Sweet-Sour Salad with Fennel & Smoked Salmon
Raw fennel has a licorice bite that divides the room. A vinegar-honey dressing mellows it just enough, smoked salmon brings the salt, and cottage cheese keeps the whole bowl cool.
Whole wheat bread on the side turns this into 504 calories with 14 grams of fiber, ready in five minutes.
Raw fennel has a licorice bite that divides the room. A vinegar-honey dressing mellows it just enough, smoked salmon brings the salt, and cottage cheese keeps the whole bowl cool.
Whole wheat bread on the side turns this into 504 calories with 14 grams of fiber, ready in five minutes.
Ingredients
- fennel 1
- cucumber 0.5
- olive oil 1 tablespoon
- vinegar 0.5 tablespoon
- honey 0.5 tablespoon
- smoked salmon 2 ounces
- cottage cheese, 4% milkfat 3 tablespoons
- bread, whole wheat 1 slice
Method
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Slice the fennel and cucumber into thin slices.
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Whisk a dressing with the oil, vinegar and honey. Season with pepper and salt.
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Mix the fennel, cucumber and salmon in a bowl. Pour the dressing over it.
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Serve the salad with the cottage cheese and (toasted) bread.
Slice the fennel as thin as you can manage. Paper-thin rounds absorb the dressing faster, and the anise flavor softens into something subtle instead of sharp. If you have ten extra minutes, let the fennel sit in the vinegar-honey dressing before adding the salmon and cottage cheese.
Behind this recipe
Is 25 grams of protein enough for one meal?
The idea that your body wastes protein above 30 grams per meal is a myth. Research in trained adults found no hard ceiling on how much protein the body can use for muscle building in a single sitting. Twenty-five grams from smoked salmon and cottage cheese is a solid lunch, especially when your other meals cover the rest of your daily target.
Read the full evidence reviewCan I make this salad ahead and bring it to work?
Yes, and it actually improves. The vinegar-honey dressing softens the fennel over time, mellowing the anise bite and letting the flavors blend. Pack the cottage cheese in a separate container so it stays cool and does not water down the salad. The bread travels best toasted.
Where does the 14 grams of fiber come from?
The fennel bulb is the star. One whole bulb delivers roughly 7 grams of fiber on its own, more than most people expect from a salad vegetable. The whole wheat bread and cucumber contribute the rest. That puts this single salad at 28% of the recommended daily intake.
Read the full evidence review
