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This oven-baked harissa salmon recipe is light, fresh, and flavourful! Inspired by Moroccan flavours, salmon is coated in a simple harissa sauce and served over a mixture of quinoa, kale, lemon, and raisins. A 35-minute healthy weeknight dinner idea!

overhead photo of baked harissa salmon over lemon kale quinoa on a white plate. Ingredients garnish the outside of the plate, along with a MSC blue label

This post is sponsored by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). As always, all words, thoughts, and opinions are my own. Thank you for continuing to support the brands who help make Walder Wellness possible.

I’m so excited to share this harissa salmon recipe with you today! It’s such a delicious way to add a TON of flavour to a simple, healthy baked salmon dish.

I made this recipe in partnership with my friends at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), a global science-based nonprofit dedicated to ending overfishing worldwide.

Our goal in this partnership was to show you how seafood products that feature the MSC blue fish label are good for you and the ocean, too!

In this post I’ll share some facts on the health benefits of sustainable seafood – for you, and for the planet. As a dietitian, these are both super important to me!

All products with the MSC blue fish label are wild caught, which means that they’re a naturally low carbon footprint protein (i.e. has less of an environmental impact than other sources of animal protein).

Luckily, identifying the MSC blue fish label on foods it’s SUPER easy – just check the packaging of any seafood product to see if you can find the same blue label as shown in the picture above!

If you love this recipe, be sure to check out MSC’s virtual Healthy Oceans Too Cookbook! This harissa baked salmon is featured in there, along with a digital collection of easy, healthy seafood recipes that you can make at home. I hope it inspires you to make the best environmental choice when buying the seafood you love 🙂

closeup overhead photo of baked harissa salmon over lemon kale quinoa on a white plate

Recipe Ingredients Needed

You only need 10 simple, healthy ingredients to make this easy salmon recipe:

overhead photo of wood cutting board with ingredients for cooking a salmon recipe on top

Why Choose Sustainable Seafood?

Choosing sustainable seafood with the MSC blue fish label is a win-win for people AND the planet.

By choosing planet-friendly proteins like sustainable seafood, you can reduce your carbon footprint and promote the health of our oceans!

Did you know that:

  • wild-capture fisheries contribute only 1% of food emissions, compared to the 30% that livestock and fish farms do?
  • of all animal-based proteins, fish has the lowest impact on the planet in terms of greenhouse gas emissions per gram of protein?
  • 40% of inhabitable land on Earth is used for food production, with only 2% of that used for producing fish + eggs? In comparison, 82% of that land is used to produce livestock.
  • sustainable fishing helps to reduce carbon emissions by increasing efficiency!

With 1/3 of the world’s fisheries being overfished, it’s important to me that I choose sustainable seafood options so that future generations are able to enjoy the same delicious seafood dishes that I enjoy regularly.

Source: Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies

overhead photo of white baking dish with two salmon fillets topped with a harissa sauce on top

Salmon Nutrition Benefits

Salmon is an excellent source of quality, complete protein:

  • a 3-ounce serving provides 17 grams
  • a 6-ounce piece will give you 34 grams

Protein helps to protect bone health and prevent muscle loss, among many other functions!

In addition to protein, salmon is rich in heart-healthy unsaturated fatty acids, including omega-3s. Omega-3s are known to support heart health, brain health, and to reduce inflammation overall.

On the micronutrient side, salmon is a great source of B vitamins like:

  • vitamin B12
  • vitamin B6
  • thiamin
  • riboflavin
  • niacin

B vitamins act as coenzymes in many important metabolic processes throughout your body, such as turning the food we eat into energy!

Salmon is also a good source of minerals like potassium and selenium.

Source: Seafood Nutrition Partnership

overhead photo of a large pot in a mixture of lemon quinoa, kale, and golden raisins inside

How To Store & Reheat Baked Salmon

Cooked salmon will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge.

You can reheat salmon in the oven, stovetop, or microwave, although it will compromise the texture a little. Because of this, I often like eating any leftover salmon cold. Throw it into a salad or add it to a sandwich or wrap!

Recipe Modifications & Variations

While I recommend keeping the salmon recipe as is, you can easily serve the harissa salmon with something other than the lemon quinoa.

For instance, instead of quinoa you can use another grain like brown rice, farro, or couscous.

Instead of kale you could use another leafy green, like spinach or chard.

You could also serve the harissa salmon over a simple pasta, or with a side of roasted potatoes and/or roasted veggies!

closeup overhead photo of a partially-eaten baked harissa salmon over lemon kale quinoa on a white plate

More Easy, Healthy Salmon Recipes

Did you give this Baked Harissa Salmon Over Lemon Quinoa Recipe a try? Let me know by leaving a comment and recipe rating below!

If you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Pinterest – seeing your creations always makes my day. You can also subscribe to my email list to never miss a new recipe or nutrition education post!

Get the Recipe: Baked Harissa Salmon Over Lemon Quinoa

This oven-baked harissa salmon recipe is light, fresh, and flavourful! It's an easy, healthy weeknight dinner idea ready in 35-minutes!
overhead photo of baked harissa salmon over lemon kale quinoa on a white plate. Ingredients garnish the outside of the plate, along with a MSC blue label
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4.73 from 11 votes
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Ingredients

Harissa salmon:

Lemon Quinoa:

  • 1/2 cup quinoa, dry
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 4 cups kale, shredded or torn
  • 1 lemon, juice + zest
  • 3 Tbsp golden raisins
  • Salt + pepper, to taste

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 400F.
  • In a large pot on the stove, cook quinoa with water according to package directions. Quinoa is done once all liquid is absorbed (about 15 minutes).
  • Meanwhile, whisk harissa paste, minced garlic, and olive oil together in a small bowl.
  • Place salmon fillets into a baking dish and coat with harissa mixture. Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes.
  • While salmon bakes, heat a large pan over medium and add 1 Tbsp of olive oil. Sauté kale until wilted, about 2 minutes.
  • Add sautéed kale to the pot with cooked quinoa, along with lemon juice, zest, and golden raisins. Season with salt and pepper.
  • Serve quinoa mixture and top with baked salmon. Enjoy!

Notes

*IMPORTANT NOTE: There are different types of harissa paste available, some are spicy and others are mild. Please look for and use a mild harissa paste, or else this recipe will be too spicy! That is, unless you love a lot of spice 🙂
*LEFTOVERS: Cooked salmon will keep for up to 3 days in an airtight container in the fridge. You can reheat salmon in the oven, stovetop, or microwave, although it will compromise the texture a little. Because of this, I often like eating any leftover salmon cold. Throw it into a salad or add it to a sandwich or wrap!
*RECIPE MODIFICATIONS: While I recommend keeping the salmon part of the recipe as is, you can easily serve the harissa salmon with something other than the lemon quinoa! For instance:
  • instead of quinoa you can use another grain like brown rice, farro, or couscous.
  • instead of kale you could use another leafy green, like spinach or chard.
  • you could also serve the harissa salmon over a simple pasta, or with a side of potatoes and roasted veggies

Nutrition

As a dietitian, I create recipes with whole food ingredients that provide the nutrients needed for optimal health. My nutrition philosophy does not focus on numbers; however, I understand that this information can be helpful.

Do note that the nutrition info provided is an estimate and I cannot guarantee correctness of the displayed values. These numbers will differ depending on brands used, recipe modifications, and amount eaten. If you require specific nutrition information due to medical reasons, please consult with your dietitian or physician.

Did you make this recipe?

Let me know by leaving a recipe rating below, or by tagging @walderwellness on Instagram. I love seeing your beautiful creations!

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pinterest graphic for a baked harissa salmon over lemon quinoa recipe
This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy.