This Baked Pistachio Crusted Salmon recipe comes together in 30 minutes. Serve Pistachio Salmon with Lemon and a side of veggies and salad.

Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon

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Salmon is the most regularly cooked seafood in our home, and it’s so good for you! Today’s Pistachio Salmon is so easy to make, and it’s a real crowd pleaser. The salmon is tender and sweet, and the secret is to not overbake it, to make it moist and memorable.

Pistachio Salmon with Lemon

This Baked Pistachio Crusted Salmon is a quick weeknight dinner or impressive enough to serve at a dinner party. The combination of lemon, pepper, and pistachios gives the salmon a crunch, fresh taste.

pistachio baked salmon

Why we love this recipe

  • We love this recipe because you can prepare it at home, bring it to a party; bake and serve in 12-15 minutes.
  • Kids love this pistachio salmon!
  • The leftovers are great served in wraps and salads.
  • It’s an “anytime of year” salmon recipe.

If you’re making salmon for kids, we’ve found that small children love this Easy Salmon recipe made with crunchy barbecue potato chips. Serve dish with these potatoes, green beans, and this trifle dessert.

Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon - ingredients

Ingredients for Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon:

Feel free to replace the dark brown sugar for coconut sugar, as we’ve tried that, too! And if you love lime, try this BEST Pistachio Lime Baked Salmon recipe.  

  • Salmon filet
  • Pistachios
  • Brown sugar
  • Lemon juice
  • Dill weed
  • Pepper
  • Sea salt

Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon - mixing

How do you make Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon?

Take 5 simple ingredients, plus the salmon, and mix together to press on top of a delicious salmon filet. Everyone asks where I get my salmon? We usually buy it at Costco. 

Optional to make this topping ahead of time. Press onto the filet, bake, and serve!

  1. Prep the salmon: Place the salmon on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Pat salmon filets with paper towel to remove any excess water.
  2. Make the topping: Chop or crush the nuts; add the rest of the ingredients together in a small bowl. Spread over the salmon.
  3. Bake the salmon: Bake until the fish is done. Remove from the oven immediately and serve.

One of my favorite tools in my kitchen is a small mini processor, which is erfect for chopping the nuts.

Buy mini food processor here (affiliate link): 3.5 cup Mini Food Processor.

Easy Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon

How do you make moist salmon?

Don’t overcook the salmon. Use the back of a spatula to press down on the salmon to feel if it’s cooked. If the spongy feeling is gone, and the salmon is firm, then it is cooked!

If it feels spongy, it needs more cooking time.

Most people overcook salmon, so this technique works every time! 

Here’s another baked recipe, Baked Cedar Plank Salmon recipe … super moist and YUM!

BEST Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon

 

How long does it take to bake salmon?

Prepare the salmon and place on a baking sheet (parchment paper) or 9×13 sprayed baking dish. Preparing the salmon means I usually rinse the filets first.

Spoon the mixture over the salmon, pressing into the filet, and bake!

In about 12 minutes, your main dish is ready for serving!

Baked Pistachio CRUSTED Lemon Salmon

Tips and substitutions:

  • You can leave the filet whole, or cut into individual servings.
  • Foil or parchment paper makes easy clean-up.
  • Don’t overbake the salmon. Use the spatula method to make sure that it’s not overcooked. See tip above “how do you make moist salmon?”
  • Swap out the pistachios for cashews, pecans, or your favorite nut.
  • Replace the brown sugar with coconut sugar.
  • Use lime instead of lemon.
  • Add in maple for a “maple” flavor.
  • Try different herbs, although we really love the dill flavor mixed with lemon, sugar, and pepper. YUM.

Next time you’re hosting, try this amazing fish recipe. With pistachios, black pepper, brown sugar and dill, it’s a guaranteed hit.

Let me know if you try this salmon this weekend. It’s our family favorite, so easy, and great for company, too!

More salmon recipes to try:

10-minute Maple Crusted Salmon [FoodieCrush]

Oven Baked Salmon with homemade Blackberry Barbecue Sauce

Baked Orange-Spiced Salmon Recipe

Garlic Honey Lime Salmon

You can also find this recipe on my cookbook, Big Boards for Families. [We’ve updated this post from February 2015.]

baked pistachio salmon
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Baked Pistachio Lemon Salmon

This Baked Pistachio Crusted Salmon recipe comes together in 30 minutes. Serve Pistachio Salmon with Lemon and a side of veggies and salad.
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Yield: 6
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Ingredients
 

  • 1 ½ 2 lb. salmon filet or 6 salmon filets, 7 ounces each
  • 1 cup pistachio nuts, chopped
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 3 T. fresh lemon juice
  • 2  tsp. dill weed
  • 1 ½ tsp. pepper
  • Sea salt

Instructions
 

  • Place the salmon on a baking pan lined with parchment paper.
  • Pat salmon filets with paper towel to remove any excess water.
  • Chop or crush the nuts; add the rest of the ingredients together in a small bowl.
  • Spread over the salmon.
  • Bake at 425 for 12-15 minutes or until the fish is done.
  • Remove from the oven immediately and serve.

Notes

Updated/reposted from February 2015.
Cuisine: American
Course: Main Course
Did you make this recipe?Tag @reluctantentertainer on Instagram and hashtag it #reluctantentertainer!

pistachio salmon