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Cinnamon & Pecan Crusted Salmon
This amazing cinnamon and pecan crusted salmon is a simple and healthy dinner recipe that takes less than 30 minutes to make. Flavorful, only 6 ingredients and seriously delicious!
If you've been on the hunt for a quick, easy and delicious weeknight dinner idea, today's recipe is for you! We're making a perfect baked salmon that is ready in less than 30 minutes, uses just 6 ingredients and seriously tastes incredible. One of my team members made it the other day and tested me saying, “I just made this recipe for lunch and it is SO GOOD! My boyfriend kept repeating “this is so delicious”. Gonna be our new go salmon recipe. It took us no time!”
So here's the deal: we're making this simple pecan crusted salmon with a hint of cinnamon and smoked paprika. It's baked until flakey perfection and can also be kept as a great meal prep option.
Sounds like something you need in your kitchen arsenal, don't you think?!
Best Type of Salmon To Buy
First, let's talk salmon. When it comes to buying salmon at the grocery store, there are a few things you need to (or should) keep in mind:
- wild caught or responsibly farmed
- caught in the Atlantic (not Pacific)
- preferable ASC certified (highest rating in the salmon industry)
- ideally fresh, not previously frozen
Ingredients for This Recipe
Now, let's talk about this pecan crusted salmon. Not only does it have this crunchy, flavorful crust on top, but that crust also helps keep the fish moist and flakey. The layer of mustard? Helps make sure the crust stays in place AND it adds another level of flavor. Yum!
Here's what we're using to make this recipe:
- Salmon: make sure to follow my criteria above and scale the crust ingredients according to how big your piece is
- Mustard: this gets put on top of the fish and then the crust goes on top of that
- Pecans: which we'll grind up into a coarse texture and mix with the spices
- Cinnamon: adds warmth!
- Smoked paprika: adds smokiness
- Salt: rounds it all out and makes it taste delicious!
How to make our Pecan Crusted Salmon
Just as simple as the ingredient list is, making this recipe is also a cinch. Here are the steps you'll follow:
STEP ONE: Crust
First, we need to make the crust. We'll blitz our pecans in a food processor, then dump them in a shallow dish or plate and stir in the spices.
STEP TWO: Assemble
Next, we'll assemble the salmon. Spread the mustard directly on top of the salmon. Then dunk the salmon, flesh side down, into the crust. Push the crust around to make sure it's evenly coated. Then place it on a lined baking sheet.
STEP THREE: Bake
Finally, we'll bake it! This cooks for about 15 – 20 minutes, depending on the size of your filet, and you'll know it's done when the fish easily flakes. Let it rest of a few minutes before serving, but otherwise, just go ahead and dig in!
What To Serve with Our Baked Salmon
One of the things I love about this recipe is how easy it is to pair things with. Whether you want to make a few different sides or pop it on top of a salad, it will still be totally scrumptious.
Here are some ideas for sides that I think would pair really well:
- Sauteed garlic green beans
- Healthy carrot slaw
- Spaghetti Squash Fritters
- Roasted Potato + Red Quinoa Salad
- Best Massaged Kale Salad
Or really just any roasted vegetable would be perfect!
Crusted Salmon for Meal Prep
I don't often have leftover salmon, but this go around, I wanted to so I could test to see if salmon keeps well. The answer is YES!
I had three extra filets after testing this recipe and used them in a few different ways:
- Crumbled it up on top of a salad
- Used it in a taco for lunch
- Turned them into my sweet potato salmon cakes
So…does salmon work for meal prep? Heck yes, it does!
Can You Reheat Salmon?
And yes, if you do want to reheat your leftovers, you can do that also.
I recommend putting it in a baking dish, cover the dish with tinfoil, and let it heat up slowly. The foil should trap the moisture inside and help prevent the fish from drying out.
If you're making tacos, I think just throwing it into a saute pan and heating it up quickly is the way to go!
But even if you don't have leftovers, you're going to LOVE this recipe. It's super simple, but also super flavorful. It's been a go-to for us these past few weeks and I can't wait to hear what you think!
Other Healthy Salmon Recipes to try:
- Honey Almond Crusted Salmon
- Sweet Potato Salmon Cakes
- Healthy Baked Salmon Salad
- Smoked Salmon Spread with Roasted Red Peppers
- Herb & Roasted Garlic Salmon
Cinnamon & Pecan Crusted Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 pound Atlantic salmon
- 1/2 cup raw pecans
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400ºF.
- In a food processor, pulse the pecans until they are finely chopped and crumbly. Pour them onto a plate and add the cinnamon, paprika, and salt. Mix the spices into the pecans with a fork.
- Spread the mustard evenly over the flesh of the salmon. This will give you a nice "sticky" layer to bind with the pecans. Coat the top of the salmon with the crust by placing the filet skin side up in the pecan crumbs. Make sure to crust all sides of the fish (except the skin) to get the full flavor of the crust.
- Place the filet, skin side down on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake it in the center of the warm oven for 15 - 20 minutes depending on the thickness, until the fish flakes easily.
- Serve immediately with a side of your favorite veggies – we went with roasted potatoes and a simple salad.
Notes
Nutrition
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It is a super easy recipe and flavorful. I love the nutty flavor that go so well with salmon. Literally, it took me only 5 minutes to prep. But I forgot to brush some oil onto the skin before putting the salmon on the tin foil, so the skin was stuck on the foil. LOL.
So good! So simple! My new craving.
So good, right!? Glad you enjoyed!
Had this salmon recipe for dinner this pm – simply fab ! Thank you
Fantastic! So glad you liked it 🙂
Sounds delicious! I will try the walnuts next time. I was thinking of also adding some cayenne to kick up the heat a little more. Tarragon is a fabulous idea – would add great flavor to the crust!
I didn't have pecans so I used walnuts. And, I also added some fresh tarragon into the mix. It gives it a sweeter and fresh kick. 🙂
Hi Alejandra – I'm so happy to hear you enjoyed the recipe! What changes did you make? I love to hear other people's interpretations, so I can try it out next time!
Alyssa xo
Dear Alyssa,
I just made this recipe (with minor changes). It's delicious. Thanks!
Alejandra
Hi Mary – thanks for checking out my site! I just recently completed my first CLEAN program and feel great. I'd been living gluten and dairy free for over a year, so it wasn't too much of an adjustment for me. I truly love eating gluten-free and I've found so many amazing foods that keep my meals interesting! I post frequently, so check back in if you're ever looking for inspiration!
Cheers,
Alyssa
Hi Alyssa – Just wanted to say I love your blog and I cant wait to try this recipe. I saw one of your posts on the CLEAN site and followed the link here. I have completed CLEAN twice over the past 1 1/2 years and am loving my new eating style! I also am very sensitive to gluten but I get bored with food easily, so I am always looking for new ideas. Keep up the awesome work!
Mary