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
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?
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.
This was WAY too sweet for my taste. Honey and hoisin together is just too much. Wont make again.
Really tasty and healthy. I added avocado instead of cucumbers since I’m not a fan.
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! 🌟
I was skeptical about using hoisin for salmon, but it actually worked pretty well! Nice balance of flavors.
Eh, it was just okay. Salmon was dry and salad felt kinda plain. Not impressed.
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!
Not a salad person but this was alright. Fish tasted good tho!
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.
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.