Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus

This Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus makes for a delicious and nutritious dinner. Made with fresh salmon, crunchy asparagus, then topped with a creamy homemade avocado kale pesto. A sheet-pan meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes.

Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus

When it comes to salmon it is definitely one of the foods we eat the most in our home. My daughter and I love it, and even though my husband is not as crazy about it he doesn’t mind eating it. Salmon is a great protein to have in rotation as it is so versatile and rich in nutrients. Getting creative with salmon is something I enjoy doing very much.

I honestly love enjoying a good piece of salmon cooked in some lemon juice, butter, garlic, salt and pepper. It is absolutely delicious this way. However, creating tasty recipes and meals with salmon is a lot of fun and tasty too. Especially when that recipe only needs one baking sheet pan like this Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus meal does. It adds the “easy” factor that we all love so much.

This Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus is a one sheet pan meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes. It’s a great weeknight meal as it does’t require much prep work. The creamy Avocado Kale Pesto makes this dish the deliciousness that it is. Topping your salmon with this pesto makes the perfect combo.

When cooked correctly, salmon has a soft buttery texture. When you take a bite of salmon combined with this pesto it is a soft, creamy goodness. You just can’t get enough of it. Pairing it with some roasted asparagus makes for a tasty, healthy, and light dinner.

Ingredients needed to make Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus:

• Salmon– Bones and skin removed.
• Asparagus– Make sure to cut the bottoms off.
• Avocado– Makes the pesto so creamy.
• Kale– Adds more nutrients to the pesto.
• Raw Pistachios– You can also use any other nuts like pine nuts or walnuts.
• Avocado Oil– Or olive oil.
• Fresh Basil– Gives the pesto a hint of a more traditional taste.
• Pink Salt and Pepper– For seasoning to taste.

Equipment needed to make Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus:

• Food Processor– Or a high speed blender.
• Large Baking Sheet Pan– For baking salmon.
• Parchment Paper– To line baking sheet pan.

How to make Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus:

• Step 1– Preheat oven at 325 degrees F. 
• Step 2– Cut about an inch off the ends of asparagus. Remove skin from salmon if needed to and slice into 4 even filets. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Place salmon and prepped asparagus on prepped sheet pan. Drizzle avocado oil over both asparagus and salmon and sprinkle both with salt and pepper to taste. Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes. 
• Step 3– While salmon and asparagus bake, combine all ingredients for pesto in a food processor except for avocado oil. Start slowly pulsing and drizzle avocado oil as ingredients get blended. 
• Step 4– Remove asparagus and salmon from the oven. Top salmon with a generous amount of pesto. Reserve any remaining pesto for serving. Return salmon and asparagus to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes depending on how thick your salmon is. 
• Step 5– Remove salmon and asparagus from the oven. Serve immediately along with remaining pesto and any other desired sides.

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Line baking sheet pan with parchment paper- It will prevent salmon and asparagus from sticking to it. It also makes cleaning the sheet pan after much easier.
2. Not a fan of asparagus?- Substitute for green beans or zucchini.
3. No pistachios?- You can use raw pine nuts, cashews or walnuts.
4. Reserve the pit from the avocado and place it in the pesto- This will prevent it from browning as quickly.

What to serve Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus with:

• Instant Pot Creamy Mashed Potatoes
• Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes
• Herbed Butter Roasted Potatoes
• Baked Sweet Potato Fries
• Corn on the Cob
• Cooked Quinoa
• Cauliflower Rice

Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon FAQ’s:

Will the pesto get brown from the avocado?

The lemon juice in this Avocado Kael Pesto helps prevent the avocado in it from getting brown. You can also leave the pit from the avocado in the pesto and that will prevent it from browning too.

What can I do with leftover Avocado Kale Pesto?

Keep any leftover pesto in a small mason jar and keep refrigerated. For better quality and taste keep up to 2-3 days in the fridge at the most. You can also freeze and keep frozen for up to one month. This rich and creamy pesto is great to add to some pasta and chicken too!

Meal Prepping it:

To meal prep this Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon there are a few steps you can take. Prep all the ingredients for the pesto ahead of time. Rinse and measure your kale, basil and pistachios. Rinse and trim your asparagus as well. This will get some of the prep work done and make this meal even easier to put together when you’re ready to make it.

Storing and Reheating:

Place any leftover salmon in an airtight container. Keep salmon refrigerated for up to 1-2 days. To reheat place back in the oven or in microwave.

Like this Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus? You may also like these other salmon recipes:

• One Sheet Pan Salmon and Veggies
• Teriyaki Salmon Bowls
• Baked Salmon with Dill Sauce
• Quinoa and Spinach Salmon Cakes

5 from 1 vote

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Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus

This Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus makes for a delicious and nutritious dinner. Made with fresh salmon, crunchy asparagus, then topped with a creamy homemade avocado kale pesto. A sheet-pan meal that comes together in less than 30 minutes. 

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Servings 4 servings

Calories 622 kcal

Author Angelica Arias

Ingredients

Salmon and Asparagus

• 1 lb wild-caught salmon
• 1 bunch asparagus
• 2 tbsp avocado oil
• pink salt and pepper to taste

Avocado Kale Pesto

• 1/2 hass avocado
• 1 cup kale
• 1/2 cup raw pistachios
• 1/2 cup avocado oil
• 2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 tsp pink salt
• 1/4 tsp black pepper
• 2 tbsp fresh basil

Instructions

1. Preheat oven at 325 degrees F.

2. Cut about an inch off the ends of asparagus. Remove skin from salmon if needed to and slice into 4 even filets. Line a large baking sheet pan with parchment paper. Place salmon and prepped asparagus on prepped sheet pan. Drizzle avocado oil over both asparagus and salmon and sprinkle both with salt and pepper to taste. Place in preheated oven and bake for 10 minutes.

3. While salmon and asparagus bake, combine all ingredients for pesto in a food processor except for avocado oil. Start slowly pulsing and drizzle avocado oil as ingredients get blended. 

4. Remove asparagus and salmon from the oven. Top salmon with a generous amount of pesto. Reserve any remaining pesto for serving. Return salmon and asparagus to the oven and bake for another 10-15 minutes depending on how thick your salmon is. 

5. Remove salmon and asparagus from the oven. Serve immediately along with remaining pesto and any other desired sides.

Recipe Notes

Tips and Substitutions:

1. Line baking sheet pan with parchment paper- It will prevent salmon and asparagus from sticking to it. It also makes cleaning the sheet pan after much easier.
2. Not a fan of asparagus?- Substitute for green beans or zucchini.
3. No pistachios?- You can use raw pine nuts, cashews or walnuts.
4. Reserve the pit from the avocado and place it in the pesto- This will prevent it from browning as quickly.

Nutrition Facts

Avocado Kale Pesto Salmon with Asparagus

Amount per Serving

Calories

622

% Daily Value*

Fat

 

53

g

82

%

Saturated Fat

 

7

g

44

%

Polyunsaturated Fat

 

10

g

Monounsaturated Fat

 

33

g

Cholesterol

 

62

mg

21

%

Sodium

 

355

mg

15

%

Potassium

 

1131

mg

32

%

Carbohydrates

 

12

g

4

%

Fiber

 

6

g

25

%

Sugar

 

4

g

4

%

Protein

 

29

g

58

%

Vitamin A

 

2700

IU

54

%

Vitamin C

 

28

mg

34

%

Calcium

 

106

mg

11

%

Iron

 

4

mg

22

%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Number of total servings in estimated. Actual number of servings may vary depending on your own personal preference in portion sizes.

**Nutritional values shown are general guidelines for 1 serving using the ingredients listed above. These numbers do not reflect and may vary depending on substitutions, additions and/or different brands and/or other ingredients that may be used. 

 **Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links and sponsored content. All the opinions are my own and I only recommend products I use in my own home with my own family.