A bright Mediterranean salmon bowl with crispy-skin salmon, lemony quinoa, cucumber-tomato salad, Kalamata olives, feta, and creamy tzatziki. Ready in about 30 minutes, perfect for weeknights.
Combine rinsed quinoa with 1 cup water and a pinch of salt in a saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 12–15 minutes until water is absorbed. Fluff and set aside with a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon.
Mix Greek yogurt, grated cucumber (squeezed dry), minced garlic, dill, lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Chill until ready to serve.
Toss diced cucumber, halved cherry tomatoes, red onion, olives, lemon zest, a splash of olive oil, salt and pepper in a bowl. Adjust seasoning to taste.
Pat salmon dry and season with salt, pepper and lemon zest. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat with 1 tablespoon oil. Place salmon skin-side down and press gently for good contact. Cook 4–5 minutes until skin is crisp; flip and cook 2–3 minutes for medium doneness. Rest briefly.
Divide quinoa between bowls, add greens if using, top with cucumber-tomato salad, place salmon on top, sprinkle with feta and finish with a dollop of tzatziki and a squeeze of lemon.
Notes
To keep tzatziki thick, squeeze excess moisture from the grated cucumber before mixing.
For extra crispy skin, make sure the salmon is dry before searing and don’t move it until it releases from the pan.
Swap quinoa for rice, farro, or couscous depending on preference or what you have on hand.