Grilled Salmon Salad with Pomegranate and Walnut Vinaigrette
Pomegranates have been cherished for their exquisite beauty, flavor, color, and health benefits for centuries. From their distinctive crown to their ruby red arils, pomegranates are royalty amongst fruit. They are symbolic of prosperity and abundance in virtually every civilization.
The name “pomegranate” derives from the Middle French “pomme garnete” – literally “seeded apple.” It is also sometimes referred to as a Chinese apple. Many scholars believe that the forbidden – yet irresistible – fruit in which Eve indulged within the Garden of Eden was actually a pomegranate (and not an apple).
Pomegranates are a new superfood: They are high in vitamin C and potassium, a great source of fiber, and low in calories.
Pomegranate juice is high in three different types of polyphenols, a potent form of antioxidants. The three types – tannins, anthocyanins, and ellagic acid – are present in many fruits, but fresh pomegranate juice contains particularly high amounts of all three.
Poms are generally available in Fall to Winter months, but many areas package and provide the arils ready to serve, including Trader Joe’s.
Ingredients
Walnut Vinaigrette:
- ¾ cup pomegranate juice
- ¼ cup orange juice
- ¼ cup fresh lime juice
- ¼ cup water
- ¾ cup walnut oil
Salad
- 3 cups mixed seasonal vegetables (carrots, celery, red onion, peppers, spinach, etc.)
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
Glazed Salmon
- 6 6 oz. wild salmon fillets
- 1 cup orange juice
- ½ cup fresh lemon juice
- ½ cup fresh lime juice
- 1 cup canola oil
- ¼ cup jerk spice
- ½ cup Thai sweet chili sauce
Instructions
- Make the dressing by combining the pomegranate juice with 1/4 cup each of orange juice, lime juice and water. Slowly whisk in the oil. Use to dress the veggies.
- Prep the salad vegetables. Thinly slice the seasonal vegetables. Toss the vegetables with just enough vinaigrette to lightly coat. Set aside.
- Prep the salmon. Combine the orange juice, lemon juice and lime juice with the canola oil, jerk spice and Thai sweet chili sauce. Mix well. Place the salmon and the glaze mixture in a casserole dish, and allow it to marinate for 2 hours prior to cooking.
- Heat grill to medium-high heat. Remove the salmon from the marinade, and grill for 4 to 5 minutes on each side.
- Assemble your salad by plating vegetables on 6 dinner plates, then top with the salmon. Drizzle some of the vinaigrette over the salmon, and garnish with fresh pomegranate arils.
Spa Index Kitchen Notes
Nutrition
With thanks to the POM Council for resource data. Visit POM Council for more recipes.
One of my favorite salads you’ve shared with us!
tasty and elegant, a nice looking meal which impresses the inlaws
The dressing has become my go-to for most grilled entree salads. Fish, chicken, you name it. I use this dressing and pom arils and it’s always vibrant and tasty, even if the salad itself is boring that day.
This recipe not only has vibrant taste, but the colors are equally enticing. Definitely one I’ll be serving for luncheons.
We just found vacuum packed wild salmon fillets, already grilled, at Trader Joe’s, and elected to substitute them for fresh salmon, using this salad as a taste test. Since we had to thaw and heat the salmon anyway, we elected to make this glaze and proceed as directed, using just our broiler for a far lesser time, just long enough to heat the fish and sizzle the glaze. Delicious!