Smoked Salmon Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

This smoked salmon salad with green goddess dressing is a beautiful, nourishing dish that brings together earthy French lentils, chargrilled baby fennel, baby spinach, creamy avocado and silky sliced smoked salmon, all drizzled with a vibrant herby yoghurt dressing made from parsley, chives, tarragon and capers. Fresh, elegant and deeply satisfying, it’s a salad that feels genuinely special.

At around $12.50 per serve and on the table in under 30 minutes, this is the kind of healthy, high-protein lunch or light dinner that you’ll find yourself making on repeat — especially once you’ve tasted the green goddess dressing.

Why you’ll love this recipe

• Vibrant herby green goddess yoghurt dressing
• French lentils add heartiness and protein
• Chargrilled fennel brings a smoky, anise depth
• Quick-pickled red onion adds a bright tang
• Silky smoked salmon makes it feel luxurious
• Healthy, high-protein and under 300 calories per serve

Why make a smoked salmon salad with green goddess dressing?

Green goddess dressing is one of the great unsung heroes of the salad world — a creamy, herby blend that works with almost everything but is particularly stunning paired with smoked salmon. Here, the yoghurt base keeps it light while the parsley, chives and tarragon bring a fresh, aromatic complexity that a standard vinaigrette simply can’t match. The capers add a little briny punch that cuts through the richness of the salmon beautifully.

The combination of French lentils, chargrilled fennel and quick-pickled onion gives this salad a depth and substance that sets it apart from a typical green salad. This is a dish that genuinely satisfies, yet feels clean and wholesome with every bite.

Ingredients (serves 4)

Servings4

Salad

• 105 g French green lentils, rinsed
• 2 baby fennel bulbs, thinly sliced (fronds reserved)
• ½ red onion, thinly sliced
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• pinch of caster sugar
• 60 g baby spinach
• ½ avocado, sliced
• 180 g sliced smoked Atlantic salmon

Green goddess dressing

• 130 g natural yoghurt
• 2 tbsp fresh continental parsley, chopped (plus extra to serve)
• 2 tbsp fresh chives, chopped
• 1 tbsp fresh tarragon, chopped
• 1 tbsp salted baby capers, rinsed and drained
• 1 tsp lemon rind, finely grated

Allergens: May contain milk, fish and lactose. Always read product labels to ensure ingredients suit your dietary needs.

How to make smoked salmon salad with green goddess dressing

Step 1: Cook the lentils

Cook the French green lentils in a large saucepan of boiling water for 20 minutes or until tender. Drain well and set aside.

Step 2: Chargrill the fennel

Heat a chargrill pan over high heat. Spray the fennel slices with oil and cook for 2 minutes each side or until tender and lightly charred. Reserve the fennel fronds for garnish.

Step 3: Make the green goddess dressing

Place yoghurt, parsley, chives, tarragon, capers and lemon rind in a food processor. Process until smooth and season with pepper.

Step 4: Quick-pickle the red onion

Place the thinly sliced red onion, lemon juice, sugar and a pinch of salt in a small bowl. Set aside for 5 minutes, then drain.

Step 5: Assemble and serve

Combine the cooked lentils, chargrilled fennel, pickled onion, baby spinach and avocado in a large bowl. Divide among serving plates.

Top with sliced smoked salmon. Sprinkle with reserved fennel fronds and extra parsley leaves. Drizzle generously with the green goddess dressing and serve immediately.

Tips for best results

• Don’t overcook the lentils — they should be tender but still holding their shape
• Get the chargrill pan very hot before adding the fennel for good char marks and caramelised edges
• Don’t skip the quick-pickled onion — just 5 minutes in lemon juice softens the sharpness and adds brightness
• Make the green goddess dressing ahead and refrigerate — it keeps for up to 3 days and gets better with time
• Add the avocado just before serving to prevent browning
• Drizzle the dressing at the table rather than tossing through to keep the salad looking its best

Serving suggestions

This smoked salmon salad pairs beautifully with:

• Warm sourdough or rye bread on the side
• Extra green goddess dressing in a small bowl for dipping
• A chilled glass of Chardonnay or dry Rosé
• As part of a larger entertaining spread or grazing table
• Sliced cucumbers or radishes for extra crunch

Nutrition per serving

Based on 4 servings

Energy

1236 kJ

Calories

295 cal

Protein

20 g

Total fat

13 g

Saturated fat

3 g

Carbohydrate

20 g

Final thoughts

This smoked salmon salad with green goddess dressing is one of those recipes that makes healthy eating feel genuinely luxurious. The combination of earthy lentils, smoky chargrilled fennel, silky smoked salmon and that herbaceous, creamy dressing creates a salad with real depth and elegance — the kind of dish you’d happily order at a restaurant and be thrilled to find you can make at home for a fraction of the price.

Whether you’re making it for a light weeknight dinner, an elegant lunch or part of a weekend spread, this salad delivers every time. Make the green goddess dressing ahead, keep it in the fridge and you’ll find yourself drizzling it over everything.