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5.0 from 3 votes

Pecan Crusted Salmon

Level up your weeknight meals with this easy pecan crusted salmon recipe! A restaurant-quality main dish, encrusted salmon turns out crunchy on the outside and tender on the inside! Serve it with rice and roasted vegetables or a side salad for a complete meal.

Prep Time
10 mins
Cook Time
10 mins
Total Time
20 mins
Servings: 3 Servings
Calories: 393 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

  • 1 pound salmon cut into individual filets
  • 1 Tbsp avocado oil
  • 1 Tbsp pure maple syrup *
  • 1 ½ tsp Stone ground mustard
  • ½ tsp garlic powder
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ½ tsp sea salt to taste
  • ½ cup raw pecans finely chopped

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. For extra crunchy topping, toast the pecans ahead of time. To do so, transfer the chopped pecans to a small skillet and heat on the stove top over medium-high heat, stirring constantly, until the nuts turn a slightly darker color, about 2-3 minutes. Transfer pecans to a bowl and set aside until cooled and ready to use.
  2. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a baking sheet or a casserole dish with cooking spray. You can also grease the pan using avocado oil, which is what I do.
  3. Remove the salmon filets from their packaging and pat them dry using paper towels.
  4. In a small bowl (I use a ramekin), stir together the avocado oil, pure maple syrup, stone ground mustard, garlic powder, paprika, and sea salt until the ingredients are well combined.
  5. Transfer the salmon filets to the prepared baking dish. Drizzle each filet with the pure maple syrup mixture and use your hands or a silicone brush to coat all of the salmon flesh with the mixture.
  6. Gently press the finely chopped pecans into the fish so that they stay put during the baking process.
  7. Bake on the center rack of the preheated oven for 10-12 minutes, or until the salmon is cooked through. Note that thinner salmon fillets require less bake time than thick fillets. Salmon fillets that are about an inch of thickness require about 8 minutes, versus upwards of 12 minutes for thick filets.
  8. The FDA considers salmon to be fully cooked once it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Insert a digital thermometer into the thickest part of the fish to check for doneness. If you prefer salmon that is rare in the middle, cook to 130 degrees F, but only do so if you trust the quality of the fish.
  9. Remove the salmon from the oven and serve immediately with your choice of side dishes. I like serving salmon with lemon wedges so that one can drizzle the fish with a little fresh lemon juice if desired.

Notes

  • *Replace the pure maple syrup with brown sugar or sugar-free sweetener for low-carb.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1Serving (of 3) Calories 393kcal (20%) Carbohydrates 8g (3%) Protein 32g (64%) Fat 26g (40%) Saturated Fat 3g (15%) Polyunsaturated Fat 10g Monounsaturated Fat 12g Cholesterol 80mg (27%) Sodium 550mg (23%) Fiber 2g (8%) Sugar 5g (10%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 3Servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 393

% Daily Value*

Serving 1Serving (of 3)
Calories 393kcal 20%
Carbohydrates 8g 3%
Protein 32g 64%
Fat 26g 40%
Saturated Fat 3g 15%
Polyunsaturated Fat 10g 59%
Monounsaturated Fat 12g 60%
Cholesterol 80mg 27%
Sodium 550mg 23%
Fiber 2g 8%
Sugar 5g 10%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.