Pesto Butter Salmon
Pesto Butter Salmon is one of the quickest and easiest recipes out there. It cooks in no time and has so much flavor. It is terrific with a number of different side dishes, and it is easily doubled to serve for a dinner party!
Ingredients
- 1 Salmon Filet, 1 to 1 1/4 pounds in size
- 1 tsp Salt
- 1/2 tsp Black Pepper
- 2 Tbsp Unsalted Butter, very soft
- 3 Tbsp Basil Pesto
Directions
- 1
Heat the oven to 450 degrees.
- 2
While you wait for the oven to heat, line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil, dull side up.
- 3
Cut the salmon into 4 equal portions.
- 4
To debone, run your fingers across each filet, until you feel the bones with your fingers.
- 5
Using your fingers, tweezers, or kitchen scissors, grab the bones and pull them out one by one.
- 6
Once the salmon is deboned, place the portions on the foil lined baking sheet skin side down, leaving at least a half inch of space in between each portion. If you are planning to cook the broccoli on the sheet pan with the salmon as pictured, you can fold one side of the foil up to create a barrier between the salmon and the broccoli.
- 7
Season each piece of salmon using the 1 tsp of salt and 1/2 tsp of black pepper. There is no need to season the skin side of the salmon, just the top.
- 8
In a small bowl, soften the 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter in the microwave. Don't heat it too long to avoid melting the butter.
- 9
Next, add the 3 Tbsp of pesto to the 2 Tbsp of unsalted butter and stir well.
- 10
Spoon the pesto butter onto each portion of salmon, being sure to divide it evenly among the portions.
- 11
Bake for about 8 minutes. If the top of the salmon filet flakes easily with a fork or the internal temperature reads a 125 to 130 degrees then you know the salmon is done.
- 12
Serve with your favorite side dish. To serve with the roasted broccoli as pictured, please see the recipe notes below.