adjusting the amount of cayenne pepper used for a milder or spicier flavor profile.
- Explore different protein options such as chicken or shrimp instead of salmon.
- Keep an eye on the croutons while baking to ensure they turn golden brown and crispy without burning.
- Prepare the Caesar dressing in advance and store it in the refrigerator.
- Accompany the dish with lemon wedges on the side for an extra burst of freshness.
- Increase the quantities of ingredients to accommodate larger gatherings or to have leftovers for future meals.
- Consider making this Salmon Caesar Salad for meal prep, as the salmon will last up to 3-4 days in the fridge and the Romaine will hold up well to the Caesar dressing.
- If you do not want to prepare the dressing, simply use bottled.
- Prep Time: 12 minutes
- Cook Time: 8 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Easy
- Cuisine: American, Seafood
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WELCOME! My name is Melissa Latin aka. Charlotte Fashion Plate. Happy to meet you! I am more than just recipes. I love fashion and style too! Most importantly, I love my Family (my Hubby and my Fur Babies). My Husband (aka my “Kitchen Bitch”) means the world to me. He’s pretty damn cool too. Not only is he one of the nicest guys you will ever meet, he also has had a lengthy career in professional hockey. Not only winning two Stanley Cups with the Pittsburgh Penguins in the early ’90’s, but most recently winning the Calder Cup with the Charlotte Checkers, amongst many other accolades. If you live in Charlotte and play hockey, or have a family member who plays, be sure to contact him!
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