Let’s get ready for the change in the seasons with some bright fresh summer flavors. This delicious keto salmon recipe with pesto will be sure to get your taste buds ready for some more bold flavors.
Salmon is a flavorful fish and can easily be enjoyed with just some salt and pepper, but this cilantro lime pesto will put it over the top and add a clean and fresh citrusy punch of flavor to an already yummy bite of crispy-skinned salmon. It is one of our favorite keto recipes for dinner.
I have to admit it's taken me a while to enjoy salmon. And several occasions where I was served it without a choice. It is typical banquet fare and at a few fundraisers, I ended up with a plate of salmon staring up at me. I realized that when well prepared it isn't that bad. And this low carb keto salmon recipe is delicious!
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One of my favorite characteristics of pesto is that it simultaneously adds a punch of flavor and a bold pop of color. Pesto is also very versatile and can be used as a marinade, dressing, sauce, dip, or just a color plate decoration. I make homemade pesto (this nut-free pesto) every summer as the gardening season winds down with any basil I have in the garden.
Ingredients
There are just four simple ingredients for the pesto and one more to make this pesto salmon recipe. I like to just put them all into the mini food processor, but you can also use a rocket blender, or blender to accomplish the same thing. Here’s a tip: If you want to make this pesto into a dip just add a little more lime juice, or add an additional tablespoon of olive oil to make a salad dressing.
Salmon - You can use a fresh salmon filet or a thawed frozen salmon filet.
Cilantro - We love the combination of cilantro and lime paired with fish.
Garlic - Fresh garlic cloves give the pesto a bold, garlic flavor.
Lime Juice - Fresh squeezed lime juice will give the best results. I don't recommend using bottled juice in this recipe.
Oil - You want to use a mild flavored oil so it doesn't overpower the other flavors. Grapeseed oil, avocado oil, or light olive oil work best.
How to Make Pesto
Put all your pesto ingredients into the food processor and blend until it is pureed. If the pesto is a little thin, you can add more cilantro to thicken it up. Tip: I recommend using a salad spinner to ensure you get all the water off your rinsed cilantro or that excess water will thin out your pesto.
How to Make Keto Salmon
Step One: Start by preheating the oven to 475 F. At the same put a skillet over medium high heat. You will need an oven-safe pan so that you can put the whole thing into the oven to finish the salmon.
Step Two: Once the pan is hot, coat the bottom with a quick drizzle of oil. I used grapeseed oil for this preparation. Season the salmon with salt and ground black pepper. Then lay your salmon in the pan skin side down for 5 minutes.
After five minutes, put the entire pan into the oven for 3 more minutes. Instead of the oven, you could put it under the broiler for 1 minute if you prefer a rarer piece of salmon.
Expert Tip: If you want to just make pan seared salmon without finishing it in the oven you can continue to cook on the stovetop.
Expert Tip: Make sure that you are using a potholder when you remove the pan from the oven. Keep in mind that the handle will be hot for about another 20 minutes after that as well. It is easy to forget if you start cleaning up and you will get a nasty surprise if you go to grab it with your bare hand.
Step Three: Drizzle pesto sauce over the salmon and serve.
Variations
Basil - If you'd prefer to make a classic basil pesto just substitute basil for the cilantro and leave out the lime juice or swap in lemon juice. Basil pesto is also delicious on keto salmon.
Keto Garlic Butter Salmon - Follow my Keto Shrimp Recipe but sub in salmon and add garlic for a buttery garlic salmon. It is a delicious dish where the fish is poached in butter. The garlic butter sauce is amazing. For a creamy version stir a bit of cream cheese into the sauce.
Dill - You can easily make gluten free dill baked salmon by making the pesto with dill instead of cilantro.
Glazed Salmon - If you like a sweet glaze on your salmon add my Keto Teriyaki Sauce before transferring this to the oven and then brush more on when it comes back out.
Baked - If you prefer you can make this a pesto baked salmon recipe by placing the salmon fillets on a small sheet pan. Bake at 400 for about 12-15 minutes or until they reach a temperature of 125°F to 135°F for medium-rare to medium. This is the easiest way to make baked pesto salmon for a crowd.
Vegetables - You can cook some veggies that cook quickly along with the salmon in the pan. Halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced onions, or par-blanched cauliflower are good choices.
Common Questions
Should I Use Fresh or Frozen Salmon?
I used a four-ounce portion of salmon from Butcher Box. I thawed it in the vacuum sealed packaging in a bowl of water for an hour.
Of course, you can use fresh salmon as well. This pesto sauce recipe quantity is sufficient for flavoring up to a one-pound fillet or four smaller salmon fillets.
If you don't want to thaw your salmon check out this air fryer frozen salmon recipe!
How to Get Crispy Skin on Salmon
The key to crispy skin on keto salmon is a hot pan and oil that can handle a high temperature without scorching. I recommend using grapeseed or avocado oil for your keto salmon recipes, as they can both better handle high temperatures than olive oil.
What to serve with Keto Salmon?
Serve this up with any healthy in-season veggies and enjoy! It is a lighter keto diet meal and pairs well with both light side dishes and those that are a bit richer. I just served it on top of baby spinach with a little extra pesto and a drizzle of oil for an easy keto salmon salad.
Some of our other favorite side dishes to serve with salmon are Garlic Broccoli, Keto Mashed Cauliflower, and Roasted Asparagus.
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📖 Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 x 4 oz filets of salmon
- 3 cloves of garlic
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup fresh cilantro
- 3 tablespoon lime juice
- salt and pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon of high temp cooking oil (recommend avocado or grapeseed)
Instructions
- Combine garlic, olive oil, cilantro and lime juice in a food processor. Blend until pureed.
- Season salmon with salt and pepper
- Preheat oven to 475 degrees
- Heat frying pan over high heat, add cooking oil
- Lay salmon in frying pan skin side down and cook on high heat for 5 min
- Then place the entire pan in the oven for 3 minutes.
- Remove salmon from pan and plate. Spoon or pour pesto over the top and serve.
Nutrition
Want to try cooking salmon in your air fryer? Try this Air Fryer Salmon recipe!
How about another type of fish? This Mahi Mahi is great!
Want to smoke salmon? This Traeger Smoked Salmon is perfect every time.
Originally Published April 26, 2019. Revised and Republished April 3, 2023.
Natalie says
Sounds delicious. I never used lime with salmon. I'm going to try this.
Sandi says
That pesto sauce made this recipe absolutely incredible!
Fiorenza says
A perfect match, pesto and salmon, what goodness! And also very light, a perfectly balanced meal.
Jaclyn says
An amazing salmon recipe -- so much flavor! Yum!
Megan Marlowe says
This salmon recipe looks fabulous and light! I will definitely try it with basil pesto when my basil plant is begging to be used!
Marsha Maxwell says
I love this recipe! I've been making salmon with basil pesto for a long time, but the cilantro pesto is so fresh and yummy!
Noelle says
Salmon and pesto? Im in! love this recipe, one of my new favorite fish recipes
Beth says
How does something that looks this delicious be healthy?! This is a 'must try' for me!