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    Home » Paleo Recipes

    Salmon with Tomato Pesto Recipe

    Last Modified: Jan 18, 2023 by Paleo Leaper · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

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    You’ve made pesto with basil – maybe even with asparagus. But have you ever tried it with tomatoes? It’s a new and different taste, but just give it a shot; you might like it!

    Tomatoes have a delicious natural sweetness that fits perfectly with grilled salmon, and pesto is a very healthy way to get more high-quality fat into your diet, so whether you’re judging on taste or nutrition, it’s definitely a win.

    Salmon with Tomato Pesto

    There’s also another flavor champion in this recipe: the cedar plank. If you’ve never grilled with a wooden plank, you’re really missing out; it adds an incredible flavor and also slows down the cooking process, all but guaranteeing you perfectly tender, flaky fish.

    Just remember to soak it for at least an hour before throwing it on the grill: your goal is to get smoke-flavored salmon, not salmon flambé. Leave the plank to soak right up until you’re ready to start cooking; you'll get the maximum smoky flavor that way.

    If you don’t have one already, you can usually get a cedar plank fairly easily (and without breaking the bank) at most hardware or cooking stores.

    In a pinch, you can leave it out altogether; just follow the directions as written, ignoring all the instructions about the plank. The fish will still be delicious; it just won't have quite the same woodsy, smoky overtones.

    Whether or not there's any plank involved, grilling the pesto right on the fish adds a very rich flavor, perfectly topped with just a few raw tomatoes for contrast.

    Try it with some asparagus or maybe a simple dish of sauteed spinach - and if you have any leftovers, it would make a unique and delicious addition to a frittata for breakfast the next day.

    Salmon with Tomato Pesto Recipe

    SERVES: 4 PREP: 15 min COOK: 15 min

    Ingredients

    • 1 cedar grilling plank;
    • 4 salmon fillets, skin on;
    • 1 tbsp. bell pepper, chopped;
    • ½ cup dried tomatoes, roughly chopped;
    • 2 garlic cloves, minced;
    • 1 shallot, finely chopped;
    • 2 tbsp. fresh basil;
    • ½ cup cherry tomatoes, quartered;
    • 3 tbsp. olive oil;
    • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper;
    Salmon with Tomato Pesto Recipe Preparation

    Preparation

    1. Soak the plank in water for 1 to 2 hours.
    2. Preheat your grill to medium-high heat for indirect cooking.
    3. In a food processor, combine the dried tomatoes, garlic, shallots, olive oil, basil, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Process until smooth.
    4. Season the salmon fillets to taste, and rub some tomato pesto over them.
    5. Place the plank over the heat until warm; then arrange the salmon on top.
    6. Reduce the heat to medium. Move the plank to indirect heat (where it isn't directly over the flame) and cook for 12 to 15 min.
    7. Serve the salmon with tomato pesto and cherry tomatoes on top.
    Salmon with Tomato Pesto Recipe

    Salmon with Tomato Pesto Recipe

    Cook up a feast with a very special twist on pesto adding flavor to fresh salmon grilled on a cedar plank.
    5 from 1 vote
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 15 mins
    Total Time 30 mins
    Course Main Course
    Cuisine American
    Servings 4 people
    Calories 388 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 cedar grilling plank
    • 4 salmon fillets skin on
    • 1 tbsp. bell pepper chopped
    • ½ cup dried tomatoes roughly chopped
    • 2 garlic cloves minced
    • 1 shallot finely chopped
    • 2 tbsp. fresh basil
    • ½ cup cherry tomatoes quartered
    • 3 tbsp. olive oil
    • Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper

    Instructions
     

    • Soak the plank in water for 1 to 2 hours.
    • Preheat your grill to medium-high heat for indirect cooking.
    • In a food processor, combine the dried tomatoes, garlic, shallots, olive oil, basil, and season to taste with salt and pepper. Process until smooth.
      ½ cup dried tomatoes, 2 garlic cloves, 1 shallot, 2 tbsp. fresh basil, 3 tbsp. olive oil, Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper, 1 tbsp. bell pepper
    • Season the salmon fillets to taste, and rub some tomato pesto over them.
      4 salmon fillets
    • Place the plank over the heat until warm then arrange the salmon on top.
      1 cedar grilling plank
    • Reduce the heat to medium. Move the plank to indirect heat (where it isn’t directly over the flame) and cook for 12 to 15 min.
    • Serve the salmon with tomato pesto and cherry tomatoes on top.
      ½ cup cherry tomatoes

    Nutrition

    Calories: 388kcalCarbohydrates: 10gProtein: 36gFat: 22gSaturated Fat: 3gPolyunsaturated Fat: 6gMonounsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 93mgPotassium: 1402mgFiber: 2gSugar: 6gVitamin A: 785IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 56mgIron: 3mg
    Keyword pesto sauce, salmon, tomato
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

    More Paleo Recipes

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    • Simple Beef Pot Roast Recipe
    • Lasagna with Zucchini Noodles
    • Chorizo Burgers with Fried Egg and Onions

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    Filed Under: Paleo Fish and Seafood Recipes, Paleo Recipes Tagged With: cooking: fast cook, cooking: fast prep, cooking: grill, diet: dairy-free, diet: egg-free, diet: no sweeteners, diet: nut-free, diet: shellfish-free, Paleo Dinner Recipes, Paleo Low-Carb Recipes, Paleo Lunch Recipes

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