Perfect Air Fryer Salmon with Massaged Kale Salad
This post is about air fryer salmon and massaged kale salad
Do you ever make a recipe and you instantly cannot wait to make it again?! Well, that is how I felt after making this last week! I mean - just look at it! It is just as beautiful as it is tasty and I will definitely have this on the menu when dinner parties are a thing again. The crisp on the salmon, the bright green of the kale salad - it looks like a dish that belongs in a gourmet restaurant!
Luckily, this recipe could NOT be easier - you could definitely make the salmon in the oven, but the air fryer takes it to a whole new level.
The key to this kale salad is thinly slicing and massaging the kale before dressing it. The difference between massaged or un-massaged kale is enormous! By massaging the kale, it will be tender and easier to chew - plus I feel the dressing coats it more evenly and you can use a LOT less!
What type of kale should I use?
I used regular curly kale here, but you could use dinosaur (Tuscan) kale, or any kind of kale that you like. The key is to follow the directions below which will work on any type of kale.
How to chop your kale:
Using a very sharp knife, strip the leaves off each side of the kale stem. Then stack the leaves together and roll lengthwise, then using a very sharp knife chop it crosswise into thin ribbons.
How to massage your kale:
To massage the kale, you’ll simply add a sprinkle of salt + pepper and drizzle of olive oil. Then you gotta get in there with your fingers and massage it. You’ll feel it soften and notice the color change from dull to bright green. You do not need much salt, pepper and oil to make this happen and it should just take a couple minutes. After massaging, you can place it in the fridge and store it. Just don’t mix with the dressing until right before eating.
How to get the salmon crispy:
Here’s the thing about salmon in the air fryer - you do not need to do much to it at all for perfection! For this recipe, make sure to spray the top of the salmon with some olive oil or avocado oil after seasoning and right before placing in the air fryer. that is all you need to do! Less is MORE when it comes to this recipe. You can use any dry rub or seasoning that you like, just season generously and don’t forget that quick spray with oil and you’ll be golden!
Perfect Air Fryer Salmon with Massaged Kale Salad
Ingredients
- 1 pound fresh salmon
- salt-free all purpose seasoning (or your favorite seasoning)
- avocado or olive oil spray
- 2 bunches fresh kale, sliced into ribbons and chopped
- sprinkle of salt + pepper
- drizzle of olive oil
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup pistachios or chopped pecans or pumpkin seeds
- zest of one lemon
- 3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cut salmon into 4 equal portions.
- Season salmon and spray with oil.
- Place salmon in air fryer at 400 degrees for 8-10 minutes depending on thickness of the filet.
- While salmon is cooking, massage the kale and add in the cranberries, nuts, lemon zest, and parmesan, then set aside to make the dressing.
- Place lemon juice, cider, maple syrup, olive oil, salt and pepper in mason jar and shake well to combine.
- After 10 minutes, check salmon for doneness. If it is thick, it may need an additional 2 minutes at 400. The edges should have a nice crispy coating!
- Once salmon is done cooking, drizzle 1/4 cup dressing on your salad and toss to coat evenly. Add more if needed, but you should have leftover dressing for another batch of salad!
Notes:
I first saw this recipe on Pinch Me Good - and modified to work for 2B Mindset!
