Are you taste testing all those Christmas cookies and eating all the mistakes? Are you trying out that perfect cheesy appetizer, indulging in that extra holiday cocktail, and starting to feel like maybe you should eat something light and healthy before the big day arrives? I have the perfect meal for you.
A salad of spinach, topped with smoked trout, oranges, red onions, and drizzled with a sweet lime and sesame oil dressing. The salad is not only flavorful but light in calories. It is a guilt free meal that is welcomed at this time of the year when we are all a little over indulgent.
Sweet Lime and Sesame Oil Dressing
- 4 Tbsp. Olive Oil
- 1 tsp. or more sesame seed oil
- 2 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 2 tsp. honey
- 1 garlic clove, grated
- 1/2 tsp. grated ginger
- salt and pepper to taste
This salad dressing can be adjusted to your taste and how many greens you are dressing. Save any dressing not used in the refrigerator for up to one week.
As far as the salad is concerned, toss fresh spinach with a little of the dressing. Top the spinach with smoked trout (or any other smoked fish that you prefer), very thinly sliced red onion, and fresh orange sections. Drizzle with addition dressing.
I like to serve this salad with a crusty bread that is toasted, drizzled with olive oil and topped with a feta cheese, thyme, and honey mixture. Add a chilled glass of white wine to drink and you have a lovely meal.
Indulge in this delicious salad and feel no guilt. Now… where is that cookie that I just baked.
Back Road Journal 
Shhhh, I bought my husband (me) a smoker for Christmas and I can’t wait to smoke our own trout and salmon. This looks like a delicious new way to use all that great fish we are going to smoke. I can’t wait.
Hi Karen, I won’t say a word. That is a terrific Christmas present for the two of you. I hope you will enjoy the salad.
I will definitely be indulging in this delicious looking salad! Great post!
Hi Chunklet, Thank you for the nice compliment and for the visit. I hope you will enjoy the salad.
For all of the reasons you just stated above, this sounds really appealing to me…and it looks like it would be so delicious any time. I love smoked trout and if I can get some, may try out this recipe early next week as we’ll be enjoying festivities all weekend. This would be a great way to begin the final approach to the holiday!
Hi Besty, I think you all need some lighter foods right now. We just finished a pecan pie last night that friends brought over for dessert.
Delicious and light! My all seasons favourite!
Karen, you will not believe me, but I have been thinking about the orange and red onion salad for weeks! I made it several times last year and loved the combination, so I can well imagine how tasty your dish is. And yes, we need such guilt-free dishes to indulge in chocolate and other sweet treats 😉
Hi Sissi, You wouldn’t think that oranges and onions would be good together but they make a lovely pairing. I’m glad that you agree.
Oh you are so right, i am forced to go to the supermarket today so I shall pick up some salmon just for this salad! lovely.. thank you karen.. c
I think we all can use some low calories recipes these days… Thanks and happy holidays!
I’ve so tried not to overindulge this season, maybe a few too many cookies but other than that, not to bad. Your salad would be a tasty one for me any time. Duck Trap salmon?
I go to Rockport the 26th for almost 3 weeks ALONE. Can’t wait. Want to join me there?
Hi Lulu, You have been such a good girl. Duck Trap salmon is my husband’s favorite and would be good for this salad. Rockport must be nice in in winter without all the summer crowds.
This is a delicious meal served anytime but, this time of year, it’s sure is a sight for sore eyes! Great idea and recipe, Karen!
Thank you John, you for nice comment. I think at this time of the year you have to try and balance the sweets and rich food that we associate with the holidays with some lighter meals. I’m happy that you like the idea.
That’s gorgeous. We just had trout last night! We had ours over polenta with Brussels sprouts, but a nice light meal is so wonderful this time of year, especially.
Hi Greg, Thank you so much for your very nice compliment. Trout is one of my favorite fish and it sounds good with polenta. Actually I like most anything over polenta.
I am going to be honest–I just don’t have the discipline of you and most of your readers. Frankly I have a hard time “lightening up.” So all those yummy cheese dips and a few cookies – no guilt here! 😉 (okay maybe just a tiny bit.) The trout salad looks incredible and my husband would love this as he is the fish-eater in the family! Perhaps I will make it sometime.
Hi Carol, I’m happy that I have a reader that has no guilt eating all of the cookies, sweets and other rich dishes that we associate with this time of the year. I love it all, totally eat my share but I have to also try and mix it up with some lighter meals. It is either that or buy a whole new wardrobe each January. If the healthier meals have lots of flavors, I don’t feel that I am giving up anything and then I can eat that extra cookie.
I just spent an hour in yoga agonizing over the new “bumps” acquired from Christmas baking! This salad looks perfect for me right now and I think the cloves would add a really interesting flavor to the dressing.
Hi Smidge, It should be required that we put warning tags on our Christmas baked good. “Warning…these cookies can be hazardous to your shape”. I think the salad is a good start to the problem.
Hahaha, isn’t that true!? You’re so right!
Gorgeous – what a great combination of flavours and that lovely tang of the oranges which we use a lot of here in Andalucia. Now I need to get me a smoker….!
Hi Tanya, Thank you for your nice comment. The flavors in this salad are really good and can certainly be adapted to what you have available.
That looks so good Karen. I love the feta on the toast.
That dressing sounds delicious!
Hi Karen, the next time I see smoked Trout I’m buying some to make this salad. I love the dressing idea too 🙂
Lovely! The dressing sounds delicious.
Best,
Bonnie
Oh this looks right up my alley! I would eat this for dinner in a second:)
I love ginger. Thanks for sharing this wonderful recipe!
Ohh, Karen! This looks so fresh and delicious!! Can’t want to try it!!
http://www.absolutelyravenous.wordpress.com
Oh, I love trout – my uncle used to fish big fresh rainbow trout in the Scottish highlands before he died. When we were lucky he’d give us one or two. I much prefer it to salmon – such a delicate, wonderful flavour. It’s always nice to see what other people do with it too, Karen. Delicious, and just what I feel like amongst all this heavy, starchy Christmas food right now. Thanks for sharing this 🙂
Hi Charles, Thank you for your nice comment. Trout is one of my favorite fish and I agree about its delicate flavor.
This looks absolutely amazing! I’d have to substitute the salmon with a non-seafood protein because of allergies (dang it), but I love, Love, LOVE it! Such a bright, colorful, delicious salad!
Hi Ann, Thank you so much for your lovely compliment. I think this would be just as good with sliced chicken breast.
Yum! This is a perfect meal for this time of year. And I love the honey, garlic and ginger. It just sounds fabulous. 🙂
Hi Kristy, I’m glad you like the idea of a lighter meal. Thank you for your compliment.
I just love spinach. So I absolutely love how you combined it with this amazing looking Smoked Trout. I also love the Red Onion Salad. Amazing recipe
You have my taste buds all crazily dancing about at the thought of this fabulous fresh and flavourful salad – delicious!
🙂 Mandy
I answered yes to way too many of those questions you just asked. Definitely need some of this salad in my life!
Hi Joanne, I know what you mean. There is just so much tempting food this time of the year. A lighter but very flavorful meals helps maintain a little balance.
That’s good inspiration too 😉
This looks and sounds amazing!
Ugh, yes. I’m baking….and eating….mass amounts of Christmas desserts. I should probably stop eating all that sugar and eat something like this gorgeous dish! Looks divine, Karen. Such a colorful plate/photo. 🙂
Hi Caroline, Thank you for your nice compliment. I think we are all doing the same thing. I just had to make a meal that was lighter to counteract all the sweets I’ve been eating.
Not only is this a lighter meal perfect for this time of year, but also easy to prepare! And I love that!!
This looks delicious!
Thank you Belle, for your nice comment.
This sounds so refreshing and light especially after eating so much holiday food.
Hi Vickie, I think as much as we all love all the rich goodness of holiday food, we need a little break. Thank you for your comment.
If the tastes are as delightful as the colors in the picture I definitely should have had this for dinner tonight. 😉
Hi Jed, What a nice comment, thank you!
Hi Anna, I’m so glad that you enjoyed my recipe and have adapted it to your taste. Thank you for the mention on your blog.
What a terrific combination ! I can just taste all those great flavours.
Hi Carolyn, Thank you…the flavors do go together really well.
Karen, what a lovely salad! I’ve printed your dressing to use for a salad this weekend – minus the trout – but with greens, oranges and red onions! Have a great Christmas!
What a great dressing recipe- I think the lime and sesame would be great with almost any green. I’ve been lurking on your blog throughout the holiday season- really beautiful!
Hi Katsmana, The dressing is delicious on any green salad. Thank you so much for your compliment and for visiting. Come back anytime.