Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea Pesto

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This delightful one-pan dinner combines salmon fillets with fresh green pea pesto and orzo pasta. Green pea pesto adds a unique twist to the traditional pesto, bringing a hint of sweetness, body and a vibrant green color to your plate. If you like a more traditional pesto flavor, swap out the dill for chopped fresh basil, or use store-bought basil pesto or sun-dried tomato pesto in its place.

By
Carolyn Casner
Carolyn Casner

Carolyn Casner is a longtime recipe tester and contributor for EatingWell. Over the years, she has tested and developed hundreds of recipes for the magazine and website.

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
Published on April 17, 2024
Tested by
Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer
Tested by Hilary Meyer
Hilary Meyer is a freelance recipe developer, tester and content creator. After graduating from culinary school, she started working as a freelancer in the EatingWell Test Kitchen in 2006, developing and testing recipes.
Meet the EatingWell Test Kitchen
Reviewed by Dietitian
Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD
Emily Lachtrupp Headshot
Reviewed by Dietitian Emily Lachtrupp, M.S., RD

Emily Lachtrupp is a registered dietitian experienced in nutritional counseling, recipe analysis and meal plans. She's worked with clients who struggle with diabetes, weight loss, digestive issues and more. In her spare time, you can find her enjoying all that Vermont has to offer with her family and her dog, Winston.

EatingWell's Editorial Guidelines
a recipe photo of the Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea Pesto
Photo:

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco
Active Time:
30 mins
Total Time:
30 mins
Servings:
4
Nutrition Profile:
Sesame-Free Diabetes-Appropriate Healthy Pregnancy Omega-3 Soy-Free High-Fiber Heart-Healthy High-Protein Egg-Free
the ingredients to make the Skillet Salmon with Orzo & Green Pea Pesto

Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

Ingredients

Salmon & Orzo

  • 1 1/4 pounds center-cut salmon, skinned and cut into 4 portions

  • 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided

  • 1/2 teaspoon ground pepper, divided

  • 1 tablespoon avocado oil

  • 1 cup orzo, preferably whole-wheat

  • 2 1/4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

  • 1 teaspoon onion powder

  • 1 cup chopped baby spinach or arugula

Pesto

  • 3/4 cup thawed frozen peas

  • 2 tablespoons avocado oil

  • 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

  • 2 tablespoons chopped lightly salted pistachios

  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

  • 1 small clove garlic

  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

  • 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper

Directions

  1. To prepare salmon & orzo: Season salmon with 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the salmon; cook, flipping once, until browned on both sides and almost cooked through, 5 to 8 minutes, depending on thickness. Transfer to a plate and tent with foil.

    a photo of the cooked salmon on a plate with foil covering it

    Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

  2. Add orzo to the pan; cook, stirring, until beginning to brown, about 1 minute. Add broth, onion powder and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir to combine; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low; cover and simmer, stirring once or twice, until the orzo is tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from heat and stir in spinach (or arugula). Place the salmon on top of the orzo mixture; cover and let stand until the greens are wilted and the salmon is cooked through, 2 to 3 minutes.

    a photo of the orzo being cooked with the spinach

    Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

  3. Meanwhile, prepare pesto: Combine peas, oil, Parmesan, pistachios, dill, garlic, salt and pepper in a food processor; process until smooth.

    a photo of the ingredients for the pesto blended up in a food processor

    Photographer: Rachel Marek, Food stylist: Holly Dreesman, Prop stylist: Gabriel Greco

  4. Serve the salmon over the orzo with a generous dollop of pesto.

Nutrition Infromation

Serving Size: 1 salmon fillet, 1/2 cup orzo & 2 Tbsp. pesto

Calories 497, Fat 22g, Saturated Fat 3g, Cholesterol 80mg, Carbohydrates 36g, Total sugars 1g, Added sugars 0g, Protein 37g, Fiber 9g, Sodium 548mg, Potassium 813mg

EatingWell.com, April 2024

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