Enjoy this baked salmon dish anytime of the year. Cilantro pesto gives salmon a zesty flavor. This baked salmon with pesto dish can be combined with a side of grains and vegetables. You can also enjoy it on tacos, as a dipping sauce for wings or as a salad dressing.
- 2 wild caught salmon fillets
- 1 cup cilantro (chopped)
- 3 garlic cloves
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon salt (for the pesto sauce)
- ¼ teaspoon ground pepper (for the pesto sauce)
- ¼ teaspoon salt (for the salmon)
- teaspoon ground pepper (for the salmon)
- Preheat over to 425 degrees.
- Season salmon with salt and pepper and place in a baking dish and bake for 10-15 minutes or until desired doneness is reached. I usually bake it for 10 minutes, then turn off the oven and leave it for another 5 minutes.
- Wash cilantro throughly, chop and set aside.
- In a food processor, add cilantro, garlic, lemon, water and the remainder salt and pepper and blend until all ingredients are well combined.
- Add olive oil to cilantro pesto and pulse for another 2-3 seconds. Use a spatula to scrape the sides of the food processor.
- Pour raw pesto on cooked salmon and enjoy with your favorite side dish.