Seared Salmon with Pesto Fettuccine for Two

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The brightness of basil pesto is a nice match for the buttery flavor of salmon in this quick and healthy dinner recipe. Refrigerated pesto, found near fresh sauces and salsas at most stores, is prettier and has a better taste than jarred varieties. This recipe was adapted from our popular Seared Salmon with Pesto Fettuccine to serve two instead of four.

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Cook Time:
20 mins
Total Time:
20 mins
Servings:
2
Yield:
2 servings

Ingredients

  • 4 ounces whole-wheat fettuccine

  • cup refrigerated prepared pesto

  • 10 ounces wild Alaskan salmon (see Tip), skinned and cut into 2 portions

  • teaspoon salt

  • teaspoon ground pepper

  • 1 ½ teaspoons extra-virgin olive oil

Directions

  1. Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add fettuccine and cook until just tender, about 9 minutes. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl. Toss with pesto.

  2. Meanwhile, season salmon with salt and pepper. Heat oil in a medium cast-iron or nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add salmon and cook, turning once, until just opaque in the middle, 2 to 4 minutes per side. Serve the salmon with the pasta.

Tips

Wild-caught salmon from the Pacific (Alaska) is considered the best choice for the environment because it's sustainably fished. Look for sustainably farmed Atlantic salmon, too (the label may say land- or tank-based); conventional farming methods endanger the wild salmon population. For more information about sustainable seafood, go to seafoodwatch.org.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

603 Calories
28g Fat
45g Carbs
44g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 2
Serving Size 4 oz. salmon & 1 1/4 cups pasta
Calories 603
% Daily Value *
Total Carbohydrate 45g 16%
Dietary Fiber 8g 29%
Total Sugars 2g
Protein 44g 88%
Total Fat 28g 36%
Saturated Fat 7g 35%
Cholesterol 80mg 27%
Vitamin A 591IU 12%
Vitamin C 5mg 5%
Folate 48mcg 12%
Sodium 537mg 23%
Calcium 371mg 29%
Iron 4mg 23%
Magnesium 142mg 34%
Potassium 768mg 16%

Nutrition information is calculated by a registered dietitian using an ingredient database but should be considered an estimate.

* Daily Values (DVs) are the recommended amounts of nutrients to consume each day. Percent Daily Value (%DV) found on nutrition labels tells you how much a serving of a particular food or recipe contributes to each of those total recommended amounts. Per the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the daily value is based on a standard 2,000 calorie diet. Depending on your calorie needs or if you have a health condition, you may need more or less of particular nutrients. (For example, it’s recommended that people following a heart-healthy diet eat less sodium on a daily basis compared to those following a standard diet.)

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a special diet for medical reasons, be sure to consult with your primary care provider or a registered dietitian to better understand your personal nutrition needs.

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