Cold Salmon Salad {With Potatoes}

This cold salmon salad is perfect for a picnic or barbecue. It's easy to make ahead and it gets better over time.

Cold Salmon Salad

If like me, you often have some salmon left over in the fridge from another meal, this cold salmon salad is the perfect dish to make the next time you're having a BBQ or the weathers hot. It's cooling, simple, kid friendly and pretty darn scrummy.

The most time consuming part of this dish is boiling the potatoes until they're tender. The rest, assuming you have some salmon that you want to use up, takes just minutes to put together. And I guess just because the flavors develop, it seems to get better and better over time. So if you need something to make ahead or take to a friends, this salad's the boss.

If like me, you often have some salmon left over in the fridge from another meal, this cold salmon salad is the perfect dish to make the next time you're having a BBQ or the weathers hot. It's cooling, simple, kid friendly and pretty darn scrummy. 

The most time consuming part of this dish is boiling the potatoes until they're tender. The rest, assuming you have some salmon that you want to use up, takes just minutes to put together. And I guess just because the flavors develop, it seems to get batter and better over time. So if you need something to make ahead or take to a friends, this salad's the boss. 

If you don't happen to have salmon leftover and want to make this regardless, firstly, you'll be glad you did and secondly, all you need is to cook some salmon fillets and they really don't take long at all. 

I cook salmon in the oven if i'm cooking it especially for this salad but you could just as easily pan fry them. You want the salmon to be flaked when you add it to the salad. If you're particularly pushed for time, you might even think about buying some pre cooked salmon fillets if you have them on offer near you. 

In terms of ingredients, I make this with boiled new potatoes and tomatoes. We have a lot of tomatoes growing in the garden right now and so I like to throw a few in, halved, for a color burst. You could do the same with red or yellow pepper if your kids like them, or gently stir through some lettuce for greenery! 

Avocados are also a good addition to this Summer salad and in the past I've added a little feta cheese, red onion or shallots, and even half a cup of cooked quinoa, rice or couscous to bulk it out and make add some more goodness. It's very versatile and you can add the things you love. 

Use this recipe as a guide, it's not going to ruin it if you switch things up!

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Salmon Salad Dressing

I make a fresh lemon juice and dill dressing for this salad, with greek yogurt. It tastes light and Summery, it's also mild and so the kids like it. You can switch the dill for other fresh herbs, or if your kids are 'little green things' phobic you can leave them out all together. It's not as thick as a mayonnaise but thicker than a balsamic dressing.

I use only enough dressing to very lightly cover the potatoes before adding the rest of the ingredients so once the potatoes are cooked, I add them to a bowl and dress them on their own before adding anything else. 

This stops the salad going soggy before everyone can tuck in!

Storing This Salad

You can make the 'parts' of this salad a few days ahead, boil the potatoes, cook the salmon and have the dressing ready, but I wouldn't recommend you add the dressing to the potatoes until you're going to be eating it. 

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Once the dressing is added, while you'll have not saturated the whole salad in dressing and so it's won't become soggy, the salmon and tomatoes will absorb some of the dressing. 

Once you've made the salad up and find yourself with leftovers, they can stay in the fridge, covered with food wrap for a day or two.

Substitutions

This is a lovely summer salad to have in your recipe merry-go-round but as with lots of recipes, you can change things up if you like. 

Here's some suggestions: 

• Swop the salmon for Tuna for a summery tuna salad 
• Switch the fish theme completely and add some cooked, torn up chicken for a fresh chicken salad. The remaining ingredients will remain the same
• Wash some large Romaine lettuce leaves and create a lettuce wrap willed with your salmon salad

How To Make Cold Salmon Salad

Ingredients

• The Salad
• 2 fillets Salmon As a guide
• 3½ Cups New potatoes Washed, halved
• 1 Cup Cherry tomatoes Halved
• The Dressing
• ¼ Cup Greek yogurt I used the full fat version
• 1 tbsp Olive oil
• 1 tbsp Fresh lemon juice
• 1 tsp Maple syrup 100% Pure
• Pinch Salt & Black pepper To season

Instructions

• If your salmon is uncooked, bake it in the oven for 16-18 minutes until fully cooked on a medium-high heat and allow it to cool. You can also grill it
• While the salmon is cooking boil a large pan of water and cook the potatoes until they're tender and then drain and let the cool down
• While the potatoes and salmon are cooling, make the dressing. Grab a clean jar with a lid and place all your ingredients inside. Make sure the lid is on tightly and give the jar a good shake. You may have to scrape down the sides and give it another shake to make sure all the ingredients are combined
• Put the potatoes into a large bowl and add the dressing a little at a time until there is a light coating covering all the potatoes
• Then add the flaked salmon and gently stir it through making sure not to break up the fish too much
• Transfer to a serving dish, and add the halved cherry tomatoes onto the top, and some fresh herbs if you have some!

Cold Salmon Salad Recipe