This healthy and filling smoked salmon salad will quickly become your favorite quick lunch or weeknight dinner. Made with fresh lettuce and green onions, smoked salmon, creamy crème fraîche, and flavorful asparagus, this salad is easy enough for an every day meal but also elegant enough for a party.
How to Prepare Asparagus for a Salad
I’m asparagus crazy right now. It’s probably my favorite spring vegetable because it’s so versatile and flavorful.
It also goes great with salmon, which is why I decided to put it in this smoked salmon salad. I don’t really like raw asparagus that much though, so I prefer to blanch it before putting it in a salad.
Blanching is a culinary term for boiling something (usually vegetables) for a short period of time before transferring it to an ice bath. The ice bath stops the cooking process leaving the veggies crunchy and vibrant.
Since I cut my asparagus before putting it in the boiling water, it only takes 30 seconds for it cook. Easy, right?
What is the Best Type of Salmon to Use for This Smoked Salmon Salad?
As much as I love the thinly sliced salmon that you normally use to top bagels (also known as lox), it won’t work that well in this salad.
Instead I used smoked salmon fillets. As the name implies, they come in large, meaty pieces that you have to break down with your fingers to put in/on salads.
I prefer to use this type of salmon because it keeps its shape better and stands up well to the bold flavor of the asparagus.
What is Crème Fraîche?
Crème fraîche is a delicious French invention that is similar to sour cream.
Unlike sour cream which is made by adding lactic acid to cream or milk, crème fraîche is made by fermenting cream.
This process makes it less tangy and a tad more sweet than sour cream. I’ve seen crème fraîche described as richer and thicker than sour cream, but I disagree. I find crème fraîche to be lighter than sour cream, which is why it goes so well with smoked salmon.
To clarify: crème fraîche does have a higher fat content than sour cream but this doesn’t necessarily translate into heaviness.
If you can’t find crème fraîche where you live, it’s really easy to make at home. Here is a super easy crème fraîche making tutorial.
Smoked Salmon Salad with Asparagus & Crème Fraîche
Ingredients
- 5 large asparagus spears trimmed and chopped into bite-size pieces
- 1/2 pound smoked salmon fillets
- 1/2 cup green onion chopped
- 3 tbsp crème fraîche
- 2 tsp lemon juice freshly squeezed
- 5 oz lettuce greens
- pickeld peppers (optional)
- kosher salt
- freshly ground pepper
Instructions
To blanch the asparagus
- Fill a small, heavy-bottomed pot about halfway with water. Bring to a boil.
- Fill a medium bowl with water and ice. Set aside.
- Add the cut asparagus to the boiling water, and cook for 30 seconds.
- Drain the asparagus and transfer it to the bowl with the water and ice. Set aside while you prepare the rest of the salad. The asparagus can be blanched the day before.
To make the salad
- Put the crème fraîche, lemon juice, and green onion in a medium bowl. Whisk to combine.
- Using your hands, flake the smoked salmon fillets into the same bowl.
- Dry the asparagus and add it to the bowl. Mix all of the ingredients together until well combined.
- Taste and season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Add the lettuce greens to a large bowl. Toss with a bit of lemon juice and a pinch of salt. Divide among 4 plates.
- Top the lettuce with a few scoops of the smoked salmon salad and some pickled peppers (if using). Serve immediately.
Notes
- This recipe is adapted from Bon Appétit's Lemony Smoked Trout Tartine.
- This salad can be made ahead of time and stored in the fridge for up to three days.
- I don't recommend using thinly-sliced smoked salmon (or lox) for this recipe. See comments above regarding why.
Nutrition
Here are other easy salad recipes:
If you like this recipe, please make sure to pin it, share it on social media, or email it to your friends. Don’t be shy! People are always grateful for some cooking inspiration 
Also, if you have any questions or just want to let me know that you liked the recipe, please leave a comment below. Hearing from other adventurous home cooks always makes my day!
What a great combo! I love both asparagus and smoked salmon. They sound wonderful together. I just bought a big bunch of asparagus and I have smoked salmon pouches in my cupboard. I have almost everything to make this salad, definitely try this tomorrow. Thanks for another great recipe!
Thank you, Tina! I hope you like it!
We LOVED this salad so much. I made it twice in one week and had a friend ask me for the recipe so I sent them here! SO delicious! Thank you!
I’m so happy to hear that you loved it, Tracy! It’s definitely my new favorite salad 🙂
This looks like the perfect spring salad. I am also going crazy for asparagus lately – it’s such a great and flexible spring vegetable. The creme fraiche also looks absolutely perfect in this. Can’t wait to gobble this up!
Thank you, Jenni!
This recipe is so inspiring. Our salads are a bit boring so we need some good ideas on how to switch it up. Love the addition of the asparagus and salmon. This would be an ideal lunch or light dinner. Your tips and suggestions are great!!
Thank you, Marisa!
Smoked salmon is, hands down, one of my most favorite things in the world. AND I haven’t been able to eat any throughout my pregnancy—it’s one of the no-no foods—so to say I’m hankering it would be an understatement. I am totally bookmarking and pinning this recipe so I can make it next month as a celebratory meal 😉 Love the smokiness and creaminess here!
Thanks, Dana!
Awesome flavour combination. The green, bright (and crunchy!) kick of fresh asparagus combines so nicely with smooth creme fraiche and smoky/salty salmon. We use a lot of salmon around our house and I’m always eager to do something new with smoked salmon. Love how quickly I can through all this together too.
Thanks, Sean! My favorite thing about this salad is how quickly it comes together as well.
Such a great combo of flavors in one bowl. YUM. I prefer the chunks of smoked salmon too. Just seems meatier and less slimy. Good choice for a flavorful recipe.
Thank you, Debra!
Oh my goodness, the perfect early summer meal! We are smoked salmon obsessed here in the pacific northwest and this salad is a must make before asparagus hides away for the season. Love the creme fraiche in there. Can’t wait to try this!
Thanks, Trish! I hope you like it!