Baked Salmon with a Cheese Crust

Directions

1. 1

   Step 1

   

   Thaw the fillet if necessary. Pat the fish dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Prepare a grater and an air fryer.

2. 2

   Step 2

   

   Season the fish with salt and pepper. Spread each piece with 1 tbsp of pesto. Distribute the sauce in a thin layer over the entire fillet.

   TipChoose a thick pesto. It's important that the sauce doesn't run.

3. 3

   Step 3

   

   Finely grate the Parmesan and sprinkle it over the fish. Distribute the panko breadcrumbs on top. Press down lightly so the future crust adheres better to the fish.

   TipInstead of panko breadcrumbs, you can use regular breadcrumbs or skip them altogether. Grated Parmesan alone is enough for the crust. However, it will be less dense.

4. 4

   Step 4

   

   Preheat the air fryer to 200 °C. Grease the basket with 1 tbsp of olive oil and place the fish pieces skin-side down. Drizzle the fillet with the remaining oil and bake for 8–10 minutes at 200 °C.

   TipThe cooked fillet should flake easily when touched with a fork. If you don't have an air fryer, bake the fish in the oven. It will take 10–15 minutes. The temperature is the same — 200 °C.

5. 5

   Step 5

   

   Transfer the fillet to a plate, let it rest for 2–3 minutes, and serve with any side dish. If desired, you can add lemon slices to the fish. Any vegetables, rice, and leafy salads pair well with salmon.