Pistachio Crusted Sockeye Salmon Recipe (2024)

Loved a recipe? Have a question? Please share a comment. 🙂

This pistachio crusted salmon recipe makes flaky baked salmon topped with a creamy zhoug sauce and crunchy chopped pistachios. Serve with a simple kale salad tossed with zhoug dressing for an explosion of flavor in every bite.

This salmon recipe combines a spicy homemade zhoug sauce with crunchy pistachios and a tender kale salad. The zhoug can be made in advance, then you’ll use it to bake the salmon and also make a creamy salad dressing with some kick. The end result is flavorful and filling!

Why You’ll Love This Pistachio Crusted Salmon Recipe

• Easy. No complicated ingredients or techniques here! You can get the zhoug sauce from Trader Joe’s or you can make it at home in less than 10 minutes.
• Quick. From start to finish this dinner is ready in 20-25 minutes (not counting oven pre-heating time).
• Flavorful. Thanks to the vibrant zhoug sauce and, each bite of flaky baked salmon is bursting with flavors and textures. The massaged kale salad is tender and compliments the salmon beautifully.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why Do You Massage the Kale?

This salmon recipe is served with a massaged kale salad. Massaging kale for salad is a technique that helps to improve its texture and taste. Kale leaves can be quite tough and fibrous, and massaging them helps break down some of the tough fibers and wilt the leaves slightly.

How to Massage Kale

To massage kale, remove the tough stems and tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces. Then, drizzle a small amount of olive oil, lemon juice or in this case zhoug dressing over the kale and gently rub and squeeze the leaves with your hands. Continue massaging for a few minutes until the kale becomes slightly softer and darker in color. After massaging, you can add the rest of your salad ingredients and dressing.

Tips for Success

• Choose fresh salmon: Look for salmon fillets that are firm, shiny, and have a mild sea-like scent.
• Preheat the oven: Before baking, preheat your oven to the recommended temperature. This ensures even cooking and that the salmon will cook in the amount of time in the recipe.
• Oil your baking sheet: Add some oil to your baking sheet to prevent the salmon from sticking and make clean-up easier. This also gives the salmon skin a nice crispiness.
• Don’t overcook: Avoid overcooking the salmon. The flesh should be opaque, light pink and easily flake with a fork when done.
• Rest before serving: Allow the baked salmon to rest for a few minutes before serving. This gives the juices a change to redistribute, resulting in a more flavorful and moist piece of fish.

How to Store and Reheat Extras

• Storing the salmon: Let your pistachio crusted salmon cool, then transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the fridge for up to 2 days.
• How to reheat the salmon: When you are ready to eat some, place your desired amount on a microwave-safe plate and zap it until warmed through, about 1 minute 30 seconds. You can also eat your salmon leftovers cold.
• Storing the salad: The kale salad can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to eat some just scoop the salad into a bowl and dig in.

More Seafood Recipes to Try

• Shrimp Tempura
• Alaska Roll Sushi
• Dragon Roll