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!
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Why I Love This Recipe
This hot smoked salmon salad is a salad recipe that will actually fill you up! No more boring salads, just a super simple salad that combines fresh flavours. I love this recipe because:
- It is SO easy - I'm talking on the table in 15 minutes.
- It's fresh, but still feels hearty - it's a big enough salad that you feel like you've had a proper meal.
- You use very simple store bough ingredients - I call this my 'cheats' salad because there is very little prep.
- You dress it with the creamiest horseradish dressing that brings tanginess and a burst of flavour to it.
- You can dress it up for a special occasion - hello Christmas table!
Recipe Ingredients For The Salad
I love this recipe because there are so many shortcuts you can make! Even though you're using store bought ingredients, it absolutely doesn't alter flavour, it simple makes it that much easier to make.
Hot Smokes 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, vacumed beetroots. They are already cooked, and have a softer texture than roasted beetroots with a slight sweetness to them.
Fennel - finely sliced fennel gives warthm and an aniseed flavour to salad. It also brings a beautiful crunch.
Red Apple - similarly too fennel, the apple gives crunch and also sweetness.
Red Onion - you can either use raw red onion, or my favourite easy pickled red onions work really well with this recipe too.
Mixed Salad Greens - try and 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.
How to Make Horseradish Dressing
The horseradish sauce is the star of this salad. It adds a creamy element to it and the horseradish pairs so beautifully with the salmon, adding a hint of pepper to the salad. You'll need:
Horseradish Cream - I love the Masterfoods Brand. It's really smooth and creamy.
Greek Yogurt - Plain, unflavoured Greek yogurt makes the bulk of this dressing. It is the creamy element.
Fresh Lemon Juice - I LOVE the addition of lemon to the recipe. Lemon, horseradish and fish pair really well together.
Fresh Dill - optional, but always good to add. Dill is a natural pairing for fish and the fronds add a beautiful hint of greenery to the salad and also pairs well with the fennel.
Assembling the Salad
This salad recipe is gorgeous for a special occasion, especially Christmas. I love to make the salad around a bowl of horseradish cream to make it look like a Christmas wreath.
- If making a wreath - add a small bowl to the centre of a platter.
- Add the salad greens around the bowl first.
- Layer wtih the red onion, fennel, apple and beets.
- Flake the salmon and add on to the top of the salad.
- Make the dressing then add it to the bowl.
This salad has a real visual element to it, so it's always nice to take care in the presentation, laying out each part of the salad nicely.
FAQS
How does hot smoked salmon differ to regular smoked salmon?
Hot smoked salmon is smoked at around 65-80C (150-175F) and is firm and flakey - 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.
Can I Make Any Substitutions?
This recipe is pretty good as it stands. If you really wanted you could sub red apple for green and fresh red onion for pickled red onion. Everything else I would keep the same.
What is Horseradish Cream?
Horseradish is a pungent and very spicy, similar to the taste of wasabi. The flavour is sharp and spicy but quickly disappears unlike chili that will linger longer on your tongue.
Horseradish cream is a jar condiment that combines horseradish with some kind of 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.
How Long Will This Salad Keep?
I usually eat this within one day, however will keep leftovers to eat the next day. Any more than one day and it tends to get soggy.
How Many People Does this Serve?
Two people for dinner as a full meal.
To make it a meal for more people, I would actually make the salad without the hot smoked salmon, then I would cook a piece of salmon to pair with it. You still get the same flavours, but it will serve a few more people.
This is a gorgeous salad for any occasion, and will look absolutely beautiful on your table this holiday season!
And remember, if you made this recipe, I'd love to see! Leave a comment and a star rating, it means the world to me!
Georgie x x
Want more salads? Try these;
Hot Smoked Salmon Salad
Ingredients
- 150 g hot smoked salmon 5.5 oz
- 1 small fennel bulb sliced finely
- ½ red onion finely sliced
- 4 precooked beetroots diced
- 1 red apple finely sliced
- 3 cup salad greens
Horseradish Cream
- ¾ teaspoon horseradish cream
- 3 tablespoon greek yogurt
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 5 sprigs of dill finely diced, optional
- salt to taste
- pepper to taste
Instructions
- Combine all the ingredients for the horseradish cream into a bowl. Taste and adjust flavours. Sometime I add more horseradish cream or lemon for extra punch.
- 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.
- To serve, dollop the horseradish cream on the salad, toss and serve.
Video
Nutrition
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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 🙂