Fruity Quinoa and Grilled Salmon

Fruity quinoa and grilled salmon is a meal prep you didn't see coming, did you? Salmon and fruit do go together for this room-temp easy meal prep recipe.

Fruit, clean and lean! This Fruity Quinoa and Grilled Salmon meal prep brings together all the best sweet and savory flavors. The result is a salad that can easily double for lunch or dinner. This recipe can be eaten at room temperature (it travels well as long as it's chilled until you eat it) and is surprisingly refreshing. Fruit and salmon might be a surprising combo, but if you've been with us a while you've probably seen our Apricot Salmon Meal Prep recipe (and if not, check it out!) This healthy meal prep recipe is gluten-free, too! 

Fruity Quinoa and Grilled Salmon Ingredients

• 1 ¼ pounds salmon fillet
• ½ head green cauliflower
• 2 cups white quinoa, uncooked
• 4 medium size scallions
• 1 lemon
• ⅓ to ½ cup blueberries
• ¼ cup strawberries
• ⅓ cup mango chunks
• Salt and pepper, to taste

How to Make Fruity Quinoa and Grilled Salmon

Cook the quinoa while the salmon grills (either outside on a grill or in a grill pan). Get the cauliflower steaming in a pot on the stove. There are some separate elements to this healthy meal prep, but they can get prepped at the same time, which makes it go a little faster. 

The secret sauce, so to speak, is the fruit. Salmon pairs well with fruit. Whodathunk? 

How to Serve Fruity Quinoa

This is great as is, but don't skip squeezing the lemon juice over the top. It really brings everything together. 

You can serve this at room temperature or chilled, if desired. Alternatively, reheat the salmon and cauliflower separately from the other ingredients and combine together with the quinoa and fruits before serving.

How to Store Fruity Quinoa and Grilled Salmon

Meal prepped, this is good to go in the fridge in airtight containers for up to 4 days or so. Feel free to 

If you have any leftovers, you can freeze the salmon, quinoa, and veggies if desired. Transfer to zip-close freezer bags and label them with the date and contents.

The fruit should freeze ok, but the texture will definitely suffer upon thawing, so it's better to use fresh fruit if possible. To eat the salmon after it's been cooked and frozen, defrost it in the fridge overnight or let it sit in a bowl of cold water in the fridge (or run it under cold water in a strainer set over a bowl in your sink.) Reheat in the microwave, the oven, or the stovetop, as desired. 

Substitutions and Alterations

Use broccoli instead of cauliflower, or even Brussels sprouts (roast them for the best flavor).

Skip the quinoa altogether and use brown, white, or cauliflower rice.

Opt for all mango, all blueberries, or all strawberries, or go totally tropical and just incorporate mango and pineapple. Blackberries would bring a sweet-tart taste to this dish, too. Or take a hint from our apricot salmon meal prep and try stone fruits like apricot—or even in-season peaches.

Try another type of citrus such as lime or orange instead of lemon. 

Swap the salmon for chicken or shrimp; both pair well with the fruits and flavors in this dish.

READ MORE: Salmon is like the chicken of fish! Get these 35 Simple Salmon Meal Prep Recipes!