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    Home » Recipes » Fish & Seafood

    Baked Pistachio Crusted Salmon

    Published: Jul 11, 2010 · Last Updated: May 10, 2022 · 8 Comments

    107 shares
    Jump to Recipe

    Baked salmon with pistachio crust was my student project for a food photography and styling workshop. Taught by Denise Vivaldo, Cindie Flannigan, Matt Armendariz, and Adam Pearson, it was an information packed two-day experience.

    Pistachio crusted roast salmon | AFoodCentricLife.com

    Day One – Making Food Camera Ready

    Day one focused on food styling tips and making food ready for the camera. Food styling is about control. We learned about color and movement in food that is going to be photographed. What your eye sees is not what the camera sees. It’s amazing how looking through the lens changes everything. Because your eye moves but a camera lens is still you have to create the movement. It's challenging to make food look good for the camera.

    While professional chefs are trained to get hot food to the table, the reverse is true for most food photography: cold food works better. Professional food stylists on commercial shoots are paid to make food look beautiful. It's different when shooting for a food blog, because most bloggers eat what they shoot.

    Tips from the Teachers

    A few tips from the teachers:

    • Pick good subjects for the camera in terms of shape and color
    • Food must be identifiable to the camera
    • Consider contrast, elevation and texture
    • Think about your garnishes
    • Keep props simple, remembering that utensils create movement
    • Every picture tells a story, so decide on the story you are trying to tell
    • Please yourself and develop your own style
    • Shoot tethered with cable attached between your camera and a computer so you can see the results of shooting instantly.
    • Use a tripod for stability and clearer images

    Day Two – Every Picture Tells a Story

    Day two of the workshop was about putting teaching into action. Our teachers guided us through a day of food styling, shooting and implementing what we had learned day one.

    My Student Project: Baked Pistachio Crusted Salmon

    The challenge at the end of day one was coming up with a dish we wanted to shoot as our project. Everyone arrived early armed with groceries to prepare and then shoot their chosen project. Our worktables were large boards covered with heavy felt on sawhorses.  An ironing board and steamer were ready to press linens as we set our scenes. We prepared in the studio kitchen and chose props from Adam’s huge collection.

    It's All About the Light

    Matt explained what makes for a great food photograph:

    light direction

    • light quality
    • how to diffuse light
    • how to change the light

    Light, light, light. It’s ALL about the light. The right light makes all of the difference in the world between an average photo and a breathtaking one.

    Details Make a Difference

    As each project was a work in progress, we gathered to learn about the small changes that would eventually result in a professional looking food photograph. It was exciting and educational to watch each student’s project from beginning to end and the beautiful photographic result.

    More Salmon Recipes

    For another easy salmon recipe try my simple seared salmon. If you like food photography, here are a few more tips.

    Nutrition Facts
    Baked Pistachio Crusted Salmon
    Amount Per Serving
    Calories 181 Calories from Fat 117
    % Daily Value*
    Fat 13g20%
    Saturated Fat 5g31%
    Trans Fat 1g
    Polyunsaturated Fat 2g
    Monounsaturated Fat 5g
    Cholesterol 16mg5%
    Sodium 261mg11%
    Potassium 213mg6%
    Carbohydrates 14g5%
    Fiber 3g13%
    Sugar 6g7%
    Protein 35g70%
    Vitamin A 290IU6%
    Vitamin C 11mg13%
    Calcium 36mg4%
    Iron 1mg6%
    * Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
    Pistachio crusted roast salmon | AFoodCentricLife.com

    Baked Pistachio Crusted Salmon

    The crunchy pistachio and herb crust works well with the richness of salmon. Out of the oven, finish your salmon with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. Serve with asparagus and a tossed green salad.
    Print Recipe Rate Recipe
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    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 12 minutes
    Total Time: 22 minutes
    Course: Main Course
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: baked salmon, crust, pistachios
    Servings: 4
    Calories: 181kcal

    Ingredients

    Salmon

    • 4 6 ounce salmon filets preferably wild, skinned
    • 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter room temperature
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • ½ cup unsalted shelled pistachios toasted and finely chopped
    • ¼ cup Japanese Panko crumbs or unseasoned breadcrumbs toasted
    • 2 tablespoons finely chopped chives
    • 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh Italian parsley
    • ¼ teaspoon sea salt
    • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

    Garnish

    • 4 lemon wedges

    Instructions

    • Pre-heat oven to 425 degrees. Carefully turn the salmon skinned side up and with a very sharp, thin knife (like a filet knife) trim out any dark purple areas. This is the blood line and it can be strong tasting.  If you don’t mind that, skip the trimming. Place filets on a foil covered rimmed baking sheet.
    • In a small bowl, mix the mustard, butter and honey into a smooth paste. Set aside. In another small bowl, mix the pistachios, crumbs, parsley and chives. Season the salmon filets with sprinkles of salt and pepper. Spread a little of the butter mixture on top of the filets. Coat the top of the filets with some of the nut-crumb-herb mix, patting lightly. If you have extra of the herb crust mix it keeps for a few days refrigerated.
    • Place the salmon in the oven and roast for 12-14 minutes, depending on the thickness of the filets. Serve with lemon wedges to squeeze over the top. 

    Notes

    Recipe notes for roasting salmon. My salmon filets were 1 ¼″ thick. I did them for 12 minutes in a convection oven at 400 degrees and they were perfect. For slightly rare salmon roast 11 minutes. The more you do this, the more you will develop your feel for roasting salmon and how you prefer to enjoy it. Another way to tell if they are done is to use a digital thermometer. Salmon should be cooked to 145°F. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 181kcal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 35g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 261mg | Potassium: 213mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 290IU | Vitamin C: 11mg | Calcium: 36mg | Iron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. kristina says

      July 14, 2010 at 10:12 am

      I really enjoyed reading this and see that your notes have paid off by this great summary you've written!! Looks like a very useful two days and really worth the experience. I really believe you have to learn some of these things in person and a workshop with Matt & Adam is perfect. I have not worked with Food Fanatics so I can't say, but surely if Matt and Adam work with them, they must be good too!

      Thanks for sharing!
      Kristina

      Reply
    2. Lacey @ dishfolio.com says

      February 09, 2011 at 11:07 am

      Great photos and story! We'd love for you to share in our food community at dishfolio.com!

      Reply
    3. Lyndsey says

      February 10, 2011 at 9:28 pm

      I made the salmon last night. Oh goodness, five stars, way too good! Great directions! It was gorgeous and delicious!

      Reply
      • Chef Sally says

        February 10, 2011 at 9:58 pm

        Great Lyndsey! Thanks for letting me know. Good to know when it works!

        Reply
    4. GregB from Austin says

      October 08, 2011 at 1:46 am

      Chef Sally, I plan to make this recipe this week for my family, and we're all eagerly looking forward to it. However, I don't have a convection oven and have never cooked with one, just an old-fashioned electric stove. I'm accustomed to cooking salmon on the grill, or in a skillet, and thus am even further removed from any experience with "salmon + oven"...

      I've got filets (shipped to me frozen from Togiak, AK) that are about 1-1/2" thick, or will be after I've trimmed them. Do you have any tips for time or temp in a regular oven?

      Thanks!

      Reply
      • Sally says

        October 08, 2011 at 4:24 pm

        Hi Greg! Once you do this you'll see how easy it is, roasting salmon in the oven. Any oven will do. You don't need convection. For a regular oven, roast at 400 degrees. Be sure when you prep the filets (after you skin them) trim out any dark bloodline, which can be strong tasting. When the salmon is done the crust will be golden brown and the filets just barley opaque inside. It will depend too on personal preference - if you like your salmon more done or more rare. If you have a digital thermometer. the center should be about 145 degrees. Please comment back and let me know how it goes! One more tip, make sure the salmon is close to room temp before roasting. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator (never on the counter), then allow to sit on the counter for a good 45 minutes to get the chill off. Your fish will roast better and you'll get better results.

        Reply
        • GregB from Austin says

          October 15, 2011 at 1:02 pm

          I made this tonight and it was hugely successful. The crunch of the pistachios, the zing of the dijon, and the richness of the fresh salmon were in perfect balance. I used salted pistachios and thus needed no salt to season the fish, just pepper; it came out great. We had a great Willamette Pinot Noir which paired perfectly. Thanks for the recipe - and the inspirational write-up on food styling.

          Reply

    Trackbacks

    1. pistachio salmon « loveandvogue says:
      03/30/2011 at 4:06 pm

      [...] When I stumbled upon this great picture via foodgawker.com, a favorite site of mine, I knew I had to try it.  The scrumptious photograph and recipe are courtesy of Sally Cameron’s food blog, sallycameron.com, chock-full of fantastic recipes that I want to try.  Please check out her site, and view the recipe here. [...]

      Reply

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