Hoisin Glazed Grilled Salmon Salad is a vibrant, flavor-packed dish that combines the richness of grilled salmon with the sweet and savory notes of hoisin sauce, all balanced by a bed of crisp, refreshing vegetables. It’s perfect for a light lunch or a satisfying dinner that doesn’t feel heavy but still delivers bold, complex flavor.
The star of this salad is the salmon, which is brushed with a glaze made from hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, garlic, and a touch of honey or rice vinegar. As it grills, the glaze caramelizes slightly, creating a sticky, flavorful coating that complements the natural fattiness of the fish. The key is to grill the salmon just until it flakes easily with a fork, keeping it juicy and tender inside.
For the base of the salad, a mix of leafy greens like romaine, baby spinach, or arugula works well. Crunchy vegetables such as shredded carrots, sliced cucumbers, red bell peppers, and snap peas add both texture and color. Thinly sliced red cabbage or radishes can offer extra crunch and a mild bite.
Once the salmon is cooked, it’s placed on top of the salad either whole or flaked into bite-sized pieces. The warm salmon gently softens the greens and makes each bite a satisfying mix of temperatures and textures. A handful of chopped scallions, fresh cilantro, or Thai basil adds an herbaceous layer that ties everything together.
A sesame or ginger-lime vinaigrette works beautifully as a dressing. It enhances the Asian-inspired flavors without overpowering the salmon. A light drizzle is enough to bring all the components together, though a squeeze of lime over the top can brighten things up even more.
Optional toppings like toasted sesame seeds, crispy wonton strips, or crushed peanuts can add extra texture. If you want to turn this into a heartier meal, consider serving it with a side of jasmine rice or chilled soba noodles.
This salad is a great way to enjoy grilled salmon in a lighter, refreshing form that still feels indulgent thanks to the umami-rich hoisin glaze.
Ingredients
- 4 fillets salmon fillets
- 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1 tbsp rice vinegar
- 4 cups mixed salad greens
- 1/2 cup cucumber sliced
- 1/2 cup cherry tomatoes halved
- 1/4 cup red onion sliced
- 1/4 cup cilantro chopped fresh
- 2 tbsp sesame seeds
Instructions
- Preheat the grill to medium heat.
- In a small bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar.
- Brush the salmon fillets with the hoisin glaze.
- Grill the salmon for 4-5 minutes per side, or until cooked to your desired level of doneness.
- In a large bowl, combine the mixed salad greens, sliced cucumber, cherry tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro.
- Drizzle the salad with some of the remaining hoisin glaze and toss to coat.
- Divide the salad among 4 plates and top each plate with a grilled salmon fillet.
- Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the top of each salad.
- Serve the hoisin glazed grilled salmon salad immediately.
Nutrition
Hoisin? Eww. This is wack. I like my salmon with lemon and pepper only.
But hoisin adds a nice sweet flavor! You should give it a try!
Y’all, is it really only 4 grilled minutes for salmon?! I did 10 and still felt unsure…
I always do mine for longer too! I thought it was better to make sure it ain’t raw, ya know? 😅
Yeah, 4 minutes seems low, but salmon cooks fast on the grill! Did it flake apart? That’s how to tell if it’s done.
I think the salad needed more dressing. Kind of dry for my liking.
Tried making this for a date night, and it was wonderful! We both loved it!
Yum! Gonna make this for the family weekend dinner! Can’t wait!
This was such a delightful twist on salmon! Loved the glaze!
Hoisin sauce on salmon? Seems weird to me. Is that even a thing?
I’m so glad you enjoyed it! The glaze really elevates the salmon, doesn’t it?
The salad part is simple (which I like), but I kinda wish the instructions said how much of the glaze to drizzle. I ended up using most of it and it got a bit heavy.
Totally get that—“drizzle some” is vague. I usually use about half the leftover glaze for the salad, and then just add more at the table if people want it. Makes it flavorful without getting heavy.
So simple to make! I felt like a gourmet chef. 😍
You don’t really grill salmon, right? It is more like broilin’! Just saying.
Sounds complicated… can’t I just throw it in the oven? 🤷♂️
I totally disagree! Grilling salmon is the real deal! Broiling is just not the same. 🐟🔥
I didn’t have rice vinegar, so I used apple cider vinegar. It still tasted okay, but I can tell it would be better the right way.
Yum! I didn’t have sesame seeds so I used crushed peanuts, still tasty.
Crushed peanuts? Isn’t that kinda weird? I thought sesame was key.
Sounds delicious! Peanuts are a great idea. Love getting creative with recipes.
Very easy to make. My kids even ate it, which is rare with fish! 😅 Thanks for the recipe!
Yum! I loved the sesame seeds on top, they made it pop! Also used some avocado. So good! Five stars from me! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
I absolutely agree! The sesame seeds really add texture. Did you try it with a bit of lime? That’s a great twist too!
Not sure if I would like that combo, salmon and salad? Seems weird to me. Give me fried fish any day!
This was WAY too sweet for my taste. Honey and hoisin together is just too much. Wont make again.
Easy recipe but I didn’t have hoisin sauce. I used teriyaki instead and it still turned out pretty good.
I tried this with tin salmon and it was not good. Fresh fish next time, but idk if im gonna try again.
The directions are kinda confusing, I wasn’t sure how much sauce to use on the salad. It was ok but not great.
I totally get what you mean! The sauce amount wasn’t clear. Maybe just use a bit at first and add more if needed? It turned out okay for me too.
Really tasty and healthy. I added avocado instead of cucumbers since I’m not a fan.
I tried it but my salmon stuck to the grill… and I think I overglazed it. Also, I only had ketchup so I used that in place of honey (bad idea lol). Still, the crunch of the veggies saved it.
Hoisin glaze is my new favorite! Who knew it would work so well here? 😍
I totally agree! That hoisin glaze adds such a rich flavor. I didn’t think it would be so good on salmon, but wow! 🤤
Really? I always thought hoisin sauce was just for stir-fry. This sounds weird to me… but I might try it anyway.
Too much sauce for me, ruined the salmon. Don’t think I’ll try this again.
I don’t know, hoisin sauce on fish? Sounds weird. I might stick to lemon next time.
I thought grilling salmon was too hard, but this recipe made it easy! Thanks!
So glad you found it easy! Grilling salmon can be intimidating but this recipe makes it foolproof! 🌟
This salad is absolutely delicious! The hoisin glaze on the salmon really takes it to the next level. Thank you!
I was skeptical about using hoisin for salmon, but it actually worked pretty well! Nice balance of flavors.
I’m not sure about hoisin on salmon and salad together. Maybe it’s just my taste, but it feels like it could overpower the greens.
I was skeptical about 4–5 minutes per side (my grill runs hot), but it actually worked. Next time I’ll start checking at 3 minutes. Tastes like a takeout bowl.
Eh, it was just okay. Salmon was dry and salad felt kinda plain. Not impressed.
I got confused with the cooking time 😂. My salmon turned into jerky! Make sure to keep an eye on it, people!
So refreshing! Great mix of flavors. Used kale instead of salad greens because it’s what I had. Still yum!
Kale instead of salad greens? That’s a great twist! I’ll have to try that next time. Glad you enjoyed it!
I don’t know, man. Kale can be kinda tough. Did it really work? I thought the greens make it better.
This salmon salad was amazing! The hoisin glaze adds a sweet and savory kick that complements the fish perfectly. Will definitely make this again!
Simple and nutritious, and my kids liked it too! Glad I tried this one.
Not bad. I’m more of a steak person tho, so I skipped the fish.
I feel you! Steak is way more filling than fish. But this salmon is really good if you give it a try!
I was skeptical at first. Salmon and hoisin? But wow, this actually works! Just be careful not to overcook the salmon.
Never thought hoisin would be good on fish. Totally a game changer!
Not a salad person but this was alright. Fish tasted good tho!
Yummy! I added avocado because I love it. Will make again for sure!
This recipe was fantastic! The salmon turned out so juicy, and the hoisin glaze is a game-changer.
Simple and delicious! Can I replace honey with sugar? Also, more cucumbers pls.
Hoisin? That’s more for stir fry! Why put it on fish? Not a fan.
I am not a fan of salmon, and this recipe didn’t change my mind. The glaze was too sweet for me.
Too sweet for my liking, but my husband loved it. Guess it’s a hit or miss!
Cilantro ruins everything! Next time I’ll just leave it out.
This salad was an absolute hit! The hoisin glaze gave the salmon such an amazing flavor. Will make again!
Easy to make and super delicious! My whole family enjoyed this salad.
It’s ok. I thought it would be more flavorful. Needs more spices or something, idk. The salad part was good tho.
Wow, super quick and flavorful. I used trout instead of salmon and it still came out great. My family asked for it again, so I guess that’s a win.
Hoisin sauce too sweet for my taste. I prefer a zingy dressing with lemon or something. Not a fan overall.
Made this for dinner last night and it was way better than I expected. The hoisin glaze caramelizes nicely on the grill. I used a little extra sesame oil instead of anything else.
Grilling salmon? That’s for fish and chips, right? Not salad!
This sounds like the perfect mix of sweet-savory and fresh. I’d maybe add a squeeze of lime at the end—just to brighten it up. Can’t wait to try!
Yes! Lime at the end would be perfect—brightens the hoisin/honey nicely. I might even zest a little too for extra pop. 🌿🍋