1. **In Foil:** Cooking salmon in foil is as straightforward as it sounds. Place a salmon fillet on a sheet of aluminum foil, spread pesto on top, and fold or wrap the foil’s edges to create a parcel, enclosing the salmon. You can then either place the parcel on a baking sheet or directly in the oven for 20 minutes until the salmon turns tender and flaky.
2. **In a Pan:** Cooking salmon in a pan is one of the simplest methods. Add your salmon fillet to a skillet over medium-high heat, skin-side down, and cook for 4 minutes. Flip and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until the salmon becomes golden and crispy. Once cooked, either top the fillet directly with pesto or gently warm the pesto in the pan before drizzling it over your cooked salmon fillet.
3. **On the Grill:** Place the salmon on the grill, skin side up, cover, and grill for 6-8 minutes or until the salmon lightens in color and can be easily removed from the grill without sticking. Once cooked, remove it from the grill and apply the pesto on top.
4. **Under the Broiler:** For a quick, easy, and crispy salmon fillet, the broiler is an excellent choice. Put your salmon in an oven-safe skillet and place it under the broiler, skin side down, for 4-6 minutes until the top is golden and the center is flaky. If you opt for this method, add your pesto once the salmon is cooked to prevent it from burning.
Regardless of your chosen cooking method, the key to this salmon recipe is exceptional pesto. While you can certainly create your own homemade pesto from scratch, store-bought options work equally well. When selecting pesto, scrutinize the ingredients and opt for one made with olive oil for the best quality.
