Description
Homemade pesto salmon delivers Mediterranean coastal flavors with fresh herbal notes and delicate fish. Wild salmon fillets combine elegantly with classic basil pesto, creating a quick and elegant dinner for seafood enthusiasts.
Ingredients
Scale
- 24 oz (680 g) salmon fillets (4 6-oz fillets), skin-on or skinless
- 6–7 tbsps pesto
- ⅓ cup (40 g) fresh breadcrumbs
- ⅓ cup (35 g) freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Preparation: Preheat oven to 400°F (204°C) and line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, lightly coating with non-stick spray.
- Salmon Placement: Arrange salmon fillets on the prepared baking sheet, ensuring they are not touching or overlapping.
- Pesto Layering: Spread fresh basil pesto evenly across each salmon fillet, creating a vibrant green coating that will infuse rich herbal flavors.
- Topping Creation: Blend breadcrumbs and parmesan cheese in a mixing bowl to craft a crispy, savory topping that will add textural complexity.
- Topping Application: Delicately scatter the breadcrumb-parmesan mixture over the pesto-covered salmon, ensuring comprehensive coverage for a golden, crunchy exterior.
- Baking Process: Slide the baking sheet into the preheated oven and roast for 12-15 minutes, depending on desired doneness, until the salmon is tender and the topping turns a beautiful golden brown.
- Resting and Serving: Allow the salmon to rest for 2-3 minutes after removing from the oven, which helps seal in moisture and harmonize the intricate flavor profile.
Notes
- Optimize Pesto Coverage: Spread pesto evenly using the back of a spoon to ensure each salmon fillet gets maximum flavor and consistent coating.
- Master Cooking Time: Check salmon’s doneness at 12 minutes; cooking beyond 15 minutes risks drying out the delicate fish, compromising its tender texture.
- Bread Crumb Technique: Pat breadcrumb mixture gently onto salmon to create a crisp, golden-brown topping that locks in moisture and adds delightful crunch.
- Resting Period Matters: Let salmon rest after cooking to allow juices to redistribute, guaranteeing a succulent and flavorful final dish that melts in your mouth.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 412
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 579 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 19 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 12 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 38 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg