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Home » pesto crusted salmon

January 24, 2023 Italian

pesto crusted salmon

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Pesto crusted salmon is a simple and delicious way to prepare salmon that is weeknight friendly but will still impress for a special dinner. Just mix all the pesto ingredients with breadcrumbs top the salmon fillets and toss it into the oven. Pesto’s nutty and herby taste naturally pairs well with salmon and is sure to become a mainstay on your table. 

pesto crusted salmon

I prefer to use a mild flavored salmon such as sockeye or coho so the flavor doesn’t compete too much with the pesto, but any salmon will work. When using a leaner sockeye salmon, I find that gently baking it in the oven brings out a tender a juicy texture opposed to pan frying. 

Most pesto crusted salmon recipes call for a panko breadcrumbs but I typically use homemade breadcrumbs because they are incredibly easy to make with a food processor and are a good way to use up stale bread. But, in a crunch, you can swap out panko in this recipe with no problems.

pesto crusted salmon

Also, if you are in a pinch, using store bought pesto will work well, just mix it with the breadcrumbs and call it a day. I recommend buying a store bought variety that is still very green, that way you know it has lots of fresh basil and parmesan included! 

What to serve with pesto crusted salmon

  • green beans with walnuts
  • garlic herbed quinoa

Some other salmon recipes

  • smoked salmon caesar salad
  • salmon with dill cream sauce
pesto crusted salmon
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pesto crusted salmon

Pesto crusted salmon is a simple and delicious way to prepare salmon.
Course dinner
Cuisine American, Italian, pacific northwest
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 4
Author Max Cozzi

Ingredients

Pesto

  • 2 cups basil, (picked from stem and finely chopped)
  • 1 cup parmesan, (grated)
  • 1/2 cup walnuts, (or pine nuts, finely crushed or chopped)
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 clove garlic, (minced)

Salmon

  • 1 cup breadcrumbs, (homemade or panko)
  • 1 lb salmon, (or enough for four fillets)
  • sea salt and fresh pepper, (to taste)
  • lemon wedges and lemon zest, (for serving)

Instructions

  • Begin by preheating the oven to 350°. Then, put all of the pesto ingredients into a food processor and pulse until smooth and well combined. Or, smash in a mortar and pestle. Skip this step if using store bought pesto.
  • Next, combine the pesto and breadcrumbs, it should feel like wet sand. Sprinkle some sea salt and pepper over you salmon fillets and top the pesto crumbs, it's ok if the breadcrumbs are falling off a little bit.
  • Place the salmon fillets onto a sheet pan and bake in the oven for about 8-10 minutes, depending on the thickness of the salmon.
  • Remove from the oven and serve with some additional salt, lemon zest, and lemon wedges.

Notes

Try not to overcook the salmon, this recipe is best when the salmon is still a little juicy on the inside. If you do though, don’t worry it will still taste incredible. 

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Categories: Italian Tags: Bake, Basil, breadcrumbs, Dinner, Easy, Italian, Lunch, main, Mediterranean, Mediterranean Diet, pacific northwest, Parmesan, pesto, Quick, Roast, Salmon, Sheet pan

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Max Cozzi, the photographer and food writer behind Redwood Kitchen.
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Welcome to Redwood Kitchen! My recipes focus on fresh ingredients and scratch cooking. Read more about Redwood Kitchen here.

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