Looking for a quick dinner idea? Pistachio Crusted Salmon is a light and healthy meal option you can have on the table in under 30 min. Fresh buttery, rich tasting salmon is topped with a sweet and spicy honey mustard sauce and finished off with a crunchy topping of panko and chopped pistachios. Baked in the oven this is so easy to make, it just may become your new “go-to” favorite salmon recipe.
{in hushed tones…..}
“salmon..….salmon..…salmon….”
Have you ever had one of those moments, where you do something and then you are simultaneously:
a) Happy.. because no one saw you do it (because you looked so ridiculous)
b) Wish it would have been captured on film BECAUSE you looked so ridiculous and now that you know the full story it would be hilarious to watch yourself look so RIDUCULOUS
Ya…well that just happened!
I was photographing this Pistachio Crusted Salmon dish, my eye up to the camera and I hear…in very hushed tones…”salmon” (long pause)….”salmon” (another long pause)..”salmon”….
As soon as it clicks in that I am photographing salmon and I’m now hearing “salmon….salmon…salmon” I kind of stop dead in my tracks. What is going on?
I pull away from the camera, a bit confused and look around. I’m wondering if I’m losing my mind? Is someone playing a joke on me? Am I on candid camera? Or is Ashton Kutcher hiding somewhere in my house and I’m being “Punk’d”? Oh the things your mind thinks when you are trying to make sense of something that doesn’t make sense.
Shh…there it is again “salmon….salmon…salmon” it’s a womans voice, in really hushed tones. Now I’m on heightened alert! I whip around to see if I can figure out where the sound is coming from. It’s over there…by the fireplace.
I assume some awkward half crouched position, like I’m expecting someone or something to jump out at me. Why? I have no idea, but that’s what I did (yep…part of the ridiculousness I was just talking about). I tip toe (in the couched position) closer to where the sound is …I’m not sure why I’m tip toeing? The fireplace is only about 10 feet away, and whatever/whomever it is would have to be pretty tiny because I can see the whole room and I’m the only one in it.
Again….“Salmon….salmon…salmon..” Oh come on!!
And then it comes together. I see the speakers and I realize it’s coming from the music I was playing and I bust out in a huge belly laugh. Ha, ha, ha. But wait a minute, what the heck am I listening to that says “salmon…salmon…salmon” ? Turns out it’s a song called “Aquarius” from the Ultra Chilled 03 CD …random!
Talk about timing!
Now back to the salmon.
Not only is this salmon dish extremely tasty…but Salmon has many health benefits:
Salmon is a great way to incorporate healthy Omega 3’s into your diet. Omega 3’s are fatty acids and are one of the “good” types of fat we need in our diet. They have been shown to help with many amazing things, like lowering the risk of heart disease, dementia, depression and arthritis. Our bodies can’t make Omega 3’s so we have to get them from food or supplements. Here’s a great way to add some Omega 3’s into your diet with this easy, tasty recipe for Pistachio Crusted Salmon.
- 2 salmon fillets (approx. 4-6 oz. each ,skin on) (wild King or your favorite variety)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- ½ lemon, juiced
- ¼ tsp lemon zest
- 1 Tbsp course grain mustard (or Dijon)
- 1 Tbsp honey
- ¼ cup pistachio nuts, shelled
- 2 Tbsp panko bread crumbs
- 1 Tbsp olive oil (or avocado oil)
- Preheat oven to 375F
- Rinse salmon and pat dry with paper towel. Arrange salmon on a foil (or parchment paper) lined baking sheet, skin side down. Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste.
- In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, lemon zest, mustard and honey. Spoon mixture and spread evenly over top of each salmon fillet.
- Coarsely chop pistachios in a food processor (or with a knife ) and combine with panko and olive oil. Spread pistachio mixture on top of salmon, pressing lightly to adhere.
- Bake until salmon is cooked through to your liking and pistachios are golden brown, approx. 15-20 min. Let salmon rest 5 min.(outside of oven) before serving (Salmon will continue to cook during this time so keep this in mind when removing salmon from oven) .
KKL
November 30, 2019 at 4:46 pmI love this recipe! I have made it at least 5 times. My husband loves it too. So simple. I serve it with a side of baked asparagus and I leave out the honey and bread (just because we’re super carb conscious) and it’s still amazing. Thanks for posting this! A+++
Susan
December 9, 2019 at 8:03 pmThanks! I’m so glad you are enjoying! I don’t know if you saw this version https://www.simplehealthykitchen.com/pecan-crusted-oven-baked-salmon/ but it works really well with pistacios as well! super simple…coat salmon in olive oil add some salt and pepper. Melt a bit of butter ( I do it in a coffee cup in the microwave, some garlic and onion ( or garlic and onion powder) a pinch of dill and a bit splash of lemon juice (optional) and mix in crushed nuts. pour the nut mixture over the salmon and cook (375F for 15 mins +/- depending on thickness of salmon)
Elissa
February 11, 2019 at 5:42 pmMade for dinner! Quick and easy to throw together for a week night but also elegant enough for a fancier dinner 🙂 yum!
Penny
December 12, 2017 at 11:47 amHi,,,, as you already have the oven on, maybe throw some veggies in to roast at the same time. Dinner done! LOVE your site!
Tracey Paley
October 25, 2016 at 2:38 pmThis was awesome! Will be making it over and over again.
Susan
October 25, 2016 at 7:06 pmThanks Tracey! Glad you enjoyed it! it’s one of my favs! (and the pecan crusted salmon…my two “go-to” salmon recipes)
Rak Malla
September 2, 2016 at 1:34 pmWhat a great recipe! Thank you loved it!
Susan
September 4, 2016 at 12:14 pmThanks! Glad you enjoyed it! Here’s another nut crusted salmon recipe you might like Pecan Crusted Oven Baked Salmon
Patti C
August 23, 2015 at 1:33 pmThe directions mention lemon zest but it isn’t in the ingredients. Zest of the 1/2 lemon used for juice. I am getting ready to make this so will just guess but would like to know for the next time. Sounds delicious and I have wanted pistachio-crusted salmon ever since I had it at a restaurant that no longer serves it.
Susan
August 23, 2015 at 7:01 pmPatti, that’s exactly right. I updated the recipe to make that a little clearer. Thanks for bringing it to my attention! I hope you enjoyed the salmon!
Bryan
August 13, 2015 at 5:01 pmLove this! This brings together every pleasure center of the mouth in one fantastical (and probably too big) bite. Savory, sweet, salty (assumes salted nuts), nutty, rich… oh god, oh god, I just ate the piece I was saving for my wife. Crap, I’m in trouble. No changes necessary to this recipe.
Susan
August 14, 2015 at 2:20 pmBryan…LOL! that’s funny! really appreciate your feedback. Hope the wife wasn’t too mad 🙂
Bill Brown
August 9, 2015 at 6:30 pmAbsolutely fantastic. We’re always looking for new recipes for salmon — I’m lucky to live in Alaska and catch lots of kings and cohos — and this one is truly worthy of a fresh king salmon.
Susan
August 13, 2015 at 3:31 pmThanks Bill! much appreciate the feedback! and you’re right…you’re very lucky to live in Alaska! such a beautiful place.
Marty
January 17, 2015 at 5:32 pmLove this post, and also salmon! Great looking recipe here. We’re gonna whip this up tomorrow. Thanks!
Thalia @ butter and brioche
January 10, 2015 at 8:52 pmI just love the idea of coating salmon in a pistachio crust. I was planning on making salmon for dinner tonight – so this recipe is just ideal for me. Thanks!