Recipes

Easy 20-Minute Pesto Salmon Recipe w/ Roasted Asparagus

by TerriAnn
by TerriAnn

One of My Best Baked Salmon Recipes…

Many, many years ago, I used to work with a man that was once a cook. I was quite surprised to see him enter the lunchroom and cook some gourmet-looking salmon in the office toaster oven. It was super easy, done in 20 minutes, and looked delish! Here’s my own take on this baked salmon recipe with some roasted asparagus on the side:

Baked Pesto Salmon Recipe with Roasted Asparagus

Easy 20-minute salmon recipe with minimal preparation.
Ingredients
  • 1-1/2 lbs Salmon
  • 2 Tbsp Pesto
  • 1/2 tsp Crushed Garlic
  • 2 Tbsp Earth Balance (or butter)
  • 1/4 cup Olive Oil
  • 1 bunch Asparagus
  • Garlic Salt
Instructions
  1. Heat oven to 350 deg F.
  2. Rinse salmon then pat dry. Make a few shallow, angled cuts in salmon about 1 in. apart.
  3. Spread Earth Balance on salmon as much as possible but any clumps will melt later.
  4. Combine pesto, garlic, and olive oil in small bowl.
  5. Spread pesto mix generously on salmon, creating a nice, even layer.
  6. Place a long piece of foil (about double the length of the salmon) on a jelly pan or in a rectangular raised dish.
  7. Drizzle olive oil on center area of foil and place prepared salmon on it.
  8. Season with garlic salt (I prefer Lawry’s) to taste.
  9. Make a loose steaming pouch by folding the foil’s edges toward the middle and pressing together. Try to gently close the opening on the sides as well.
  10. Set aside.
  11. Wash asparagus spears and shake dry.
  12. About 1 to 1-1/2 inches from the base, bend the spear until it snaps. Discard ends.
  13. Place spears on foil-lined jelly pan, closely but not touching.
  14. Drizzle olive oil on spears then season with salt and pepper.
  15. Place salmon dish and asparagus-filled pan in oven.
  16. After 12 minutes, poke asparagus. If the fork goes in easily, remove asparagus from oven and set aside.
  17. After another 3 minutes (15 min. total), take out salmon.
  18. Unfold foil so salmon is uncovered.
  19. Then, broil salmon for 5-7 minutes to add a light crispiness to the top.
  20. Serve with asparagus and any other desired side (i.e. pasta, mashed potatoes, etc.)
  21. Optional: Use lemon juice and/or dill to add more flavor to salmon.

TerriAnn van Gosliga is the main writer at Cookies & Clogs. Born & raised in the SF Bay Area but loves to travel. She's been married to her best friend for 25 years, has one adult daughter (new empty-nester), foodie, travel fan, gamer, crocheter, and crafter.

You may also like

Finding the Best Matcha Green Tea + Matcha...

Easy 5-Ingredient Pineapple Strawberry Smoothie Recipe

Munchkin’s Masterpiece Turkey Sandwich Recipe

35 comments

rachel @runningrachel February 19, 2013 - 7:12 am

I am no ta huge fan of asparagus or salmon… BUT I know that it is super healthy for you… SO I just might have to try it! 🙂

Donna February 19, 2013 - 10:55 am

I love salmon, pesto, and asparagus! So this is so up my alley!

Penelope February 19, 2013 - 1:17 pm

Wow, that looks so good!

Elaina- A Time Out for Mommy February 19, 2013 - 1:47 pm

Looks easy and yummy!

Crystal @ Simply Being Mommy February 19, 2013 - 4:08 pm

I’m not a big fan of salmon but it does look delicious.

Pepper Tan February 19, 2013 - 7:18 pm

That looks so yummy- and healthy too! Perfect on busy days right after I get home from work.

TRICIA Nightowlmama February 19, 2013 - 9:38 pm

oh my gosh that sounds delicious well all but the fish I’d swap that out for chicken Yum. DOes look very tasty though I must say

Lolo February 19, 2013 - 10:07 pm

I love salmon and asparagus, I must make this!

vanessa February 19, 2013 - 11:18 pm

looks amazing and so going to try it.

Jenn @therebelchick February 20, 2013 - 5:51 am

That looks delicious! I am a big salmon fan but hardly ever cook it because it’s so hard to find wild caught in our stores in Florida!

Marcie W. February 20, 2013 - 8:20 am

I love salmon and am always looking for new ways to dress it up, plus, my kids love their “asparakiss”

Jenn February 20, 2013 - 1:00 pm

Two of my favorite things: salmon and asparagus.

Liz @ A Nut in a Nutshell February 21, 2013 - 2:44 am

I’m not a seafood person, but this might be one for the boyfriend!

Kelly @ Texas Type A Mom February 21, 2013 - 9:51 am

This looks so light and delicious!

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 9:43 pm

It can be, as long as heavy butter isn’t used 😛

Fawn Weaver February 21, 2013 - 10:28 am

Wow! This pesto salmon looks great and it is healthy too. Certainly need to try this out.

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 9:42 pm

It’s one of those dishes that you can feel kind of good about 🙂

courtney February 21, 2013 - 8:51 pm

we love salmon! we actually have it every Wednesday 🙂

HilLesha February 21, 2013 - 11:50 pm

My oldest brother would probably love this. He loves salmon! 🙂

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 9:39 pm

This is nice because it actually covers the fishy-type taste.

Alison February 22, 2013 - 4:55 am

We love Salmon in my house! And asparagus is coming up in ranks as being good for me.

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 9:38 pm

Asparagus is great, until you have to go to the bathroom 😛

Ty @ Mama of 3 Munchkins February 22, 2013 - 10:07 pm

That looks really delicious!

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 9:32 pm

It was. I still have half of it in the freezer for one of those nights I’m dreading cooking.

Lisa February 23, 2013 - 3:36 pm

This looks awesome.

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 9:28 pm

Thanks – it tastes pretty good too 😛

Colleen February 24, 2013 - 4:14 pm

This looks amazing I love asparagus when it is cooked right.

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 8:15 pm

Haha, funny you say that because I overcooked it there! It’s so easy to over/undercook Asparagus but we like it when it’s firm but not too crunchy.

Mom Foodie February 24, 2013 - 8:45 pm

I think I’ll make salmon for dinner tomorrow 🙂

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 8:09 pm

Glad it helped you decide on your next dish 😛

Emily @FamilyNLifeLV February 24, 2013 - 11:12 pm

I need to get over my fear of cooking Salmon!! This looks great!

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 7:20 pm

Haha, it is kind of gushy but you can pretty much do this without having to touch it much – just keep some tongs handy!

Jenny @ My Little Me March 1, 2013 - 9:22 am

I love both of these. Pinned for later!

TerriAnn van Gosliga March 11, 2013 - 7:05 pm

Yay! You’re my new pinning budddy 🙂

Brandy April 11, 2013 - 8:45 am

Ooo this may be something worth trying to cook for dinner!

Comments are closed.