This salmon bowl is packed full of delicious Mediterranean flavors, fresh veggies, fresh herbs, and mouthwatering baked salmon. The recipe comes together quickly, which makes it a perfect weeknight dinner. If serving guests, consider layering everything on a beautiful serving platter for a show-stopping meal.
What to love about this recipe:
It uses simple ingredients. This recipe features simple ingredients that are easy to find in your grocery store. It is full of fresh flavors that the whole family can enjoy. Depending on the season and your climate, many ingredients are likely to be found at your local farmer's market.
It is quick enough for a weeknight dinner. Though there are quite a few ingredients, this recipe is actually a quick salmon meal to prepare.This would be a great recipe to make together as a family, as each component could be delegated to a different person. One person could be in charge of slicing the vegetables and mincing the herbs, one in charge of cooking the salmon, and the tzatziki and marinade can be mixed up by even the youngest kitchen helpers.
It's a perfect meal prep recipe. If you don't eat it all at dinnertime, leftovers can double as a delicious lunch. If you like cold salmon, it can even be eaten cold the next day. This works well with the chilled Greek salad and tzatziki sauce, as they are already cold. For best results, store the leftovers each in a separate airtight container and assemble the bowls just before serving. For even more variation, serve the leftovers over a green salad of mixed greens or romaine lettuce to make a Greek salmon salad.
Recipe Variations:
This recipe is a forgiving one in terms of the components of the Greek salad. If you don't like olives or artichokes, leave them out! If you want to add more, consider sliced bell peppers, chickpeas, fresh parsley, or pepperoncini. As far as the base of the bowl goes, you can use just about any type of grain or grain substitute that you love. Consider farro, brown rice, millet, quinoa, or even cauliflower rice.
Equipment Needed
Sharp Chef's knife: A sharp knife is needed for portioning the salmon fillet, as well as preparing the vegetables.
Large baking dish: A baking dish is used for cooking the salmon. A rimmed baking sheet could be used instead.
Mixing bowls: A few mixing bowls are needed to make this recipe, for mixing the tzatziki, Greek dressing, vegetables, and of course for serving!
Saucepan: A small 2-quart saucepan is needed to cook the couscous.
Lemon juicer: A lemon juicer is not required, but is very helpful for juicing the fresh lemons for this recipe.
Ingredient List
Pride of Bristol Bay Sockeye salmon: The star of this salmon recipe is of course, salmon. Full fillets or salmon portions can be used.
Extra virgin olive oil: Olive oil is the base of the Greek marinade and dressing, and adds a wonderful richness to the tzatziki sauce. Because it is being used in cold applications, be sure to use a good-quality olive oil.
Lemon juice: Lemon adds a fresh bright flavor throughout the whole dish. If preferred, red wine vinegar can be used for the dressing instead of lemon, just be sure to use lemon in the tzatziki.
Fresh herbs: Dill and oregano are used in the dressing, and are a signature of the delicious Greek flavors. One teaspoon of dried oregano can be used instead, but fresh dill is the best for this recipe.
Honey: Honey is used to balance the flavors of the dressing, without making it sweet.
Garlic: Garlic adds a savory flavor to the tzatziki and dressing.
Cherry tomatoes: Cherry tomatoes add color, texture, and a fresh flavor to the dish. Look for the multicolor ones for a beautiful presentation, or use fresh heirloom tomatoes if they are in season.
Cucumber: Cucumber adds a great crunchy texture to the dish. Look for Persian or English cucumbers for their small seeds and thin skin, eliminating the need for peeling.
Artichoke hearts: Look for canned quartered artichoke hearts packed in water, or whole ones that you can quarter yourself. If marinated ones are all you can find, they will work too!
Kalamata olives: Kalamata olives are a staple of Greek cuisine and add a salty briny flavor to the dish.
Red onion: Onion sliced very thin adds a sharp savory flavor that helps balance the salty and fresh ingredients.
Feta cheese: Feta adds some additional salt and a creamy texture to the dish.
Couscous: Couscous is used as the base of these bowls. Use your favorite brand and cook according to the package directions.
Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt is used to make the tzatziki sauce. Look for whole milk or full-fat yogurt for maximum flavor.
[[ recipeID=recipe-8liacs7he, title=GREEK SALMON BOWL WITH TZATZIKI SAUCE ]]
AUTHOR PROFILE
Marisa Kerkvliet of Lemon Thyme Kitchen is a freelance recipe developer and food photographer with a Master’s degree in Nutrition. She was raised on her family’s farm in Northwest Washington and her appreciation for good food developed at a very early age. She is passionate about creating recipes and beautiful imagery that highlight high-quality seasonal ingredients. Marisa loves all types of seafood, but her favorites are salmon and scallops!
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