After all you’ll tell yourself, why should you dress up, pay good money, wait for a seat, and suffer outrageous markup on wine in a restaurant, when you can make a chef-level dish like this elegant spinach stuffed salmon at home? Michelin star who? Michelin star YOU! Even if you’ve never baked salmon before, you can nail this recipe. The steps are very straightforward.
For even more tips (including what kind of salmon to buy and more), check out this post on How to Cook Salmon.For a general look at baking salmon (one of my favorite salmon cooking methods), check out this Salmon Temperature Guide.
I’m so looking forward to making this easy stuffed salmon for Ben and myself this Friday. We’re having Valentine’s Day at home, in part because we never have a great experience when we eat out on this busy holiday, even at restaurants we normally enjoy, and because thanks to a grueling five days of finishing up my last (hopefully final) round of cookbook edits, it has been ages since I’ve actually eaten a home cooked meal. Spinach stuffed salmon at home and a crisp glass of wine to go with it (see below for recommendations for wine to pair with salmon) are my ultimate idea of romance. This stuffed salmon with spinach and cream cheese will make anyone feel special.
How to Make the Best Stuffed Salmon
This luscious cream cheese and spinach stuffed salmon meets you at intersection of easy and impressive. Check out my other healthy salmon recipes. I’ve specifically listed few of my favorites that are extra date-night appropriate below. The combination of the filling and the flaky salmon reminds me of a super classed-up seafood spinach dip, turned elegant and dinner appropriate.
The Ingredients
Salmon Fillets. Look for thicker salmon fillets, which are easier to stuff, as they leave more room to create a pocket for the filling. You can eat the salmon with the skin on or ask the seafood counter to remove it for you. For this recipe, I prefer the skin on; it holds the salmon together, makes it easier to stuff, and generally when you leave skin on salmon, it is less prone to overcooking.Spinach. Spinach stuffed salmon is not only delicious—it offers good-for-you ingredients too! In addition to the health benefits of the salmon itself (salmon is rich in omega-3s, protein, potassium, and more), spinach is packed with fiber, vitamins, and minerals.Garlic Cloves. Adds bold flavor to the spinach mixture.Cream Cheese. Gotta have it here! It makes the most creamy, rich, and lightly tangy stuffing for our salmon. Plus, it goes perfectly with spinach (just ask these Spinach Puffs).Mozzarella + Parmesan. Whoever said cheese and seafood do not go together has not tried this salmon recipe. The mozzarella is mild and melty; the Parmesan cheese is salty and nutty. Dream team.Red Pepper Flakes. A touch of heat to cut through the richness of the salmon and the spinach cream cheese filling.Lemon. Totally optional! Top off with lemon juice or lemon zest for a fresh citrus flavor.
The Directions
How to Store Stuffed Salmon
To Store. Place leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 day.To Reheat. To keep the salmon from drying out, gently reheat the salmon on a baking sheet, loosely tented with foil, in a 350 degrees F oven until warmed through.
Recipes that Go Well with Stuffed Salmon For A Perfect Menu
Shrimp. If you want to go all-out fancy, serve stuffed salmon with shrimp by making Garlic Butter Shrimp. You can serve the shrimp at the same time as the salmon, or as an appetizer.Salad. Keep it crisp and fresh, but still satisfying. This Brussels Sprouts Slaw with Caesar dressing is fit for a date night dinner (hello, Caesar salad!) and can be prepped ahead.Sautéed Vegetables. For more of a steakhouse-at-home vibe, serve the salmon with Easy Sautéed Zucchini with Parmesan or Sautéed Brussels Sprouts.Grains. a bowl of rice goes well with stuffed salmon, and this Lemon Rice would be a great option.Dessert. Keep it classically decadent with Flourless Chocolate Torte or fruity and festive with this naturally pink, fresh Strawberry Cake.Wine. A must! Since this salmon is rich, go for a crisp, dry white like Sauvignon Blanc (or the French version, Sancerre) or try an unoaked or very lightly oaked Chardonnay.
More Delicious, Easy Salmon Recipes for a Special Dinner
Teriyaki SalmonSalmon MeuniereLemon Pepper SalmonBaked Salmon in FoilSoy Ginger SalmonWhole30 Baked SalmonGarlic Salmon with Lemon Butter
Recommended Tools to Make This Recipe
Rimmed Baking Sheets. These are easily one of my most used kitchen tools.Non-Stick Skillet. This skillet is perfect for sautéing the stuffing ingredients.
If you make this stuffed salmon, please leave a comment to let me know how it goes! I adore hearing from you. Cheesy though it may sound, knowing that you enjoy these recipes I post here is what keeps me motivated and excited. I hope you love this salmon as much as we do.
