A kickin Smoked Salmon Zucchini Noodles salad makes for a perfect no cook meal! Just what we need for Summer, yes? Or anytime really! A zippy cajun sauce tossed in chopped vegetables and zucchini noodles then topped with peppery smoked salmon. It’s TO DIE FOR! Paleo, low carb, and Real food deliciousness!
Well loves, I think it’s time we balance out those cookies with some healthy protein , omegas, and nutrient rich veggies! What do you think? I vote yes because obviously that means I get to share with you this Cajun smoked salmon zucchini noodle salad. A paleo no cook meal that rocks your tastes buds and is perfect do summer!
How to Make Cajun Smoked Salmon Zucchini Noodles Salad {Video}
Speaking of summer. Lordy it’s hot here. I mean 100F in the mountains. I didn’t even think that was allowed . Lol! Guess I was majorly wrong. The picnic salads will remain indoors picnics for a bit. I really didn’t mean to chat about the weather. Small talk over. Let’s get real.
For reals!
You see, once again I’m late the party. Pasta salad party. Whoopsies. I’m pretty sure everyone and their mother posted pasta salad last month for the 4th of July. I however, made and ate tons of potato salads. My other favorite carb! Okay, I lied. I actually first made this smoked salmon veggie pasta salad recipe in March, except I added in chickapea penne pasta. I also used Sizzlefish peppered smoked salmon! It came in handy when we were traveling and didn’t have a lot of time to cook. We needed no cook meals like ALL the time!
Yep, this grain free, protein packed, cold pasta salad fueled us for this Moab hikes and weekend snow shoeing!
The funny thing is I totally forgot I had this recipe until last week. This seems to be a trend of mine lately. Forgetting RECIPE! Anyway, I decided to make it again, but without the pasta and added in more zucchini noodles and summer squash noodles. Zoodles and Sqoodles? Lol! I had an abundance of zucchini that needed to get used, so kinda perfect right? Plus it made for super easy meal prep! No stove or oven needed.
Now let’s talk about that smoked salmon . Swooooning! Smoked salmon with a little Cajun kick (Basically Hot Smoked Salmon) does wonders to any salad, especially a vegetable noodles salad!
Now add a secretly snappy sauce (you’ll see in a minute), mix and voila! Creamy, light, flavorful! Exactly how summer should taste, right? I can see your head nodding and mouth drooling. ?
For this easy peasy zucchini noodles salad recipe you will need the following:
- Smoked Salmon (Peppered or Cajun style)
- Paleo Mayo or Red Pepper hummus for my egg free folks!
- Zucchini and Summer Squash for those ZOOOOODLES and squoodles. Sorry, i just like that word. Zucchini Noodles sound more Martha-esque.
- Red onion, tomato, capers, and fresh garlic!
- Cajun spice mix or spices (paprika, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne.. yea yea yea!)
- Olive oil
- Lemon
- Cilantro
- Optional Crushed smoked nuts
- Red pepper flakes
- One big plate to hog to yourself.
These are my loves! Summer loves and summer salad staples! Heck, I even made another smoked salmon strawberry zucchini dish last summer. Sheesh, can you tell I love this combo?
Well, were’s the best part. This zucchini noodles salad recipe had NO intention of being paleo, yet it did. Which is why I love REAL FOOD. So simple yet so flavorful and healthy!
Print
Cajun Smoked Salmon Zucchini Noodles Salad
- Prep Time: 10
- Total Time: 10
- Yield: 2-3 1x
Description
Smoked Salmon Zucchini Noodles Salad makes for a perfect no cook meal! A zippy cajun sauce tossed in chopped vegetables and zucchini noodles then topped with peppery smoked salmon. Paleo, low carb and real food deliciousness!
Ingredients
- 2 zucchini or 1 zucchini & 1 summer squash
- 1/2 large red onion, peeled and chopped (1 cup chopped)
- 1 cup diced/sliced cherry tomatoes
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Salt/pepper to taste
- 1/2 cup paleo mayo or red pepper hummus for egg free option
- 1/2 tbsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp minced garlic
- 1/4 tsp salt/pepper
- 1/8 tsp onion powder
- 1/4 tsp cayenne (Or use a cajun spice mix in place of cayenne and paprika)
- 5 oz smoked wood salmon or hot smoked salmon of choice (skin removed and sliced)
- Fresh Cilantro (torn) to garnish
- 2 tbsp capers
- 1 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes to garnish.
Instructions
- Wash your zucchini/squash and cut off stems.
- Spiralize using a spiralizer or use a peeler to create shavings (larger flat zucchini noodles) for the zucchini pasta. You can also just julienne cut the zucchinis.
- Place in bowl and pat with paper towel to remove excess water from the noodles. Set aside.
- Prep/chop your other vegetables. Mix with noodles. Add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and pepper.
For the Cajun Sauce:
- Whisk together 1/2 cup paleo mayo or red pepper hummus (if using the hummus, be sure to heat it for 20 seconds in microwave safe bowl to softened before mixing), olive oil, paprika, garlic, onion powder, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Taste to see if it’s to your liking.
To Finish Salad:
- Toss the sauce with the zucchini and squash noodles and other vegetables in bowl. You don’t have to use all the sauce if you prefer to reserve some.
- Add peppered or cajun spiced smoked salmon sliced on top.
- Crushed red pepper, capers, and cilantro to garnish.
- Serve extra lemon wedge on the side.
Notes
- Feel free to add gluten free pasta to serve more. I’ve added 2 ounces of lentil pasta to make it serve 5 people.
- For the Zucchini Noodles (Zoodles) Prep: Press with paper towel to remove excess water before mixing.
- Sizzlefish has a great selection of smoked salmon to use in this recipe.
- If you are using this as a Whole 30 friendly dish, please check ingredients on smoked salmon. You will want to use smoked salmon without any added sugar/honey.
- Estimated Nutrition shown below Per Serving, with mayo vs hummus – If you use hummus, the fat content will be reduced
- Category: main, sides, salads
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: zucchini noodles, smoked salmon, paleo, whole30, gluten free, low carb
Now, can we make no cook meals a weekly thing? With lots of zoodles and kickin sauces! Yep, that’s how we make real food look good ya’ll!
EAT UP!
Favorite no cook summer meal?
Zucchini noodles -> still a thing right? Or so last year? Haha, I’ll keep them coming!
Cheers!
MORE WHOLE 30 APPROVED AND HEALTHY SPRING SALAD RECIPES HERE!
This recipe is part of our Easy Whole 30 Approved Recipes and Healthy Spring Salad Recipes collection. Check it out!
This is the kind of dish I could eat everyday. I love the cajun flavor
I so do! Haha!
This looks absolutely delicious, the photos are just gorgeous!
Oh my goodness this looks incredible. Love the zoodles!
My husband doesn’t like to eat too much pasta (it undoes his gym workouts), but if I gave him zoodles and sqoodles — I don’t think he’d mind at all! This salad has everything I love in one bowl. Wish you lived next door!
This looks incredible… do you the FED EX man would deliver to my doorstep 😉
This is so packed with flavor, taste and nutrition. Love it.
I don’t liek pasta salad, usually, but I do love zoodles, so mayhaps I would love this!
I’ve never seen zoodles look so creamy and delicious! And the smoked salmon is just the icing on the cake!!
Indeed! Smoked salmon is my FAV during summer. Haha, I’m also a seafood addict!
I bet this is such a refreshing meal especially with 100 degree days. I just received a spiralizer for my birthday, and I’m excited about potentially doing more of these types of recipes!
Wow Lindsay! Prettiest zucchini noodle salad ever! And it sounds like it packs a huge flavor punch. That cajun sauce sounds amazing! Need to give this one a go!
Oh my goodness…YES! This is everything! Smoked salmon is one of my favorite treats, and I love how you’ve paired it with the zesty Cajun seasoning and the creamy zucchini noodles. Genius!
I love this “pasta salad” and that smoked salmon is such a great addition!
You had me at CAJUN! This salmon looks amazing!
I’m down for anything salmon! I cannot WAIT to have my kitchen back. This is going on the to-make list!
You can borrow my kitchen anytime! Just bring wine. Mmm k?
Glad to find you and like the idea ! Thank you !
We love salmon and are always looking for new ways to make it. Great idea!
I’ve been eating my weight in desserts lately, so I could definitely use this salad to bring my blood sugar back to reality, lol! This is such a gorgeous plate! that salmon’s driving me berzerk, and I haven’t had nearly enough zucchini noodles this season. This meal’s a mega win!
Haha I feel ya! All those summer ice creams!
Hi Lindsay! I have a salad practically every day for lunch and this one would be such a good change from my usual mixed greens salad! The combination of ingredients sounds delicious, I love Cajun spices and salmon. Great photos too! 🙂
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