Description
Creamy Lemon Orzo with Pistachio-Crusted Salmon is a cozy-meets-fancy dish that blends velvety citrus-kissed orzo with perfectly seared salmon topped in a crunchy pistachio crust. It’s bright, elegant, and surprisingly easy to make at home.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 salmon fillets (150 to 180 g each)
- 1 cup shelled pistachios, unsalted and finely crushed
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp lemon zest
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 1 cup orzo pasta
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1½ cups chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- Juice of 1 large lemon
- ½ tsp paprika
- 30 g Parmesan cheese, grated
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Extra lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Add pistachios to a food processor or chop finely until coarse. Mix with lemon zest, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in a bowl.
- Pat salmon dry and brush with olive oil. Press tops into pistachio mixture to coat.
- Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Cook salmon, crust side up, for 4–5 minutes. Flip and cook another 3–4 minutes until cooked through. Set aside.
- In a saucepan, melt butter over medium heat. Add garlic and cook until fragrant. Stir in orzo to coat in butter.
- Add broth and simmer 8–10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until orzo is tender and liquid mostly absorbed.
- Reduce heat to low. Stir in cream, lemon juice, paprika, and Parmesan. Adjust seasoning. Let rest to thicken slightly.
- Serve orzo topped with pistachio salmon. Garnish with parsley and lemon wedges.
Notes
- Use fresh lemon juice for the brightest flavor.
- Do not overcook the salmon to keep it juicy.
- Coarse chop pistachios for better crunch.
- If orzo thickens too much, add a splash of broth or cream.
- Store leftovers up to 2 days in an airtight container.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plated portion
- Calories: 640
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 36g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: lemon orzo, pistachio salmon, creamy pasta, Mediterranean dinner, seafood recipe