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Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad served with creamy tahini dressing

Blackened Salmon Caesar Salad with Creamy Tahini Twist

A comforting and celebratory salad featuring smoky blackened salmon topped with a silky tahini Caesar dressing, perfect for cozy dinners.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Course Main Course, Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories 520 kcal

Ingredients
  

For the Blackened Salmon

  • 4 fillets 4 salmon fillets (6 oz each), skin on
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons 2 tsp smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon 1 tsp ground cumin
  • 1 teaspoon 1 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 tsp onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • to taste Salt and pepper, to taste

For the Salad

  • 6 cups 6 cups romaine lettuce, chopped
  • 1 cup 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
  • 1/2 cup 1/2 cup shaved Parmesan or a salty hard cheese alternative
  • 1 cup 1 cup croutons or roasted chickpeas for crunch

For the Creamy Tahini Caesar Dressing

  • 1/3 cup 1/3 cup tahini
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tbsp Greek-style yogurt
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 clove 1 garlic clove, minced
  • 2–3 tablespoons 2–3 tbsp warm water to thin
  • 1 teaspoon 1 tsp Dijon mustard
  • to taste Salt and black pepper, to taste

Instructions
 

Prep the Salmon

  • Pat salmon dry and brush lightly with olive oil.
  • Mix smoked paprika, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Rub evenly over each fillet.

Cook the Salmon

  • Heat a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat with a drizzle of oil.
  • Sear salmon skin-side up for 3–4 minutes until a dark crust forms, then flip and cook 2–4 minutes more until the salmon reaches your desired doneness.
  • Remove and let rest 3 minutes, then flake into large pieces.

Make the Tahini Caesar Dressing

  • Whisk tahini, yogurt, lemon juice, Dijon, and garlic.
  • Add warm water 1 tbsp at a time until the dressing is smooth and pourable. Season to taste.

Assemble the Salad

  • Toss romaine with half the dressing, then arrange on a platter.
  • Top with cherry tomatoes, shaved Parmesan, croutons, and flaked blackened salmon.
  • Drizzle remaining dressing and finish with freshly cracked black pepper.

Notes

Dry the salmon before seasoning for a better crust. Adjust tahini brightness with more lemon or you can add yogurt for tang. For extra crunch, roast chickpeas until golden and sprinkle on top. Consider adding capers or finely minced anchovy to mimic classic Caesar umami.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 520kcalCarbohydrates: 30gProtein: 40gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 6gSodium: 800mgFiber: 5gSugar: 5g
Keyword Blackened Salmon, Caesar Salad, comfort food, healthy salad, Tahini Dressing
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