Baked Harissa Salmon Over Lemon Quinoa
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!

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 🙂
Recipe Ingredients Needed
You only need 10 simple, healthy ingredients to make this easy salmon recipe:
- MSC-certified salmon fillets
- harissa paste
- garlic
- olive oil
- quinoa
- kale
- lemon
- golden raisins
- salt
- pepper
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
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
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!
More Easy, Healthy Salmon Recipes
- Broccoli, Cauliflower & Salmon Salad With Curry Tahini
- Taco Salmon Rice Bowl
- Honey Lemon Oven-Baked Salmon With Thyme
- Crispy Turmeric Salmon With Yogurt Sauce
- Baked Salmon With Pistachio Pesto
- Crispy Salmon With Coconut, Honey & Lime
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!
Healthy Seafood Dinners Ebook
Enjoy this recipe? You will love my 118-page eCookbook of 50 easy, delicious, and nutritious seafood dinner recipes. Get instant access from your phone, tablet, or computer – ad-free!
Get the Recipe: Baked Harissa Salmon Over Lemon Quinoa
Ingredients
Harissa salmon:
- 1/4 cup harissa paste (mild)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp olive oil
- 2 4-6 oz MSC-certified salmon fillets
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
- 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!
22 Comments on “Baked Harissa Salmon Over Lemon Quinoa”
This looks delicious thanks for the dinner inspo. I’m definitely making this tonight!
Thank you so much, Bree!! I can’t wait to hear what you think 🙂
Super simple and incredibly delicious! This might be my new favorite recipe of all time!
Hi Maya! Thank you so much for sharing your experience – it’s so appreciated! I’m so happy to hear you found a new favourite recipe in this one 🙂
Carrie, I made this last week and loved it! Even my significant other that “doesn’t like salmon” liked it! I subbed cous cous just because that’s what I had in the pantry, but I can see quinoa would be a little better and healthier. Thanks for the great recipe idea. It was fast, healthy and an absolute explosion of flavor. 🙂
Hi Samara! Thank you so much for sharing your experience – it’s so appreciated. I’m so happy to hear both of you loved this recipe, and that maybe we have a new salmon lover in your significant other ;). I can imagine that cous cous would taste perfect with this! Thank you again and hope you have a great week 🙂
Oh my gosh, such a simple and delicious recipe! My boyfriend and I started a hello fresh subscription because we always struggle with new recipes, then I found WalderWellness on Instagram! This salmon was so simple, so good for you, and so tasty! Highly recommend this one. 🙂
Hi Sarah!! Oh I’m so flattered to be compared to Hello Fresh as a source of recipe inspo haha! Thank you so much for sharing your experience with this one! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed it. I can’t wait to hear what you try next – happy cooking! 🙂 🙂
This is WAYYY too spicy holy crap.
Hi Belle! I believe we discussed this on Instagram, but I wanted to address it on here as well for other readers! As mentioned, this recipe is not meant to be spicy at all and it was my mistake to not specify to use MILD harissa paste rather than a spicy one. I’ve since updated the recipe to reflect that, so thank you for bringing it to my attention. Again, my sincere apologies for this!!
Absolutely loved this dish! It was super simple and quick to make which is perfect as a weekday meal. This recipe does not require any seasoning but the harissa packed a punch and effortlessly added flavour to the salmon. The quinoa was also delicious with the kale and lemon, making the meal healthy and filling. This is a perfect dish for busy weeknights – totally recommend!
Hi Najmin! Thank you so much for sharing your experience – it’s so appreciated. I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed the flavours of this dish and that you found it easy to make for a weeknight dinner! Thank you again 🙂
New favorite salmon recipe! First time using harissa and it’s delicious. The kale+Quinoa is 10/10 also, and everything goes together perfectly. I also added a side of baked butternut squash and sweet potato that I had left over. My boyfriends only complaint was that I didn’t make enough! And he doesn’t usually like salmon so that’s saying something 🙂 Can’t wait to make again soon!
Hi Zoey! Thank you so much for sharing your experience! I’m so happy to hear that both you and your boyfriend enjoyed this one. And I love that this was your first time trying harissa too – it’s such an awesome condiment. Love adding it to things like eggs, toast, pasta, etc. if you need some more uses for it 🙂
Can’t wait to hear what you try next!!
This was delicious and so easy!!
Hi Tracy! Thanks so much for sharing your experience – so happy to hear that you enjoyed this one!!
I did. I sent it to several friends!
You are too kind!! Thank you so much. I hope they enjoy it as well 🙂
This turned out AMAZING! I only had spicy harissa on hand, and it was perfect. If you’re a spicy lover, i’d suggest trying it out!
Hi Emily! Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a review – it’s so appreciated. I’m so happy to hear that you enjoyed this one!! Glad it wasn’t too spicy for you haha 🙂
Hi Carrie!
I love the recipe and I’m about to make this the second time now Is their a nutrition facts for this, I’m trying to figure out calories per serving
Hi Malvika! I’m so happy to hear you enjoy this one – thank you so much for leaving a rating!!
I don’t have nutrition facts for it, but you are welcome to copy and paste the recipe into an online nutrition calculator (like MyFitnessPal) to get an estimate of the calories per serving 🙂