Lemony Salmon Rice Bowl with Feta, Cucumber & Tomato Salad

Our Lemony Salmon Rice Bowl with Feta, Cucumber & Tomato Salad is the weeknight meal you’ve been waiting for—it’s quick, delicious and packed with essential nutrients. The herbaceous and refreshing lemony dressing is made with heart-healthy extra-virgin olive oil and pulls double duty. It flavors the omega-3-rich salmon as the fish broils, and it also dresses the feta, cucumber and tomato salad—you’ll get a solid dose of vitamin C with this dinner. We added more fiber and texture by serving this on a bed of brown rice for a complete dinner in one bowl. Keep reading for our expert tips on why you should bring your salmon to room temperature, ingredient selection and more. 

Tips from the EatingWell Test Kitchen

These are the key tips we learned while developing and testing this recipe in our Test Kitchen to make sure it works, tastes great and is good for you too! 

• You can substitute the salmon with a firm-fleshed fish that can withstand broiling, such as cod, grouper or mahi-mahi.
• Choose fillets that are of similar thickness, and let them stand at room temperature for about 25 minutes to ensure even cooking. While broiling, keep an eye on the fish and lower the oven rack if it begins to brown too quickly.
• For enhanced flavor, select the ripest tomatoes available, and consider adding capers to the tomato salad for an extra brightness.

Nutrition Notes

• Extra-virgin olive oil is a heart-healthy oil that contains monounsaturated fats that have been shown to help lower cholesterol when eaten regularly. Extra-virgin olive oil also contains anti-inflammatory polyphenols that can help protect your heart and your brain. 
• Salmon is a popular fish not only for its delicate flavor but also because it is high in omega-3 fatty acids. These healthy fats help fight inflammation, which may improve cognitive function, improve heart health and reduce joint pain. Salmon is also an excellent source of protein to help keep you full and satisfied. 
• Tomatoes provide vitamin C and as well as an antioxidant called lycopene, which is a nutrient that may help reduce the risk of cancer when eaten regularly. 
• We chose brown rice for this recipe because it adds more fiber and nuttiness than you would get from white rice. More fiber each day can improve the health of your microbiome, which impacts your immune health.