Baked Pesto-Stuffed Salmon Fillets
By Chatelaine
Photo, Erik Putz.
Salmon fillets are stuffed with pesto and cream cheese and topped with crispy panko breadcrumbs for this impressive dinner.
Ingredients
-
1/4 cup
cream cheese
, softened
-
1/3 cup
pesto
, store-bought or homemade (see Kitchen Tip)
-
1/2 cup
panko bread crumbs
-
1 tbsp
olive oil
-
1/4 tsp
salt
-
4
skinless
salmon fillets
, about 180 g each and 1 in. thick
Salad
-
3 tbsp
olive oil
-
2 tbsp
white wine
vinegar
-
1 small
garlic clove
, minced
-
1 tsp
Dijon
mustard
-
1/4 tsp
salt
-
1 142-g
hearty kale
salad mix
, such as Eat Smart
Instructions
- Position rack in centre of oven and preheat to 400F. Line a large rimmed baking sheet with foil. Mash cream cheese in a small bowl until smooth, then mix in pesto. On a plate, combine panko with 1 tbsp oil and 1/4 tsp salt.
- Using a sharp paring knife, cut a 3-in. slit in the middle of 1 side of each salmon fillet (make sure not to cut all the way through). Spoon 2 tbsp cheese mixture into pocket of each fillet. Dip tops of salmon into panko mixture, pressing gently. Arrange salmon, panko-side up, on prepared sheet. Bake until a paring knife inserted into thickest part of fillet comes out warm, 12 to 15 min.
- Salad: Whisk 3 tbsp oil, vinegar, garlic, Dijon and 1/4 tsp salt in a large bowl. Toss with kale mix. Serve with stuffed salmon.
Kitchen Tip
- To make your own pesto, blend 1 garlic clove, 4 cups basil leaves, 1/2 cup toasted pine nuts, 1/3 cup grated parmesan, 2 tbsp lemon juice and 1/4 tsp salt until finely chopped, and gradually add 1/3 cup each of olive and vegetable oil while blender is running.
Nutrition (per serving)
- Calories
- 579,
- Protein
- 34 g,
- Carbohydrates
- 11 g,
- Fat
- 43 g,
- Fibre
- 2 g,
- Sodium
- 639 mg.
- Excellent source of
- vitamin C
