Smoked Salmon Salad is special occasion elegant, but easy enough to make on a weeknight. It pairs well with other salads and appetizers in a party or brunch spread, yet is hearty enough to be a meal on its own.
In many of salads that include farro (like Greek Farro Salad and Charlie Bird's Farro Salad), it's the focal ingredient. But in this Smoked Salmon Salad recipe, it’s an accessory. Here buttery, smoky salmon and creamy goat cheese are the stars.
Ample flavors and textures are at play in this Smoked Salmon Salad. Tender salad greens like baby spinach and arugula, salty-rich smoked salmon, bitter radicchio, nutty farro, crunchy walnuts, and creamy goat cheese are tossed in a creamy, fresh lemon juice spiked salad dressing. Every bite is a little different.
Ingredient Options
- Though I love this recipe as is, it's one of those recipes that is easily amenable. Don't hesitate to swap in or embellish with your favorite ingredients.
- Not a fan of goat cheese? Feta or a soft farmer's cheese make a great substitute. (Or top with crispy Baked Goat Cheese rounds instead.) Want to add a bit of heat? Thinly sliced red onion is a great choice. Craving more butteriness? Add avocado slices. A touch of sweetness? Toss in a few cherry tomatoes. Want to add a briny, herbaceous edge? A few capers and a shower of fresh dill will do the trick. Feel free to make this your own!
- And if you'll be serving this to someone on a gluten free diet, brown rice or oat groats will stand in nicely for the farro.
If you have time to plan ahead, much of this salad can be prepared in advance. (See my in-depth guide on How to Cook Farro) But if you plan to eat it over a couple of days, be sure to store the ingredients separately and assemble just before serving.
If you love fish and seafood salads, don't miss these recipes for Crab Salad and Nicoise Salad. And though I love smoked salmon for this salad, leftover Slow Roasted Salmon or Salmon Piccata are other delicious options.
Smoked Salmon Salad with Farro and Goat Cheese
Ingredients
- ¼ cup sour cream or plain yogurt
- 3 ounces soft goat cheese divided
- juice of 1 Meyer lemon
- 1 teaspoon milk or more
- 2 green onions finely chopped
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 5 ounces mixed baby greens
- ½ head radicchio coarsely chopped
- 5 ounces smoked salmon broken up into bite-size pieces
- ¼ cup toasted walnuts coarsely chopped
- ½ cup cooked farro
Instructions
- To make the dressing: Whisk together sour cream or yogurt in a medium bowl, 1 ounce of the goat cheese and lemon juice. Whisk in milk, one teaspoon at a time, until dressing reaches the consistency you're after. Whisk in green onions and season to taste with salt and pepper. Set aside.
- On a large serving platter, scatter mixed baby greens and radicchio in an even layer. Sprinkle smoked salmon, walnuts, farro and remaining goat cheese evenly over the top. Drizzle with dressing and serve.
I came across your recipe by accident. I had leftover smoked salmon after having it with bagels and cream cheese. I didn't want it to go bad so I googled ideas for recipes and initially came across a different smoked salmon and farro salad recipe. I didn't have everything on hand for that recipe, and I did not want to go out to the store, so I continued looking and came across this one.
This review may not be totally fair because I did not make your recipe exactly as is either because I did not have everything for your recipe. I did not have radicchio or walnuts. I did everything else as your recipe is written - the dressing, baby greens, and farro. The additions that I made came from the other recipe - toasted pepitas, cucumber in large dice, sliced hard-boiled eggs, and diced avocado. So, in reality, what I did is a combination of two recipes. I also added a bit of baby spinach. My end product was delicious. Your dressing really is good and brought together all of the different flavors. I will make your recipe as it is written as it is probably a little easier than what I did.
So glad you enjoyed this, Ken, and that you made it your own with what you had on hand!
Yum! Smoked salmon and farro are two of my favorite ingredients! And putting them together into a gorgeous salad was genius!!
Thank you, Liz!
Perfect salad for lunch or dinner Marissa. I love the flavor combination. Can't wait to give it a try!
Thanks so much, Mary Ann!
I absolutely love smoked salmon! This salad is screaming my name! Not only is it gorgeous, but you've also loaded it with so many delicious goodies!! I could easily eat this for lunch and dinner on repeat! I can't wait to make this... immediately!
aww...thanks so much, Cheyanne!
This is fabulous! I saw it on IG and knew I wanted to make it! I think hot smoked salmon would be great in it as well.
Thank you, Mimi! I agree! Hot smoked salmon would be fantastic in this!
What a beautiful and delicious salad, Marissa! The combination of smoked salmon, peppery greens, goat's cheese, walnuts, and farro is spot on! In fact, I'm making a similar salad with orzo this weekend, but I'll keep in mind the farro option for next time.
Thank you, Ben! I bet your orzo salad will be delicious too!
I loves me some smoked salmon and happen to have some on hand so perfect timing! What a lovely salad, perfect for entertaining or for date night at home with hubby 🙂 !!
Yay! I hope you guys love this, Dawn! Have a wonderful weekend!
You're totally right about smoked salmon, Marissa. It sounds super fancy, but it really isn't that hard to make or use in a recipe. This salad is the perfect example! With the smoked salmon, walnuts and goat cheese, it sounds like something I would find on a fancy cafe menu. But it's so easy to make at home. Now you've got me craving these flavors!! 🙂
You're so kind, David! I hope you'll give this one a try!
I love a salad that is also a meal and this one fits the bill with that lovely smoked salmon star player. I think that dressing would be a fab dipping sauce as well. I love making a big batch of barley, farro or wheat berry and coming up with new ways, like you said, in using it as accessory. Pinned!
Great idea on the dipping sauce! I'm going to do that...Thanks, Kevin! 🙂
I love hearty salads!!! And sadly I have not been using enough farro in my cooking 🙁 Here's to using it just a bit more 🙂
No worries, Mila. I forget about farro too sometimes, but am always glad to come back to it. I love it's nutty flavor and how it can make a salad into a meal!
Oh boy Marissa. You hit the nail on the head with this one!!! Totally my type of salad 🙂 YES to hearty salads as a meal! And I adore the dressing you've used here. I can see myself making this in the very near future.....N x
Thanks, Nagi. I think you'll really like the dressing - just the right amount of creamy tang...xo
Oh yummy. I need more smoked salmon in my salads!!
Me too...love it. 🙂
You are truly a woman after my own heart! I love everything about this...the creamy dressing paired with smoked salmon and the nuttiness of farro. Salads like this beauty are my favorite way to eat!
Thank you so much, Faith! I'd say the very same about you...xo
Yum, another beautiful farro dish!
Thanks, Sabrina... 🙂
Beautiful salad. I love love love farro. And smoked salmon is one of my faves in a salad! Better than chicken.
Thank you, Erin! I love how rich and smoky salmon can be in salads...it's a favorite in our house for sure.
Another beautiful salad, Marissa! You're making me believe that spring really IS coming soon.
Always love the cheese and nut combo, but interesting addition of smoked salmon too. Lovely strong flavours!
Thanks so much, Helen...and hooray for spring!
We're big fans of farro here. I love the chewy nuttiness of it and it really lends itself to salads beautifully! 😀
I agree! Thank you, Lorraine.
I seriously love every ingredient in this dish! Smoke salmon, goat cheese, walnut, radicchio.... all of it! What's also fantastic is that it not only comes together quickly, it's healthy, AND filling! Perfect! This also has my mom written all over it - sending it to her 🙂
I bet your mom is awesome, Kathleen. If she's anything like you that is... 😉 xo
It is approaching dinner time here in Marfa, Texas and this salad looks totally inviting but we are having fried shrimp and tomatillo shrimp tacos. We will make this salad another time because I love salmon and goat cheese. And, you are still beautiful. Thanks for looking in.
This salad is good, but I must say that tomatillo shrimp tacos sound pretty incredible too! Thanks, Ken.