Pesto Grilled Salmon

Total Time

Prep/Total Time: 30 min.

Makes

12 servings

Updated: Jun. 30, 2023
Buttery, colorful and flaky, this rich and impressive salmon will be a family favorite in moments. Five smart ingredients, and you’ll have just the leftovers you need for tomorrow night’s pasta dish. —Sonya Labbe, West Hollywood, California
Pesto Grilled Salmon Recipe photo by Taste of Home

Ingredients

  • 1 salmon fillet (3 pounds)
  • 1/2 cup prepared pesto
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 1/4 cup lemon juice
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced

Directions

  1. Place salmon skin side down on lightly oiled grill rack. Grill, covered, over medium heat or broil 4 in. from the heat for 5 minutes.
  2. In a small bowl, combine the pesto, onions, lemon juice and garlic. Carefully spoon some of the pesto mixture over salmon. Grill until fish flakes easily with a fork, 15-20 minutes longer, basting occasionally with remaining pesto mixture.
Glazed Asian Salmon: Replace the basting ingredients with 1/2 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce; 1/4 cup brown sugar; 1/2 teaspoon each crushed red pepper flakes and ground ginger; and 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil. Grill and baste salmon as directed.

Herbed Salmon: Place salmon on double thickness of heavy-duty foil. Mix 1/2 cup softened butter with 1/4 cup each minced fresh chives, tarragon and thyme; spread over salmon. Top with 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion; 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper; and 1 thinly sliced lemon. Seal foil and grill 20-25 minutes. Open carefully to allow steam to escape.

Nutrition Facts

3 ounces cooked salmon: 262 calories, 17g fat (4g saturated fat), 70mg cholesterol, 147mg sodium, 1g carbohydrate (0 sugars, 0 fiber), 25g protein. Diabetic Exchanges: 3 lean meat, 3 fat.