Salmon Parcels with Sweet Red Bell Pepper Pesto is made with salmon wrapped up with a few crispy layers of phyllo dough stuffed with a medley of sweet colorful peppers, caramelized onions and then dipped into a delightful red bell pepper pesto.
Why you are going to love our Salmon Packets with Sweet Red Bell Pepper Pesto
Packed with brain-boosting omega 3 fatty acids salmon is incredibly good for you and I found a way to make even the pickiest fish eaters come back for seconds.
Sweet succulent salmon wrapped up with a few crispy layers of phyllo dough stuffed with a medley of sweet colorful peppers, caramelized onions and even sautéed rocket and then dipped into a delightful red bell pepper pesto. My favorite part is plunging my fork into the light crispy phyllo as it makes that delightful crunch.
Salmon parcels with sweet red bell pepper pesto is a meal in one and served with a delightful salad, it is complete.
Great news for everyone living in the arctic temperatures...my dad saw a robin this week. (In Michigan, we always associate the return of our State bird with spring like temperatures.) Unfortunately, this robin was found dead laying under about 14 inches of snow. Poor little guy flew back a little early I guess.
However, this weekend I heard that it is supposed to get up to about 30 degrees F (-1C). Woohoo! It's a heat wave! Crack out those flip-flops and Bermuda trunks. I don't want to sound like I am rubbing it in or anything living in Hong Kong so to make you feel better we have had about a week of misting damp dreary windy and cooler weather. I am most certainly not wearing my flip-flops or Bermuda trunks this week.
As a matter of fact, I am still craving some warming comfort food slightly lightened up and these salmon parcels with sweet red pepper pesto is just the perfect mix of winter and spring converging together.
Turn Fish Haters into Fish Lovers
As you know, my boys hate fish. They actually despise it so much I always need to disguise it. My first technique is obviously hiding the fish from plain view with the crispy phyllo dough. My second secret strategy was to put in some delicious vegetables to add some delicious flavors to the mix. I chose red and yellow peppers as they are sweet and these are vegetables my boys will actually eat. I chose to put in a few caramelized onions as these always make everything taste a little better.
Next, I wanted something a little green for a contrast of color. I was fresh out of spinach so I exchanged with a little sautéed rocket. No, really I cooked rocket and it was fantastic. Rocket (arugula) has a peppery flavor and it was a perfect accompaniment to salmon, with its more pronounced flavors.
As a last layer of security, I drizzled a little sweet red pepper pesto on the plate. If you take a little piece of the crispy phyllo dough, salmon, vegetables and a little bit of the pesto on the end of your fork it is like a little bite of heaven. Each flavor of the dish compliments each other well.
The "hot sauce factor" Recipe Rating System
- No Hot Sauce at the table- "This was fantastic mom, please make this again."
- Hot sauce brought out to the table, but then not used- Very good and we might try it again.
- Couple of drops of hot sauce drizzled on top- This was not my favorite, it was okay but don't want to see this recipe again for a very long while.
- Hot sauce slathered from one end of the plate to the other and multiple hot sauces types displayed at the table- "Gross mom, I am so not eating that."
My boys have rated a "Fish dish", none the least, "a hot sauce brought to the table and then not used". This is amazing my kids ate fish and they said they might even eat it again. My own personal triumph here and they even looked up from their iPhones to give a nod. Teenagers and technology are never too far apart.
Recipe Exchanges
Exchanges for items that you do not have in your pantry are always welcome. This Salmon Parcels with Sweet Red Bell Pepper Pesto is just a concept but your refrigerator and pantry make the dish. Maybe you want to exchange the vegetables stuffed inside the parcel for leeks and asparagus to celebrate spring and maybe you serve it on an avocado mash or with a lemon butter sauce instead. Or maybe you like other kinds of fish instead, go for it. This is your creation. The one and the only thing you cannot exchange is margarine for real butter. You have to trust me on this as if you do you will end up with soggy and wet phyllo dough.
You can assemble these salmon parcels during the day and then bake them in the evening. I know everyone always thinks of ham for Easter but this might be a delicious and easy way to host a gathering.
More Delicious Salmon Recipes
Balsamic Glazed Salmon and Roasted Root Vegetables
Baked Pomegranate Glazed Salmon
Baked Spicy Salmon and Sweet Potato Kale Hash
One Sheet Pan Dilly Lemon Salmon
Kimchi Salmon and Rainbow Pickles
Sensational Summer Citrus Salmon
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Salmon Parcels with Sweet Red Bell Pepper Pesto
Ingredients
Salmon Parcel
- 12 oz salmon 4 fillets- skin removed
- 12 sheets phyllo dough
(3 per each fish fillet) - ½ cup butter
melted
Vegetable Medley
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ cup onion
peeled and chopped - 1 clove garlic
peeled and minced - ½ cup red bell pepper
chopped - ½ cup yellow bell pepper
chopped - 2 cups rocket
arugula - optional or spinach - salt and pepper
to taste
Sweet Red Bell Pepper Pesto
- 1 onion
chopped and cooked in a little olive olive on top of the stove until caramelized. - 3 cloves garlic
- 1 cup roasted red peppers
(Capsicum)chopped (if you only have fresh red peppers you can make your own roasted by putting your peppers directly on the stovetop and let them char on all sides and then put them in a paper bag to cool and then peel and remove seeds) - 2 tbsp basil
fresh chopped - 2 tbsp tomato paste
- ½ cup olive oil
or just enough to pull all the ingredients together in the (if you want to conserve on fats you can use half olive oil and half water) - salt and pepper
to taste - 1 tsp Italian seasoning (basil, oregano, thyme, rosemary, etc.)
Instructions
- Unthaw your phyllo dough per packet recommendations.
- Preheat your oven to 190 degrees Celsius or 375 F.
- Make your vegetable medley: In a small frying pan add olive oil and then add the onions and cook until caramelized. Add your garlic, red and yellow bell peppers and salt and pepper and cook until vegetables are slightly softened. Add the rocket just until wilted. Adjust seasoning as desired. Set aside.
- Assemble Salmon Parcels: Lay one sheet of phyllo dough on your counter and brush with melted butter over the whole sheet. Next, place another layer of phyllo dough on top of the first and brush this one with another layer of melter butter and repeat this process one more time for a total of 3 layers. Depending on the size of your fish you may want to cut the phyllo dough to fit. Place ¼ of the vegetable medley in the middle of the phyllo dough sheet and then place the salmon fillet on top upside down. Fold the edges of the phyllo dough like you do when you are wrapping a present and seal the sides and top with more melted butter. The goal is that you want the seal side down to be the bottom of the fish and you want the vegetable medley on the top so it looks pretty when your guests cut into the parcels.
- Bake Salmon parcels for about 30-35 minutes or until the phyllo dough is golden and crispy. Your fish should flake easily with your fork.
- Make your Sweet Red Bell Pepper Pesto: In the food processor, add caramelised onion, garlic, roasted red peppers, basil, tomato paste, olive oil, salt and pepper and Tuscan seasoning. Blend until nice and smooth. Taste and adjust seasonings. This step can be done up to 3 days in advance.
- Serve Salmon Parcels on a bed of Sweet Red Bell Pepper Pesto hot out of the oven with a nice crisp salad on the side. Enjoy!
Hi BAM, your salmon parcels look delish. I'm glad you've tried it and that my recipe for non-smelly fish worked on your non-fish-eaters. I also like the sauce you served with yours.
i love this with filo pastry it's so much lighter than puff and what a great way to serve salmon - I'm always looking for new ways to eat fish - thanks !
Wow!
That is so creative! I am sure this tastes brilliant!
Well, you've conjured up so many memories. My sister-in-law made a dish with phyllo and salmon one New Year's as a celebratory dinner. I thought it was smashing and it wasn't as fancy as yours.. and you made this for an every day dinner, how lucky is your family?! Second.. OMG, you're right, my son has taken out the hot sauce and slathered it on some of my dishes, but I had no idea what he was doing!! In particular, he slathered it all over the healthy slow cooker dish that I thought was so nice and light and healthy, lol! Clearly it wasn't as "nom nom" as I thought it was. Thank you for letting me in on the "secret lingo" of our young men! Finally, it was plus 11 the other day and plus 5 today, Celsius, so poor robins.. maybe they should stop in here first? xx
Oh my, I got so confused - I was looking at the lovely salmon parcel and then I saw the raw salmon and it looks SO good... I thought you were posting a new recipe for something like some sort of giant sashimi thing, then I realised it was sitting on filo pastry. I think I must be tired, lol! Looks lovely though Bam!
I love everything about this dish! Salmon...yum. Phylo...yum. Red pepper pesto...double yum! I've made a roasted red pepper sauce that I adore but I neve thought to make a pesto. Brilliant idea that I cannot wait to try!
This is such an interesting take on cooking salmon...I don't think I've ever seen anything like this dish. It's so beautiful with all the lovely colors.
I am absolutely drooling right now. Wow. You have no idea. I am obsessed with salmon. I eat it every single day. Thank you so much for a new variation! 🙂
Thanks for stopping by. I love salmon too but sometimes you just need a little variety in your fish recipes. Every week, I have to work diligently to come up with new ideas to disguise fish from my teenagers who don't like fish. It's a weekly challenge so I am certain there will be more fish recipes coming soon. Have a super week.
Oh I cannot wait! And by the way, when I was younger - I even ran away from home because I HATED salmon... And now... As I said, I eat it every single day! LOL! So hopefully your kids will come around 😉
The color is so pretty,it looks so yummy!
谢谢你 my dearest Safie!
BAM, I give this five stars for using salmon (my favorite fish), the beautiful combo of colors, the appealing veggies, great photos, the saucy sauce and, of course, if the boys ate it, it has to be good!!
I love, love salmon and I appreciate any new tasty recipe as this one!
Buongiorno, BAM! Like so many others, I love salmon and am always looking for new ways to prepare it. I've cooked it in parchment or foil but never thought to try phyllo sheets. I bet that they work wonderfully and would add a nice flaky component to the dish. Your red pepper pesto sounds like the perfect accompaniment. Together they make a great dish and I bet one beautiful presentation. Love it!
I love salmon and I don't eat it nearly enough. You're right - this a great dish to serve to company!
We love salmon here & I'm seeing fresh salmon back in the market again so this is on my list for sure. I love that phyllo dough is an awesome idea. Love the colorful vegetables you used too. I'd put "No hot sauce in the same room" on my rating system. My husband & I get this sushi a lot of Friday nights - called a lobster bomb. Since my husband gets it on his way home, it's being shaken around in the car so when it gets home I have to inspect each one very carefully because they put a blob of wasabi in the corner of the dish. Mine is the one with the pieces furthest away from the wasabi.
Oh my heaven! Fantastic looking.
These look so good - such a great idea!
I have not had salmon like this before, but I bet it's really delicious in the phyllo dough! It's a really nice presentation, too.
Thank you so much, Bam. I'm trying/fighting, so hopefully I'll be back fully soon. How are YOU doing? This salmon en croute looks so, so amazing. The second shot it making me my stomach rumble like crazy, I need that red bell pepper pesto! This is a 'must make' for me, soon 🙂
Om, that salmon looks fantastic. I'll bet everyone cleaned his plate ! I know I would.