Tasty Tuesday: Caesar Crusted Salmon

I'm not exaggerating when I say that I've wanted to try this recipe for almost a year. When I was searching for some recipe ideas recently, I came across an old weekly meal plan from September 2014 that had this recipe listed. I kept that list because I'd made some notes about another recipe on it, but it was probably a good thing I did ... If I hadn't, I doubt I would have even remembered that this salmon recipe existed, let alone where to find it online.

I make meal plan lists all the time, but I don't always stick to them. This was a perfect example of a time when I didn't stick to the list. I'm not exactly sure why I never made this, but I'm guessing we either decided to make a different salmon recipe or opted not to buy salmon at all.

Regardless, I didn't make this Caesar Crusted Salmon until last week. I'm really glad I was able to find the recipe again because it was so simple and so delicious. Eric and I both love fish and Caesar salads, so this was perfect! (It's obviously not exactly like eating a Caesar salad since you don't use any Romaine lettuce, but a lot of the flavors are still there.)

It's not the healthiest way to prepare salmon (though I used lite Caesar dressing to cut some calories), but I've shared much more indulgent recipes on this blog. I probably wouldn't recommend this as a great meal if you're trying to cut calories, but if you're trying to incorporate more fish into your diet (and can spare 500+ calories for your main course that day!), you should definitely try this recipe. It's so good!

Caesar Crusted Salmon

Adapted ever so slightly from a recipe on Taste of Home.

Ingredient List:

• 2 salmon fillets
• 1/4 cup creamy Caesar salad dressing (I used lite)
• 3/4 cup Caesar salad croutons, crushed (I used a really easy method for crushing the croutons: I simply put them inside a Ziploc bag, sealed it, and then used a can to beat the croutons into small pieces. You could obviously also use a food processor, but I'm lazy and didn't want yet another thing to clean!)
• 1/3 cup shredded Parmesan cheese
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp basil
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1 tsp garlic powder

Instructions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

2.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and coat with cooking spray.

3.  Spoon the Caesar salad dressing over one side of the salmon fillets.

4.  In a small bowl, mix together the crushed croutons, Parmesan cheese, basil, black pepper, and garlic powder. Spoon this mixture over the salad dressing on the salmon, gently patting it down so it sticks to the fish. 

5.  Drizzle the olive oil over the fish, and bake for 15-20 minutes (or until the fish flakes easily with a fork).

Like I said before, this is an incredibly easy main dish. I love sharing recipes that are great for busy weeknights, and this is no exception. As you can see from the picture, I served this with a side of steamed broccoli and (yes, I admit it) Rice-a-Roni. (Hey, Rice-a-Roni can be good!) Maybe one day I'll get a little more creative with my side dishes, but, for now, I like to keep them quick and simple.