Pesto Crispy Salmon

parmesan cheese

🥗Healthier: nutritional yeast

💰Cheaper: grated pecorino

Nutritional yeast is lower in calories and dairy-free.

pesto

🥗Healthier: homemade pesto

💰Cheaper: spinach and basil puree

Homemade pesto can be made with less oil.

bread crumbs

🥗Healthier: ground almonds

💰Cheaper: crushed crackers

Ground almonds add healthy fats while being gluten-free.

salmon fillets

🥗Healthier: trout

💰Cheaper: tilapia

Trout has similar flavor and is often less expensive.

Bring a pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Cook penne pasta in boiling water until al dente, 8 to 10 minutes; drain.

Blend basil, Parmesan cheese, olive oil, pine nuts, and garlic in a food processor until even in color; season with salt and pepper in food processor until color is consistent. Reserve 2 tablespoons pesto for salmon.

Toss drained penne pasta with the tomato halves, ¼ cup pesto, and ¼ cup Parmesan cheese.

Heat vegetable oil in a pan on high heat. Season both sides of salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Fry salmon in hot oil skin-side down, until skin is crispy, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip salmon and cook until fish flakes easily with a fork, about 2 minutes more; remove fillets to a serving platter.

Spread 1 tablespoon pesto onto each salmon fillet and serve with the penne.

Cooking Techniques

Equipment Needed

Spice Level:

Dietary

Allergens