Buttery seared salmon fillets are the perfect meat pairing in this protein-packed seared salmon Caesar salad that features a creamy roasted garlic dressing on top.
For when you need a salad with just a little more protein oomph…you pretty much have no choice but to call on this ultimate twist of a Caesar salad.
Not only do we have a huge salmon fillet perched on top of all the things you love about Caesar salad, but there’s also a pretty incredible roasted garlic dressing coming into play here that changes the game entirely.
You’re about to become a permanent salad person, get excited.
The most involved part about this salad is roasting the garlic for the dressing, but that can easily be done ahead of time! Keep reading for all the make-ahead meal prep tips.
This Caesar Salad features…
- Crisp romaine lettuce and crunchy croutons
- Tangy capers and nutty shaved Parmesan cheese
- Buttery, melt-in-your-mouth seared salmon fillets
- A rich and flavorful roasted garlic Caesar dressing
Making the Caesar Salad
(scroll down to the bottom of the post for the full recipe)
Ingredients You Will Need
- Garlic
- Olive oil
- Mayonnaise
- Worcestershire sauce
- Lemon juice
- Dijon mustard
- Parmesan cheese
- Salmon
- Unsalted butter
- Romaine lettuce
- Croutons
- Capers
Choosing Your Salmon
You will need about 1 lb of salmon for this salad. I recommend buying a side of salmon and cutting into 4 uniform fillets.
I recommend using skinless salmon for this recipe, but if you’re nervous about removing the skin from the delicate salmon fillets yourself, feel free to leave it on, sear it skin-side down to get it crispy, and serve it on top of salad with the skin.
Tips for Perfect Caesar Salad
- Roast garlic in a foil packet – this prevents the garlic from over-browning.
- Sear salmon in a nonstick pan – using a nonstick pan will keep the delicate salmon fillets from sticking.
- Do not overcook salmon – I prefer searing the salmon until it reaches an internal temp of 130F which will give you a super juicy and buttery texture.
- Assemble salad just before serving – this will keep all the ingredients fresh and crisp. Keep reading for meal prep tips!
Recipe Variations
Try these ideas for a different twist on this salad.
- Use a bottled dressing – use bottled Caesar dressing to save on time.
- Add vegetables – try adding chopped sweet pepper, shredded carrots, or cucumber.
- Swap out greens – try a spring mix or spinach in place of the romaine lettuce.
- Use a different fish – try tuna or sea bass in place of the salmon. Be aware that cook time may change.
Meal Prep Instructions
Follow these instructions for time-saving meal prep tips.
- Make the dressing – roast the garlic, mix together the dressing, and store in refrigerator up to 1 week.
- Sear the salmon – while I personally like enjoying this salad with warm salmon on top, you can also sear the salmon ahead of time, store in the fridge up to 6 days, and serve it cold on top of greens.
- Assemble the greens – assemble the greens in meal prep containers with salmon alongside greens and Parmesan and capers arranged on top.
- Assembly for serving – when ready to serve, place salmon on top of greens, add croutons, and top salad with dressing.
One bite of this loaded Caesar salad and you may never return to the classic version again! The salmon adds such a wonderful texture and kick of protein that pairs so well with the other traditional Caesar salad ingredients.
Lunch is served and it’s absolute fire.
Save this recipe using the ‘save to recipe box’ button below. If you make it, please let us know! Leave a comment + star rating below, or take a photo and tag it on Instagram with #wholeandheavenlyoven.
Try these other similar salad favorites next!
Seared Salmon Caesar Salad with Roasted Garlic Dressing
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Ingredients
Roasted Garlic Dressing
- 1 medium head garlic
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce (or 1 teaspoon anchovy paste)
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Seared Salmon Caesar Salad
- 1 lb salmon fillets (4 medium fillets)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 6 cups chopped romaine lettuce
- 2 cups croutons
- 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup capers
Instructions
Roasted Garlic Dressing
- Preheat oven to 400F. Slice about 1/2-inch of the top of garlic. Arrange garlic in the center of a tin foil rectangle and drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Fold edges of foil over garlic and tightly seal to form a packet.
- Place foil packet directly on oven rack and roast at 400F 35-40 minutes until garlic is golden brown and very soft. Allow roasted garlic to cool slightly, then remove from foil and skins and finely mash into a paste.
- In a small bowl, whisk mayonnaise, garlic paste, Worcestershire, lemon juice, Dijon, and Parmesan until smooth (thin dressing with a splash or two of water if it's too thick to drizzle). Season dressing with salt and pepper to taste and store in refrigerator until ready to use.
Seared Salmon Caesar Salad
- Season salmon fillets all over with salt and pepper to taste. Heat butter and olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Sear salmon 3-5 minutes on each side until golden brown and salmon registers 130F.
- Divide romaine lettuce between 4 serving bowls. Top each bowl with a salmon fillet, croutons, Parmesan, and capers. Drizzle with dressing and serve immediately. Enjoy!
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