When I was living with one of my best friends, I stumbled upon a surprising way she cooked salmon that completely changed how I think about this classic fish dish. Instead of the usual lemon, soy, teriyaki, or other common sauces, she slathered the salmon generously with pesto. At first, I thought it was unusual, pesto on salmon? That’s not something I had ever really tried or even considered.
But when I finally gave it a try, I was blown away. The pesto didn’t just add flavour, it transformed the salmon, taking it to a whole different level and providing a nice twist to the old way I would cook salmon.
For anyone who might be hesitant about fish in general, or salmon’s sometimes ‘fishy’ taste, pesto works like magic to mellow that out without masking the natural flavour of the fish.
It’s a perfect balance, fresh, herby, wholesome, and rich all at once. Take each salmon fillet and generously cover it with about a tablespoon of pesto, depending on the size of the fillet.
The goal is to coat the top and sides of the fillet evenly. Then, bake the salmon in a preheated oven at around 190C for 15 to 20 minutes.
The exact time will vary depending on your oven and the thickness of the fillets, but you want the salmon to be just cooked through and flaky, without being overcooked and overly dry.
Once it’s ready, pair it with whatever sides you like, from steamed or roasted vegetables, creamy mashed potatoes, to crispy roast potatoes these all work beautifully.
The pesto salmon is such an effortless way to elevate your meal without overpowering the delicate flavour of the salmon. Just don’t forget to season with salt and pepper before baking to bring out the flavours even more.
If you’re in the mood for something a bit more substantial, try making salmon pesto pasta. Toss cooked pasta with a little olive oil, garlic, seasoning, and, of course, pesto.
To make the dish even more fresh, I love adding a squeeze of lemon juice just before serving. Some people also like to sprinkle walnuts or toasted pine nuts on top for a bit of crunch, or throw in some fresh cherry tomatoes for a bright, summery touch.
