This Pecan Crusted Salmon recipe is a quick and healthy weeknight meal that takes less than 30 minutes from prep to table! It uses very few ingredients and comes out of the oven smelling wonderful every time. This recipe is quickly becoming one of my go-to seasonal fish recipes!
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Baked fish recipes are so right up my alley!
Cooking fish in the oven is quick, makes a perfect, healthy weeknight meal and tastes delicious.
This Pecan Crusted Salmon recipe came together in almost no time and is something I plan on cooking again and again!
What Is Pecan Crusted Salmon?
Pecan Crusted Salmon is a baked salmon recipe that incorporates crushed pecans as a topping to the fish.
When these crushed pecans are cooked, they form a nice ‘crust’ on the outer layer of the salmon filet.
And if you love pecans as much as I do, they contribute an overall nutty flavor profile to this dish that is just delicious!
What Makes This Pecan Crusted Salmon Recipe So Good?
There are several things that make this recipe great:
- Quick to Cook – Baking fish in the oven, especially a nice lean fish like salmon, doesn’t take long at all. Baking fish is more of a hands-off recipe than, say, my Pan Seared Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce.
- Very Few Ingredients – Other than the salmon filet, this recipe only requires pecans, salt pepper, oil and a couple spices.
- Super-healthy – Salmon is a fish high in Omega-3 fatty acids, which have many health benefits according to this article from the Mayo Clinic.
- Tastes Amazing – the flavor and texture imparted by adding the crushed pecans is just wonderful!
Pecan Crusted Salmon – The Ingredients
This Easy Pecan Crusted Salmon Recipe requires very few ingredients, some of which you probably already have at home:
- 2 – 3 Salmon Filets
- Pecan Halves
- Sesame Oil (olive Oil is perfectly fine, but I am a nut nut!)
- Garlic Powder
- Rosemary
- Salt
- Pepper
These ingredients are all easy-to-find ingredients.
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If you don’t have them at home, all grocery stores will carry them or use the links I provided down below in the Recipe Card to save time and order them online!
Recipe Equipment Used For This Pecan Crusted Salmon Recipe
Almost no recipe equipment is needed, either:
- Cutting Board
- Large Chef’s Knife
- Casserole Dish
- Ziploc Plastic Storage Bag (optional)
A good cutting board like this one is essential for chopping the pecans to use as the crust.
In addition, a quality, sharp Professional Chef’s Knife is another tool that really came in handy when preparing this dish.
A casserole dish for baking the fish is another must have.
In fact, I also made my Blackened Swordfish in this same casserole dish!
I explain the uses for the Ziploc Plastic Storage Bag below in the next section.
Making The Pecan Crust
This pecan crusted salmon recipe features a light crust made from pecans.
But, making the pecan crust can be done in a couple different ways
First, Determine Whether You Prefer A Coarsely Chopped Crust Or a Finely Chopped Pecan Crust
I prefer a coarsely chopped crust for this recipe – this is just a personal preference of mine.
As a result, I used my favorite chef’s knife to create a coarsely chopped crust.
Coarsely chopped pecans result in larger pieces and take a few extra minutes in the oven to sear onto the salmon filet.
For those who prefer a finely chopped crust, here’s my recommendation:
Place the pecan halves into a sealable plastic Ziploc storage bag like this.
Place a dish towel around the bag (just for extra cushioning)
Use a small hammer, mallet or food tenderizing hammer to crush the pecans well.
This will create a fine pecan ‘dust’ that is perfect for adhering to the outside of the salmon filet!
Chopping The Pecans
If you are going to chop the pecans into a coarsely chopped crust (as I did), use pecan halves with the flat side down on your cutting board.
This makes them more stable and less likely to slip out from under your knife.
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Pecan Crusted Salmon – The Spices and Seasonings I Used
This recipe is so easy, I literally just used salt, pepper, garlic powder and rosemary – it didn’t need anything else!
Where is Rosemary? Show Me Rosemary!
I apparently forgot to photograph the rosemary on my plate, but trust me – I used it.
What Temperature Is Best For Baking Pecan Crusted Salmon In The Oven?
For this recipe, I baked the salmon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
It was hot enough to thoroughly cook the fish all the way through without overcooking the filets.
Tips & Substitutions
Here are a few suggestions, tips and ideas for ingredients you may want to consider substituting in this recipe.
Nut Allergies – **IMPORTANT**
Obviously, anyone with a nut allergy should NOT consume nuts or any recipes that use nuts.
In this recipe, you should NOT consume or use Sesame Oil (nut based) or Pecans.
Use Olive Oil Instead Of Sesame Oil To Season The Baking Dish And As A Drizzle
I used sesame oil as a drizzle on top of each salmon filet and I used an olive oil based non-stick cooking spray to season my casserole dish and prevent the salmon filets from sticking to the dish.
I admit that between the pecan crust and the sesame oil, I went a bit heavy-handed with the nutty flavors in this dish.
Similar Pecan Crusted Salmon Recipes online use olive oil in place of sesame oil and this is perfectly fine.
Substitute Panko Breadcrumbs For Pecans
Use Gluten Free Panko Breadcrumbs like these instead of Pecans (NOTE: Please be aware that SOME Panko Breadcrumbs contain Canola Oil and should also be avoided by anyone with a nut allergy!)
Always read the ingredients and discuss any allergies or dietary restrictions with your doctor.
Panko breadcrumbs are lighter and flakier compared to regular breadcrumbs.
They cook quickly and result in a beautiful, crispy crust.
Here is an excellent Panko Crusted Salmon Recipe from PrimaveraKitchen.com – please check out Olivia’s site!
Spice Substitutions
I like rosemary and felt it contributed to the flavor profile of this dish, but feel free to experiment with additional spices.
Thyme is a spice that could be substituted in place of rosemary or used in addition to rosemary – feel free to experiment!
Now, onto the recipe…
Pecan Crusted Salmon
2
servings5
minutes15
minutes186
kcalThis Pecan Crusted Salmon is so easy, fast and flavorful you’ll wonder why you never made it before. Featuring a tasty crust made of coarsely chopped pecans and a simple blend of seasonings featuring rosemary and garlic powder, this oven baked salmon is a delicious and healthy weeknight meal the whole family will love! (NOTE: I have provided Amazon links to most ingredients below in case you decide to save time and purchase them online. If so, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you!)
Ingredients
2-3 1.5 lb Salmon Filets
4 oz Pecan halves (coarsely chopped)
1 drizzle Sesame Oil (or olive oil)
1 tbsp Rosemary (Dried)
1 tsp Garlic Powder
1/2 tsp Sea Salt
1 tsp Black Pepper
Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- While oven is preheating, use a sharp chef’s knife on top of a sturdy cutting board and coarsely chop four ounces of pecan halves into small pieces.
- Coat the bottom of your casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray, a light layer of a good sesame oil (or olive oil).
- Add each salmon filet to the casserole dish (skin side down) and move around a bit to coat the bottom side with oil.
- While still dry, cool, and tacky to the touch (helps the dry spices adhere better to the salmon), season each salmon filet with salt, pepper, garlic and rosemary using the measurements indicated above. Don’t worry about being super-precise!
- (Optional) Sometimes I may even drizzle a small amount of sesame oil to the top of each filet before adding the chopped pecans.
- Finally, add a nice layer of chopped pecans to each filet, coating the top of each piece of salmon until it is completely covered as shown below.
- Transfer to oven (once preheated) and bake for 12 – 15 minutes at 400 degrees F (your time may vary slightly depending on how powerful your oven is)
- Enjoy!
Pecan Crusted Salmon Recipe (Pause Scrolling To Load Video)
Notes
- Just wanted to mention, I cooked two salmon filets, however the second one broke as I was plating this dish, which is why the main recipe photo only contains a single filet!
- Please AVOID SESAME OIL AND PECANS if you have any type of nut allergy. See the Tips & Substitutions Section above the recipe card for ideal substitution candidates for these ingredients.
- Make sure to use a sharp, High-Quality Chef’s Knife if you decide to coarsely chop the pecans as I did in this recipe.
- Alternatively, if you prefer a finely crushed pecan crust for your Pecan Crusted Salmon, use my tip above to crush your pecan halves into submission inside a plastic Ziploc storage bag.
- Feel free to experiment with different seasonings and spices. I kept it really simple using only rosemary, garlic powder, salt and pepper.
- *****Tired of buying all your own ingredients? Then, SKIP buying ingredients and get everything you need for making healthy meals at home delivered directly to your door from Clean Eatz!!*****
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How To Store Pecan Crusted Salmon
Personally, I try to eat whatever fish I make at the time I make it, but salmon may be the one exception.
Cold salmon tastes especially good after it has been refrigerated.
Before refrigerating, I take my Pecan Crusted Salmon in the same dish I served it in, cover the dish with a clear plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator.
I do NOT recommend freezing any fish once it has been cooked.
How Long Will This Salmon Dish Last In The Refrigerator?
For best results, we try to finish eating any refrigerated fish in 1 – 2 days.
It will last a couple days beyond that, but I suggest finishing this dish within 1 – 2 days of being refrigerated.
Other Popular Baked Fish Recipes On SeasonalCookbook.com
If you like cooking fish in the oven as much as I do, I think you’ll love the following easy baked fish recipes:
- Blackened Swordfish Oven Recipe – a delightful, flaky, light, and delicious blackened fish recipe made in the oven.
- Oven Baked Rockfish With Lemon Butter – a quick, healthy, oven recipe using the most delicate of fish. This recipe has become a favorite of our family!
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What Do You Think About This Easy Pecan Crusted Salmon Recipe?
So, what could be easier than this recipe?
It uses very few ingredients and is one of my favorite seasonal recipes for summer when you want to keep it light!
But I am interested to hear what you think of this recipe!
Did you try it? Do you have any suggestions?
Please let me know by posting a comment in the COMMENTS SECTION Below to start the discussion.
Until next time…
Happy Cooking!
