Basil Pesto Crusted Salmon with Orzo and Margherita Salad

Basil pesto salmon with orzo and Margherita salad

If you love Caprese salad, you’ll adore this recipe; it tastes like summer on a plate. Pesto encrusted salmon atop lemony orzo pasta, garnished with juicy chopped tomatoes, soft mozzarella, fresh basil, and your best balsamic vinegar.

Ingredients

Basil Crusted Salmon

  • 1/2 cup Rao’s Homemade® Basil Pesto
  • 4 4 oz. boneless salmon steaks, skin on
  • 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
  • 2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 tsp. sea salt
  • 1/2 tsp. fresh ground black pepper

Orzo with Tomatoes and Lemon

  • 1 16 oz. package dry orzo pasta
  • 1/2 cup canned diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup fresh chopped broad leaf parsley
  • 1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
  • 4 tbsp. butter
  • 2 tbsp. lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp. minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp. salt and fresh ground black pepper, or to taste

Margherita Salad

  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, cubed
  • 2 1/2 cups chopped Roma tomatoes or halved cherry tomatoes
  • Pinch of sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp. fresh ground black pepper to taste
  • 1/2 cup fresh basil, sliced
  • 3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar

Directions

  • Preheat oven to 400° degrees. Line a shallow baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • In medium mixing bowl combine bread crumbs, olive oil and Rao’s Homemade® Basil Pesto.
  • Sprinkle sea salt and pepper on the salmon.
  • Place salmon skin side down on parchment paper.
  • Using a spoon, spatula or fingers, spread Rao’s Homemade® Basil Pesto and bread crumb mixture thinly over each steak.
  • Bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
  • While baking salmon, cook orzo according to package instructions.
  • In a large serving bowl, mix pasta, tomatoes, parsley, parmesan, olive oil, lemon juice, chopped garlic, salt and pepper.
  • In a medium serving bowl, combine margherita salad ingredients and toss.
  • Serve salmon on a bed of orzo with margherita salad on the side.

Made With

Basil Pesto Sauce, 6.7 oz

Basil Pesto Sauce

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