For an Italian take on salmon, try this amazing dish! Pesto brings out the natural sweetness of salmon. 

Ingredients

Pesto

• 3 cups packed fresh basil leaves
• 4 garlic cloves
• ¾ parmesan cheese
• ½ cup olive oil
• ¼ cup pine nuts (walnuts work just as well and are more affordable)
• ½ cup chopped fresh parsley (optional)

Fish

• 4-6 salmon fillets (no skin)
• 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
• Fresh ground pepper to taste
• ¾ cup prepared pesto
• ½ cup parmesan cheese
• 3 sliced plum tomatoes (optional) 

Instructions

Combine basil, garlic, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, and nuts in a bowl of a food processor or blender. Blend to a smooth pesto paste. Add parsley if desired.  

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Lightly coat the baking pan with cooking spray.

Place each salmon fillet in the baking pan and drizzle with olive oil.

Apply freshly ground pepper to taste over each filet.

Gently spread pesto over each filet.

Sprinkle parmesan cheese over each filet.

Place plum tomato slices on each fillet and sprinkle with a bit of additional parmesan cheese. (optional)

Bake in a 350 F oven for approximately 20 minutes or until fish flakes easily with a fork. 

Serve and enjoy! 

For more delicious salmon recipes, check out our blog, where we talk everything about Alaska salmon recipes.