Grilled Salmon Quinoa Bowl (Printable version)

Enjoy a nutrient-packed bowl with salmon, quinoa, avocado, and citrus dressing for a fresh, healthy dish.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salmon

01 - 4 salmon fillets (about 5.3 oz each), skin removed
02 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
03 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
04 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
05 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika

→ Quinoa

06 - 1 cup quinoa, rinsed
07 - 2 cups water
08 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Bowl Toppings

09 - 2 ripe avocados, sliced
10 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
11 - 1 cup baby spinach or mixed greens
12 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
13 - 1/4 cup toasted pumpkin seeds
14 - 1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

→ Citrus Dressing

15 - 3 tablespoons fresh orange juice
16 - 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
17 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
18 - 1 teaspoon honey or maple syrup
19 - 1 garlic clove, finely minced
20 - 1/4 teaspoon Dijon mustard
21 - Pinch of sea salt
22 - Pinch of black pepper

# Directions:

01 - In a saucepan, combine rinsed quinoa, water, and salt. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 12-15 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff with a fork and set aside.
02 - Brush salmon fillets with olive oil, then season with salt, pepper, and smoked paprika on both sides.
03 - Preheat a grill or grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill salmon for 3-4 minutes per side, or until opaque and cooked through. Remove from heat and let rest for 2 minutes.
04 - In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, lime juice, olive oil, honey, garlic, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
05 - Divide cooked quinoa among 4 bowls. Top each with grilled salmon, avocado slices, cherry tomatoes, spinach, red onion, pumpkin seeds, and cilantro.
06 - Drizzle citrus dressing over each bowl just before serving.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The citrus dressing is bright enough to make you smile—no heavy, boring salad vibes here.
  • Everything comes together in 35 minutes, which means you can actually make this on a weeknight without stress.
  • It's packed with protein and healthy fats, so you'll feel satisfied for hours, not hungry again at 3 p.m.
02 -
  • Overcooking salmon is the biggest mistake I see—it goes from tender to dry in about a minute, so start checking at 3 minutes and trust your instincts.
  • The citrus dressing tastes flat if you add it too early, so wait until the very last moment to drizzle it on, or the spinach will start to wilt and lose its crunch.
  • If your quinoa comes out mushy, you probably didn't rinse it thoroughly enough or you cooked it too long—next time watch the timer and test a grain at the 12-minute mark.
03 -
  • Toast your pumpkin seeds yourself if you have time—it takes 5 minutes in a dry pan and makes them taste ten times better than the raw version.
  • Don't be shy with the citrus dressing; this recipe deserves a generous drizzle, and it's where so much of the flavor comes from.
  • If your avocado is still hard when it's time to eat, slice it and let it sit in the warm bowl for a minute before serving—the gentle heat softens it just enough.
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