Photo of Salmon with homemade pesto sauce by WW

Salmon with homemade pesto sauce

1
Points® value
Total Time
30 min
Prep
15 min
Cook
15 min
Serves
6
Difficulty
Easy
Simply seasoned salmon is grilled and served with a fresh, homemade pesto sauce. We slimmed the sauce down by swapping chicken broth for most of the oil. It adds texture and flavor without adding fat. Double the pesto sauce and enjoy it the next day tossed with cooked pasta, boiled baby potatoes, or steamed green beans - or a combination of all three! The pesto sauce is also delicious drizzled over cooked chicken sausages served on two-ingredient dough rolls with sautéed peppers and onions.

Ingredients

Pine nuts

1 Tbsp

Fresh basil

1 cup(s), leaves, fresh

Reduced sodium chicken broth

¼ cup(s)

Grated Parmesan cheese

2 Tbsp

Extra virgin olive oil

½ Tbsp

Garlic

1 clove(s), peeled

Table salt

¼ tsp

Cooking spray

4 spray(s)

Extra virgin olive oil

½ Tbsp

Uncooked sockeye salmon fillet

2 pound(s), with skin (cut into 6 equal pieces)

Table salt

1 pinch(es), or to taste

Black pepper

1 pinch(es), or to taste

Instructions

  1. Place pine nuts in a small skillet and set pan over medium heat. Cook until nuts are golden, shaking pan frequently to prevent burning, about 2 minutes. Transfer nuts to a plate to cool.
  2. In a blender or food processor, combine nuts, basil, broth, cheese, 1/2 Tbsp oil, garlic, and 1/4 tsp salt; process until smooth and thick.
  3. Off heat, coat a grill rack with cooking spray. Preheat grill to medium.
  4. Rub 1/2 Tbsp oil over salmon flesh; season with salt and pepper. Place salmon, skin side up, on grill; cover and cook 5 minutes. Flip salmon; cover and cook until it easily flakes with a fork, about 5 minutes more.
  5. Remove salmon from grill; serve with pesto spooned over top.
  6. Serving size: about 4 oz salmon with a rounded Tbsp pesto