This Hot Smoked Salmon Salad with horseradish and yogurt dressing is the perfect recipe for any day of the week. Bursting with flavour and ready in under 15 minutes, it’s a beautifully balanced dish that’s as simple as it is satisfying. Say no to boring salads and yes to salads that actually fill you up!
Recipe Overview: Smoked Salmon Salad
- ✅ Recipe Name: Hot Smoked Salmon Salad
- 🕐 Ready In: 15-20 minutes.
- 🧑🧑🧒 Serves: 2 people
- 💕 Perfect For: Meal prep, weeknight dinner.
- 🥣 Main Ingredients: Hot smoked salmon, horseradish dressing.
- 📖 Flavor Profile: Tangy, sweet, balanced, hearty.
- 😊 Difficulty: Easy! So easy!
- 💡 Quick Tip: Omit the smoked salmon and have a salmon fillet instead for a full meal!
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS RECIPE ON
We are massive salmon lovers over here! It's such a versatile seafood! Need a quick appetiser - my canned Salmon Dip is a crowd favourite. Want something a bit fancier - my Red Salmon Curry uses fresh salmon fillets! And I can't forget the versatility of hot-smoked salmon.
When we want an affordable seafood option, I often reach for hot-smoked salmon. It's perfect in Smoked Salmon Pasta, and of course, in my hot smoked salmon salad!
This salad is everything you want in a salad. It's hearty, yet still feels really fresh. The horseradish cream pairs so beautifully with the salmon, onions and the sweet beetroots. Great as an easy weeknight meal, or serve at an Easter or Christmas party! The options are endless. I am embracing team 'no more boring salads' - just salads that are hearty, healthy and delicious.
PS - try my Lentil Halloumi salad if you're in the market for a vegetarian, hearty salad!
Jump to:
Why We Love this Recipe
- Incredibly easy - I'm talking on the table in 15 minutes.
- Fresh but Hearty - it's a big enough salad that you feel like you've had a proper meal.
- Store Bought Ingredients - I call this my 'cheats' salad because there is very little to prep and most of the ingredients are pre-cooked which is why it's so quick and easy to make.
- The Dressing - omg the dressing! The creamiest, horseradish dressing brings this salad together. The horseradish is punchy, without being too spicy and overwhelming.
- Weeknight Dinner or Special Occasion - this salad is great for a weeknight meal, but equally good dressed up for a special occasion like Christmas!
🐣 Hosting Easter? You can't go past this salad with my homemade Hot Cross Buns, Lemon Coconut Tart and Simple Quiche to make it a full dining experience! 🐣
What Readers are Saying
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 The horseradish pairs perfectly with the salmon! - Erin
Key Ingredients
Hot Smoked Salmon - this is readily available in major supermarkets in Australia. I have also found this in Trader Joe's in the USA. Hot smoked salmon is firm and flakey and has a higher level of 'smokiness' to it than cold smoked salmon.
Pre-Cooked Beets - this is where we cheat a little bit! Use store-bought, vacuum-packed beetroots. They are already cooked, have a softer texture than roasted beetroots and a slight sweetness to them.
Mixed Salad Greens/Spring Mix - try to find good quality greens. I like to give them an extra rinse and spin even if they're already prewashed just to freshen them up a little more.
Horseradish Cream - Horseradish cream is found in major supermarkets. Different brands make it in different ways. It is a condiment similar to a mayonnaise consistency.
Substitutions
- 🔁 Red Apple - swap for green apple for the same flavour.
- 🔁 Red Onion - swap for my Easy Pickled Red Onions for extra flavour and colour.
Smoked Salmon Salad Step by Step Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the horseradish cream in a small bowl.
- Lay out the salad greens on a platter.
- Top with the remaining fresh ingredients.
- Top with the hot smoked salmon.
Expert Tip 👩🍳
Make it a whole meal! Swap the hot smoked salmon for a fresh salmon fillet instead. You get the same flavours, but with a little more protein and sustenance.
FAQS
Hot smoked salmon is smoked at around 65-80 °C (150-175F) and is firm and flaky - more like cooked fish. Normal smoked salmon has a lower smoking temperature and is more like a cured fish. I also find cold-smoked salmon to be saltier than the hot salmon.
Horseradish is a pungent and very spicy, similar to the taste of wasabi. The flavour is sharp and spicy but quickly disappears, unlike chilli, which will linger longer on your tongue. Horseradish cream is a jarred condiment that combines horseradish with some base cream, such as sour cream, yogurt or mayo. I buy a store-bought jar and keep it in the fridge for this salad specifically.
This salad can be made as a wreath for Christmas! Place a bowl in the centre of the salad with the horseradish cream in it and assemble the salad around the bowl for that wreath effect.
Other Suggested Salmon Recipes
If you tried this Smoked Salmon Salad or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and a 📝 comment below to let me know how it went. I love hearing from you!
📖 Recipe
Hot Smoked Salmon Salad
Equipment
- 1 Chopping Board
- 1 Sharp knife
- 1 Large Serving Platter
- 1 Small Ramekin optional
Ingredients
- 5.5 oz hot smoked salmon
- 1 small fennel bulb sliced finely
- ½ a red onion finely sliced
- 4 precooked beetroots diced
- 1 red apple finely sliced
- 3 cup salad greens eg - spring salad mix
Horseradish Cream
- ¾ teaspoon horseradish cream
- 3 tablespoon greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice approximately juice of half a lemon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the horseradish cream into a bowl. Taste and adjust flavours.
- Place horseradish cream in the centre of a large platter.
- Lay out the salad greens, then top the salad with the remaining ingredients. Use a fork or your hands to shred the salmon.
- Add some extra dill sprigs for decoration (optional)
- To serve, dollop the horseradish cream on the salad, toss and serve.
Scarlet says
This sounds like the perfect healthy salad to start the new year off right. Salmon is so good for you!
Georgie says
it is absolutely delicious and so healthy!
Erin says
This smoked salmon wreath is just the light and fresh lunch or dinner that my week is calling for. The horseradish dressing pairs perfecctly with the salmon.
Georgie says
It makes a beautiful meal prep lunch too! it saves really well for the next day!
Amber says
Horseradish cream is perfect for this salad! I also look forward to try the Smoked Salmon Pasta. Delicious 🙂
Georgie says
The pasta is delicious also! Thanks Amber!
Maike says
Salmon salad is one of our all-time favorite salads. I've never had it with horseradish dressing but it sounds delicious and I can't wait to make this for my family.
Georgie says
It goes so beautifully together! Hope you love it Maike!
Jessica Formicola says
I made this over the holidays and it was a total hit! Everyone loved it and asked for the recipe! Thanks so much for sharing!
Georgie says
glad you loved it Jessica! thanks for the feedback
Anjali says
Love how healthy and fresh this salad is, and the tanginess of the dressing is absolutely perfect!
Georgie says
it goes beautifully with the smoked salmon doesn't it!
Anita says
The smoked salmon pairs really well with the horseradish dressing. This is too delicious to serve just for the holidays. 🙂
Georgie says
I definitely agree it's an all year round salad for sure! Thanks Anita 🙂