Pecan Crusted Salmon

This Pecan Crusted Salmon is quick and easy and has a deliciously crunchy filling! Let it impress on weekdays or for dinner guests.

Here’s a meal that will keep everyone who takes a bite constantly speaking Wow. try that Pecan-crusted salmon! It has a chic, restaurant-style vibe but is quick and easy to make on a weekday. It takes plain salmon to the next level by layering it with a crunchy topping of nuts, seasoned breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese. The flavors are pungent enough for diners, but hearty enough for kids to bite into. Take it out for dinner guests or an easy weeknight dinner… the choice is yours! (And read on for a custom side dish that goes beautifully with it.)

What you need for the Pecan Crusted Salmon

Aside from the fish, all the other ingredients in this pecan-crusted salmon are Ingredients for the pantry! This makes this concoction ideal when you’re looking for a great way to cook salmon, but don’t want to think about it. Once you’ve bought the Italian Panko, you can keep it handy for months. Here’s what you need:

• Salmon (as wild as possible, see below)
• Dijon mustard
• Honey
• pecans
• italian panko (more on that below)
• Grated parmesan (it’s the kind that has the texture of sand, not jagged)
• salt and pepper

Which salmon should you watch out for?

The most important part of a salmon recipe? The quality of the salmon. Try to find the best salmon you can afford. Here are some tips for finding a good piece of salmon:

• Buy wild salmon. Wild fish caught in your country is generally a sustainable choice. There are also quality options at well-regulated farms; see Seafood Watch consumer guide.
• Fresh salmon tastes best. You can find good frozen salmon. But for the very better Salmon, buy it fresh at your local seafood counter.
• Coho is a good choice. We tend to like coho salmon for its mild flavor: price-wise, it’s a good, middle-of-the-road option. Avoid Atlantic salmon as they are usually farmed.

Italian panko and a substitute

A key to this recipe? Italian panko. Panko is a Japanese-style mix of breadcrumbs which is airier and lighter than conventional breadcrumbs. Italian panko is panko with added herbs and salt. You can also use breadcrumbs or Italian breadcrumbs here, but we love how the panko gives it just the right amount of crunch. You should be able to find panko easily at your local grocery store. If you can’t find the Italian panko, here’s what you can do:

• Use regular panko and add salt and Italian spices. Mix 2 tbsp panko with 1 pinch kosher salt and ½ tsp Italian seasoning (or ¼ tsp each of dried oregano and dried basil)
• Or look for Italian or regular breadcrumbs instead or make your own breadcrumbs! For regular breadcrumbs, use the panko seasoning recommendations above.

Make it gluten free

Panko is made from bread, so how do you make this recipe gluten-free? Look for gluten-free panko or breadcrumbs in stores or online to make a gluten-free recipe. You can also omit the breadcrumbs, but keep in mind that the filling will be less crunchy (but still delicious).

How to store pecans

Another key to this recipe: pecans! Walnuts are great for adding a little protein and crunch to salmon. We love to pick up a nice big bag of pecans…but did you know they’re not best kept in your pantry? How to stay fresh longer:

• Store pecans in the fridge for up to 6 months! Most people remember to keep nuts in their pantry. But pecans stay fresher in your fridge! We put them in our cheese drawer.
• Store frozen pecans for up to 2 years. Did you know you can freeze pecans? This extends the service life by years. They quickly thaw when you remove them!

A great side dish for pecan-crusted salmon!

For this pecan-crusted salmon, we decided to create a custom side dish! Readers often tell us that it’s difficult to find side dishes that are easy enough to make, fit the mood, And Fill in the necessary nutrients. Here’s one we developed to go with this recipe: Goat Cheese Salad with Arugula! Here’s more about it:

• Start with a few handfuls of baby arugula, chewy leafy greens. Be sure to buy baby, not standard arugula (which is very bitter). You can also substitute spinach or mixed vegetables.
• Drizzle with this creamy balsamic vinaigrettethat has the best spicy sweet taste.
• Garnish with crumbled goat cheese, sliced ​​shallots, apples and pecans. It’s simple, but the flavors are tight and the taste amazing.

More side dishes to combine

Just a salad and some pecan-crusted salmon might need a little filling for a full meal. So here are some other quick side dishes to consider!

This pecan crusted salmon recipe is…

Pescetarian and gluten-free (with gluten-free panko).