Today's pecan-crusted salmon recipe will take salmon to new heights. The flavors are elevated to restaurant-style delectability by coating the fish in a crunchy crust of pecans, seasoned breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese.
Is Pecan Crusted Salmon Healthy?
Yes, it is.
A serving of salmon — around 3 to 4 ounces — has approximately 200 calories. It has a low saturated fat content and is a rich source of protein. It is also a good source of vitamin D, B12, potassium, and omega-3 fatty acids — which is known to lower risks for heart attack, heart stroke, and some types of cancer.
A creamy crusty dish like today's pecan-crusted salmon can be quite calorific and heavy in saturated fat. Keeping this in mind, we utilized just enough butter, Parmesan cheese, yogurt, breadcrumbs, and mayonnaise to achieve the desired savoriness.
As a result, each serving of this dish is balanced at 495 calories, allowing you to include more green vegetables and fruits in your diet. Additionally, the saturated fat content remains at 5.9 g per serving, within our dietary requirements.
In a nutshell, this restaurant-quality meal will convert even the most ardent seafood skeptics in your family while still adhering to a healthy eating lifestyle.
Ingredients for Pecan-Crusted Salmon
- Salmon
Your salmon should be high quality as it is the star ingredient in today's recipe. Sockeye salmon is our choice because it is known to be the most flavorful and has an excellent ability to withstand grilling and baking.
That being said, avoid unnecessary stress and simply purchase the highest-quality salmon you can afford. Other options for a delicious piece of salmon include other wild-caught salmon, such as coho salmon, which has a mild flavor, sustainable quality, and is reasonably priced.
Salmon is considered fully cooked at 145 °F. If desired, you may use a thermometer or a fork to ascertain its doneness. If the salmon flakes easily, then you're good to go.
- Glaze for the salmon
We brush the salmon filets with a simple mixture of Greek yogurt, mayonnaise, pepper, lemon juice, and salt before dredging them in the pecan crust. This glaze helps the crust adhere to the surface during baking and imparts a pleasant tang and creaminess to the dish.
- Pecan-breadcrumb crust
As pecans are such rich and buttery nuts, we decided to combine them with breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and garlic powder to give the crust an additional layer of savoriness. To achieve a slightly smoky flavor, consider toasting the pecans in advance until brown and fragrant.
Plain breadcrumbs combine with crushed pecans to create the perfect crunch for our dish. You can substitute panko breadcrumbs for regular breadcrumbs to achieve a lighter texture.
If you fancy the crunchy pecan crust, we guess you’d also love our parmesan crusted salmon.
How to Store And Reheat The Leftovers
While leftover pecan-crusted salmon is best served immediately, it can be kept in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. To ensure the safety and quality of the leftovers, it is best to immediately transfer the portions to an airtight container or Ziploc bag.
Cover the salmon with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out when ready to serve. Reheat the dish in the oven or air fryer at 300° F.
This dish should not be frozen, as seafood never reheats well and cream sauces may separate during the process.
What to Serve With Pecan-Crusted Salmon
- Beet And Feta Cheese Salad: Packed with flavor without overshadowing the delectable salmon, beet and feta cheese salad is one of our most popular side dishes to accompany a protein-packed main course. This green salad comes in a colorful bowl of arugulas, beet, orange, feta cheese, and walnuts, with an olive oil dressing drizzled over — a tasty way to sneak more fiber into your meal.
- Fresh Lime Juice: Finally, fresh lime juice is an excellent beverage to incorporate into this meal. Citrusy drinks can always complement seafood perfectly. Give it a try and share your thoughts with us!
For more crunchy salmon dishes, check out this collection of ours.
Pecan-Crusted Salmon
Today's pecan-crusted salmon recipe will take salmon to new heights. The flavors are elevated to restaurant-style delectability by coating the fish in a crunchy crust of pecans, seasoned breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese.
- cook TIME 40 mins
- prep TIME 5 mins
- total TIME 45 mins
- COURSE Main Course
- CUISINE American
- SERVINGS servings
- CALORIES 495 kcal
INGREDIENTS
- 28 oz boneless salmon (equals 4 filets)
- 10 oz green beans
- 2 oz pecan (crumbled)
- 0.5 oz parsley (chopped)
- 0.5 oz grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup plain Panko breadcrumbs
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
- 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp lemon juice
INSTRUCTIONS
Preheat the oven to 370℉.
Make the pecan crust: Combine 0.5 oz parsley, 2 oz pecan, 0.5 oz grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 cup plain breadcrumbs, and 1/2 tsp garlic powder in a food processor. Process until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
Add 1 tbsp unsalted butter to the pecan crust mixture. Mix well.
Make the glaze for the salmon: In a small bowl, whisk together 2 tbsp Greek yogurt, 2 tbsp Japanese mayonnaise, 1/2 tsp ground black pepper, 1/2 tsp lemon juice, and 1/2 tsp salt until well combined.
Brush the glaze evenly onto the salmon filets.
Dredge each salmon filet with the pecan crust mixture.
Place the salmon filets onto the baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake in the oven for 15 minutes until they flake easily with a fork.
In the meantime, microwave 10 oz green beans for 4 minutes, then run cool water over them to preserve the greenness.
Remove the salmon from the oven. Serve alongside green beans.
NUTRITION
Tuyet Pham
Head Chef, Culinary Consultant
Luna Regina
Writer, Author
Emily Rogers, MPH, RDN
Nutrition Reviewer- Maryann AllenCrunchy and flavorful pecan-crusted salmon!