This Salmon Salad Balances Umami and Heat

Josh Graber

Sometimes, a dish hits right from the jump, with guests responding enthusiastically to the flavor build. At healthy fast casual Salata Salad Kitchen, the Grilled Miso Salmon Salad was an instant success. “From the moment it was introduced, this dish quickly became one of our three best-selling composed salads,” says Josh Graber, culinary director. “The salad is a success thanks to its clean umami flavors, perfectly balanced with sweet, savory, salty and spicy elements all working in harmony.”

To build the dish, Graber tops house mixed greens with cucumber, red onion, pineapple, bean sprouts, jalapeño and cilantro. A flavor-forward fillet of grilled miso salmon serves as the crowning protein. The white miso vinaigrette was a revelation to Graber. “White miso offers a versatile balance of flavors and provides a great foundation for creative additions, like Serrano peppers,” he says, explaining his next flavor calculation. “When developing this new dressing, I wanted a touch of heat in the finish. I chose Serrano peppers over jalapeño because their spice level is more consistent year-round. The Serrano peppers take this dressing to a new level.”

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