Pesto Crusted Salmon is a fast and easy fish diner recipe. Ready in just 20 minutes, this healthy and gluten free salmon steak is packed with flavor from fresh basil, lemon, and pistachios. #salmonrecipes #pesto #fishrecipes
Prep Time5 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time15 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: 30 Min or Less, Gluten Free, Keto/Low Carb, Seafood
Make your pesto by combining all of the pesto ingredients together in a food processor. Blend until incorporated for approximately 15 seconds.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Pat your fish portions dry with a paper towel.
Sprinkle each fish portion lightly with salt and pepper.
Put the salmon skin side down on a tin foil or silicone mat lined baking sheet.
Spread the pesto over the top of the salmon steaks, approximately 1/8 of an inch thick (more than a thin coat, just not super thick). Approximately 2 Tablespoons per salmon steak if they are 1.5 inches wide, 1.5 inches tall at thickest point.
Chop the pistachios. Press them into the pesto on top of each steak, approximately 1 Tablespoon per steak.
Bake the salmon for approximately 10 minutes. Cooking time will vary, see note.
Serve immediately with lemon wedges and leftover pesto.
Notes
If you are planning to eat the skin, make sure the scales have been removed. You can ask your fish monger to do this, or you can do it by running the flat back edge of a knife in the opposite direction of the scales.Cooking Time: 10 minutes for 4 ounce portions, 1.5 inches wide, 1.5 inches tall, was perfect for them to be just cooked through and flaky. If you want the fish more on the rare side, reduce cooking time. Also adjust time up or down depending on size of the salmon steaks, including thickness. You can check for doneness by gently prying into the thick section of the salmon to check for its color, like you would chicken.4 ounce portions might seem small but is a standard size for salmon. Salmon is a richer and heavier fish than others. You can increase the portion size as desired, just adjust your cooking time as needed.