Healthy Creamy Leftover Salmon (Printable Version)
Flaked salmon in a creamy yogurt sauce with spinach, tomatoes, and dill for a quick nutritious meal.
# Ingredient List:
→ Protein & Dairy
01 - 2 cups cooked salmon, flaked, skin and bones removed
02 - 1/2 cup Greek yogurt or reduced-fat crème fraîche
03 - 1/4 cup light cream cheese, softened
→ Vegetables
04 - 1 cup baby spinach, chopped
05 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
06 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
07 - 1 clove garlic, minced
→ Broth & Seasoning
08 - 1/2 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
09 - 1 tablespoon fresh dill, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried dill)
10 - 1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
11 - Juice of 1/2 lemon
12 - 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/4 teaspoon salt, or to taste
→ To Serve
14 - 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
15 - Cooked quinoa, rice, or whole-grain pasta (optional)
# How to Make:
01 - Heat a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a splash of oil or a small amount of broth, then sauté the sliced red onion and minced garlic for 2 to 3 minutes until softened and fragrant.
02 - Add the chopped spinach and halved cherry tomatoes to the skillet. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes until the spinach is just wilted and the tomatoes have softened.
03 - Pour in the broth, then add the softened cream cheese and Greek yogurt. Stir continuously for about 2 minutes until a smooth, creamy sauce comes together.
04 - Gently fold in the flaked salmon, chopped dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 more minutes until the salmon is heated through.
05 - Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed. Serve hot, sprinkled with chopped chives. Offer over cooked quinoa, rice, or whole-grain pasta if desired.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- It turns plain leftover salmon into something that tastes like you spent an hour planning it, not fifteen minutes throwing it together.
- The creamy sauce is rich enough to feel indulgent but light enough that you will not need a nap afterward.
02 -
- Do not let the sauce boil once the yogurt is in, or it will separate and look grainy instead of silky.
- Fold the salmon in gently at the end rather than stirring aggressively, because overworked fish turns to paste and loses its beautiful texture.
03 -
- Take the cream cheese out of the fridge before you start chopping anything, because cold cream cheese will clump and never fully blend into the sauce.
- A squeeze of lemon juice at the very end, right before serving, wakes up every flavor on the plate and makes the dish taste brighter than it has any right to be.