Pesto Salmon Recipe With Homemade Basil Pesto

Pesto salmon is coated in fresh basil pesto and baked until just cooked through. The basil pesto flavors the salmon, and its high oil content keeps it moist while baking. You can serve pesto salmon with roasted vegetables or over pasta or rice for a hearty meal.

Salmon is one of the best food sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart and brain health. Salmon skin in particular contains a higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids than the meat, as well as protein, B and D vitamins, and phosphorus.

Follow these simple tips to make the best pesto salmon:

1. 1. Use store-bought pesto. Homemade pesto is the most flavorful, but you can substitute it with your favorite store-bought variety to save time.
2. 2. Make it dairy-free. Skip the cheese or substitute one tablespoon of nutritional yeast to make a vegan pesto.
3. 3. Check for doneness. Since salmon filets are generally uneven in thickness, you’ll want to take the salmon out of the oven before the thickest part of the salmon is fully cooked. Check for doneness by gently poking the top of the flesh with a finger. It should flake apart easily. Alternatively, slide a sharp knife into the thickest part of the fillet to observe the color. Light pink, opaque salmon is cooked through, while darker pink, more translucent salmon is still somewhat rare.
4. 4. Add veggies. Roast vegetables alongside the fish for easy side dishes. Zucchini, cherry tomatoes, grape tomatoes, green beans, or other vegetables can go directly on the baking sheet with the salmon. For vegetables that have a longer cook time, start cooking them first and add the salmon halfway through.
5. 5. Make it a meal. This salmon cooks quickly—in just about the same amount of time as it takes to bring water to a boil and cook pasta. Serve this salmon over pesto pasta for a fast and delicious weeknight dinner. For a gluten-free alternative, cook some rice, quinoa, or zucchini noodles.