Pistachio Crusted Salmon prepared in Tangy Citrus Marinade

Disclaimer: I received free samples of Wonderful Pistachios mentioned in this post. By posting this recipe I am entering a recipe contest sponsored by Wonderful Pistachios and am eligible to win prizes associated with the contest. I was not compensated for my time.

Skinny, Fit and Happy! Sounds like something we’d all like to be. And if, as the saying goes, “You are what you eat!,” you can be all three when you include pistachios in your heart-healthy lifestyle. A heart-protective diet is built on a basis of a variety of antioxidant-rich fruits and vegetables (including beans/legumes); and includes the goodness of whole grains, lean proteins, nuts & seeds (and other healthy fats). Salmon is rich in Omega 3’s and a source of B12, vitamin D and selenium. This nutrient-dense salmon entrée includes some key health benefits of Wonderful Pistachios!

• Pistachios are known as The Skinny Nut™ because they are one of the lowest calorie and lowest fat snack nuts.
• Pistachios are known as The Fit Nut™ because they are one of the highest protein and fiber snack nuts that are part of a heart-healthy lifestyle. Scientific evidence suggests but does not prove that eating 1.5 ounces per day of most nuts, such as pistachios, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.
• Pistachios are known as The Happy Nut™ because you don’t snackrifice – snack happy: pistachios offer great taste AND good health (and pistachios smile back at you).

And here are a couple more reasons to enjoy Wonderful Pistachios:

• In-Shell Pistachios are known as The Mindful Nut™ because they may help you “fool yourself full” because the leftover shells may provide a visual cue for portions, potentially helping to curb intake. We call this the Pistachio Principle. One preliminary behavioral study found that participants who consumed in-shell pistachios ate 41-percent fewer calories compared to those who consumed pista- chios without the shell. Those who chose the “no shells” pistachios consumed an average of 211 calories, while those who chose the in-shell variety consumed an average of 125 calories, suggesting that empty shells may provide a visual cue for portions, potentially helping curb intake.
• Pistachios are known as The Colorful Nut™ that help you snack colorfully: pistachios’ green and red- purple hues come from antioxidants.

Citrus-y, tangy, nutty and fragrant, overtones of this Pistachio Crusted Salmon strike a lovely chord atop the melt-in-your mouth “buttery” salmon. No there is no butter, but just a minimal amount of oil in the marinade with this fresh, naturally oily fish. The marinade and pistachio coating keep the fish moist, while providing an infusion of flavor and texture that is an incredible delight!

I’ve covered some awesome benefits of these Wonderful Pistachios nuts. And I’ve literally covered my salmon with this Wonderful nut (yes, the pun was intended : ) lol!). Because pistachios have such a rich, distinctive flavor, I thought they’d pair well with the mildness of fresh salmon I had just purchased. And so just a few items from my pantry and some fresh citrus (including Halos Mandarins), I pulled together a tangy-citrus marinade that — along with the Wonderful Pistachios coating — did just the trick to keep this dish moist (and flavorful), a lovely complement to crunch of the nuts.

And so my family and I enjoyed this for dinner. And because it came out so good, I just had to enjoy some for a midafternoon snack. I prepared this early so I could photograph it in natural light. And I couldn’t resist sampling it immediately. It looked so good, and I was delighted to find it was cooked to moist perfection.

Citrus-y, tangy, nutty and fragrant… Overtones of this Pistachio Crusted Salmon strike a lovely chord atop the melt-in-your-mouth “buttery” salmon. No there is no butter, but just a minimal amount of oil in the marinade with this fresh, naturally oily omega3-rich fish. The marinade and pistachio coating keep the fish moist, while providing an infusion of flavor and texture that is an incredible delight!

Pistachio Crusted Salmon prepared in Tangy Citrus Marinade

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Prep Time 5 minutes mins

Cook Time 12 minutes mins

Total Time 17 minutes mins

Servings 4 servings

Calories 240 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 pound salmon cut into filets
• 1 Tablespoon Vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon low sodium soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon of juice of a Halo mandarin
• 1/4 teaspoon lemon zest or Halo mandarin zest
• 1/4 cup 2 oz of Wonderful Pistachios, crushed
• 3 Tablespoons fresh cilantro for garnish

Instructions

 

• Preheat oven to 450ºF.
• Line a 9" baking dish with parchment paper or foil.
• Rinse and pat dry salmon filets, and place on lined baking dish.
• In a small bowl whisk together oil, soy sauce, juice of Halos mandarin and lemon zest.
• Pour evenly over salmon filets.
• Layer crushed roasted & salted Wonderful pistachios evenly on top of filets.
• Bake for 12 minutes.
• Garnish with cilantro.