Salmon Salad with Grapes and Pecans

Salmon Salad with Grapes & Pecans updates a classic chicken salad. Serve as a sandwich or as a salad for lunch, brunch, shower or dinner.

This post is sponsored in conjunction with #FallFlavors Week. I received product samples from sponsor companies to help in the creation of these recipes. All opinions are mine.

Today’s Salmon salad with grapes and pecans recipe is based on a chicken salad with grapes recipe I ate growing up. I was a picky eater back then and always suspicious of sandwich spreads–who knows what could be lurking inside! But this recipe was an exception. 

With a sweet brightness from the grapes, I went it for every time. Now, as an adult on a mission to eat more salmon, I wondered, could this be even better with salmon?  

So when the Melissa’s Produce box I got for #FallFlavor Week included beautiful red grapes, I knew the time was now. Melissa’s Produce is the largest distributor of specialty produce in the United States and carries fun, “exotic” items like kumquats along with must-haves like grapes!

Check the giveaway below for a chance to win a subscription of your own and other great prizes.

What Makes This a Winner

Just in case the punch of freshness from the grapes isn’t enough to convince you, this recipe is:

• A Healthier Updated Classic – who can resist a classic that gets an update, especially if it’s healthier! With the omega-3 rich salmon plus a lower-fat, higher-calcium dressing, you get the best of both worlds.
• Versatile – this salmon salad can be served as a sandwich, or as a simple salad with lots of fun variations (see “Variations” below)
• Go Fancy or Everyday — Serve this salad on toast or in a wrap for every day. Or go upscale for a shower or elegant brunch by serving on a croissant or topping half of an avocado.

Step by Step Directions

Since, I couldn’t find my mother’s recipe, I went out to her old Betty Crocker cookbook.  And with some tweaks we were in for a tasty easy lunch!  And prep was so easy!

You cook salmon, cool and cut into bite-sized pieces.

Halve grapes

Chop other ingredients as needed.

Mix up dressing and combine everything.

Serve as a salad or as a sandwich filling.

Variations

While I think the simplicity is part of the beauty of this Salmon Salad, there is still room for creative add-ins. Betty Crocker did a variation with bacon bits which is hard to argue with. And dried cranberries are a common add-in that would up your fruit intake.

Now one of the reasons that this recipe is fun is because it can go sandwich or salad. For a sandwich, you get to decide between serving on a croissant for an elegant look, or going with a wrap or toast for a more casual treat. In any case, I’d add lettuce.

As a salad you can simply go plain—probably on top a lettuce leaf. Or serve atop a full mixed green salad for super nutrition!  Serving in a hollowed out tomato or on half of an avocado would be other fun options!

What to Serve With

Since you really don’t get a full serving of fruit from the grapes in the salad, a cluster of grapes would be lovely on the side, whether this is served as a sandwich or a salad.    

If used in a sandwich, some pasta salad would be a fun side dish. Other options include fruit slices, raw veggies or the classic pickle and chips.  I’ve used my Broccoli Waldorf Salad too. 

If serving as simple salad, I’d top a nest of lettuce leaves, then consider a croissant or dinner roll on the side. Raw veggies or apple slices would also be nice. These sides would also work for a stuffed tomato or avocado.

Tips & FAQs

I made this with fresh salmon that I poached in wine. But salmon leftovers would work well—or salmon cooked according to your favorite method! 

Of course, to save time or money—or simply for convenience, I don’t see why canned salmon wouldn’t work. You would probably need two cans (after removing bones and skin) for a full recipe. Just mix it in gently since it will be more fragile.

More #FallFlavors Recipes Below:

Appetizers and Snacks

• Caramel Pecan Clusters from An Affair from the Heart
• Carrot Top Hummus from Savory Moments
• Fall Charcuterie Board from Magical Ingredients
• Roasted Red Pepper and Crab Savory Cheesecake from A Kitchen Hoor’s Adventures
• Sweet And Spicy Roasted Nuts from Karen’s Kitchen Stories

Breakfast and Baked Goods

• Apple Cranberry Pecan Overnight Oats from Jolene’s Recipe Journal
• Cinnamon Apple Bread from Lemon Blossoms
• Sweet Potato Pancakes from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings

Soups and Salads

• Instant Pot Butternut Squash Soup from Devour Dinner
• Panera Autumn Squash Soup from The Fresh Cooky
• Salmon Salad With Grapes And Pecans from Art of Natural Living

Side Dishes

• Apple Butter Dijon Roasted Brussel Sprouts With Candied Pecans And Green Apple from Soulfully Made
• Butternut Squash And Bacon Risotto from SueBee Homemaker
• Loaded Bacon And Kale Salad from Palatable Pastime
• Roasted Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts And Butternut Squash from Eat Move Make
• Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash from Hostess At Heart

Main Dishes

• Apple Cider Rubbed Pork Chops from That Recipe
• Thai Butternut Squash Curry from Cheese Curd In Paradise
• Butternut Squash Parmesan Pasta from Frugal & Fit
• Grape & Gorgonzola Pizza from The Spiffy Cookie
• Honey Dijon Chicken Sheet Pan Dinner from Simple and Savory
• How To Air Fry Pork Tenderloin With Sweet Potatoes from West Via Midwest

Desserts

• Butter Pecan Fudge from Take Two Tapas
• Cinnamon Roll Cheesecake from Fresh April Flours
• Easy Apple Crisp from Life Love and Good Food
• Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies from Books n’ Cooks
• French Apple Tart from Jen around the world
• Individual Grape Crumble from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Pumpkin Roll from House of Nash Eats
• Pumpkin Snickerdoodles from Family Around The Table
• Slow Cooker Apple Pear Crisp from Blogghetti

Salmon Salad with Grapes and Pecans

Yield: 6

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 10 minutes

Additional Time: 15 minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes

Salmon Salad with Grapes and Pecans updates a classic chicken salad. Perfect for lunch or a light supper on croissants, lettuce leaves, avocado half or more! 

Print

Ingredients

Salmon Salad:

• 2 10+ ounce salmon fillets (about 3 cups of cooked cubes)
• ½ cup water
• ½ cup white wine
• 1 cup halved red seedless grapes
• ½ cup chopped celery
• ½ cup chopped pecans

Dressing:

• ½ cup mayonnaise
• ½ cup plain Greek yogurt
• 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar (or enough to thin to mixable consistency)
• ¼ teaspoon salt, pepper (or to taste)

Instructions

Bring ½ cup white wine and ½ cup water (can sub all water or broth) to a simmer in a large skillet. Salt salmon lightly, then add to the skillet and cover. Simmer until cooked through, about 10 minutes. Cut into bite-sized cubes and cool (can set cooked salmon briefly in freezer to hasten cooling).

Halve grapes and chop celery. Chop pecans if needed.

Mix dressing ingredients.

Combine cooled salmon with other ingredients and the dressing. Mix with a spoon until just combined.

Serve on bread or croissants as a sandwich or over lettuce as a salad.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 6 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 256Total Fat: 22gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 18gCholesterol: 15mgSodium: 231mgCarbohydrates: 8gFiber: 1gSugar: 5gProtein: 5g

Nutrition data accuracy may vary with product selection, calculator accuracy, etc. Consult a professional for the best information.

Welcome to #FallFlavors where more than 25 food bloggers are sharing recipes with favorite Fall flavors. Our sponsors, Millican Pecan, Dixie Crystals, Melissa’s Produce, Taylor & Colledge, Nairn’s, and Republic of Tea, have furnished participating bloggers with complimentary product to use in their recipe creations that they will be sharing this week. These same sponsors have generously offered prizes for our giveaway so be sure to enter and share with your friends so they can enter too. Be sure to follow our Fall Flavors Pinterest account for more inspiration.

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Six (6) winners will be randomly selected. The prize packages will be sent directly from the giveaway sponsors. Bloggers are not responsible for prize fulfillment. Winners have 24 hours to respond once notified by email, or they forfeit the prize and an alternate winner will be chosen. The #FallFlavors bloggers are not responsible for the fulfillment or delivery of the prize packages. Bloggers hosting this giveaway and their immediate family members living in the household cannot enter or win the giveaway. Entries will be verified. No purchase necessary. Void where prohibited by law. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter giveaway and the contest is open only to US residents. This promotion is in no way sponsored, endorsed, administered by, or associated with Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or any other social channel mentioned in the #FallFlavors posts or entries. Thank you to our sponsors Millican Pecan Company, Dixie Crystals, Melissa’s Produce, Taylor & Colledge, Republic of Tea, and Nairn’s for providing prizes.

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