Healthy Creamy Leftover Salmon (Printer-Friendly)
Creamy skillet salmon with spinach, tomatoes, and Greek yogurt. A healthy 25-minute meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ 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
→ For Serving
14 - 2 tablespoons chives, chopped
15 - Cooked quinoa, rice, or whole-grain pasta (optional)
# How-To Steps:
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 another 2 to 3 minutes until the spinach is just wilted and the tomatoes have softened.
03 - Pour in the broth and add the softened cream cheese and Greek yogurt. Stir continuously until a smooth, creamy sauce forms, about 2 minutes.
04 - Gently fold in the flaked salmon, chopped dill, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and black pepper. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes more until the salmon is heated through. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
05 - Transfer to plates and sprinkle with chopped chives. Serve over cooked quinoa, rice, or whole-grain pasta if desired.
# Expert Hints:
01 -
- It turns dry, sad leftover salmon into something genuinely craveable, which feels like a small kitchen miracle.
- The creamy sauce comes together with Greek yogurt instead of heavy cream, so you get richness without the food coma afterward.
02 -
- Stir the salmon gently rather than aggressively, because overmixing turns it into mush instead of leaving tender flakes.
- Adding the yogurt off heat or over low heat prevents it from separating and looking grainy.
03 -
- Remove every bit of skin and pin bone from the salmon before flaking, because biting into either one ruins the creamy experience.
- A squeeze of extra lemon right at the end wakes up all the flavors and makes the dish taste brighter than you expect.