Panko Crusted Salmon with Homemade Tartar Sauce has an amazing flavor. You MUST try this recipe! The tartar sauce tastes so delicious it could be eaten alone. This salmon dish is super crispy and bakes in only 20 minutes. A great healthy weeknight dinner idea!
Salmon is one of the healthiest fish you can eat. Salmon is one of the best sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fats are considered essential. That means you must get them from your diet since your body can't create them.
I like using Panko over regular breadcrumbs because it has fewer calories and fewer carbs. It also makes your fish way crispier than when using regular breadcrumbs.
If you are looking for more salmon dishes, you need to try my Easy Baked Salmon with Lemon and Butter (in foil) or my Lemon Garlic Salmon in a Creamy Greek Yogurt Sauce!
Table of contents
Ingredients to make this meal
For the salmon:
- salmon fillets - I prefer using salmon fillets or steaks that are skinless. The panko will not coat a side that is covered in skin. I like coating my whole piece of salmon in the panko.
- panko bread crumbs - in my eyes panko is so much tastier than regular breadcrumbs. Panko crisps up a nice piece of fish perfectly and panko also absorbs oil so your fish is even crispier and not oily or soggy.
- garlic powder - garlic powder is made from garlic cloves that have been dehydrated and then ground into fine particles. It tastes sweeter than fresh garlic.
- olive oil - adding in olive oil helps the panko to be even crispier, which is what you want when using this recipe.
- eggs - using eggs helps the panko to stick to the fish.
For the homemade healthy tartar sauce:
- light mayo - mayonnaise in the base of the tartar sauce. I use light because it has less calories, but regular mayo will work as well.
- garlic clove - minced - I always say this is my favorite way to cut corners. Spice World Organic Garlic is a staple in my fridge and I use it in place of mincing fresh garlic.
- green onion - thinly sliced - I like adding green onion to my tartar sauce because it adds extra color, freshness, and more flavor.
- sweet relish - relish or diced pickles area component when making homemade tartar sauce.
- lemon - juice of ½ the lemon - I recommend using a hand-held juice squeezer because it squeezes out all the juice you need.
Step-by-Step directions for this dish
Step 1 - Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place the cooking rack on a baking sheet and spray with cook spray. Set aside. In a shallow dish, lightly beat the eggs and season with salt and pepper. Combine the panko, garlic powder, salt, and pepper in another shallow dish. Toss to combine, then add the olive oil and toss again.
Step 2- Dip the salmon fillet in the egg and then in the panko until well-crusted. Push down on the fillet when in the panko mix to make sure it really sticks. Place coated salmon on the prepared cooking rack and bake fish for 20 minutes until golden brown.
Step 3 - Meanwhile, to make the tartar sauce; add all the ingredients into a small mixing bowl!
Step 4 - Mix until well combined. Voila!
Step 5 - When the fish is done cooking, plate it and top it with your homemade tartar sauce. Serve with your favorite side dish!
Cookware for this meal
- shallow dishes - for panko mix and egg mix. I love these shallow dishes because they are cheap and come in a variety of colors and you can also use them to serve meals in.
- cooling rack - when you bake the salmon if will be baked on a cooking rack. You need to use a cooling rack that can go in the oven. I've linked one here.
- mixing bowl - I really like the OXO brand. They are very durable for when you have kids that like to play drums with them :0
Substitutions
Here are few swap ideas you can use if don't have all the ingredients on hand.
Panko Bread Crumbs - yes this dish is called panko crusted salmon, but you can still make this meal using regular breadcrumbs. The fish just won't be as crispy.
Eggs - If you can't eat eggs, another way to bind your fish to the panko is to use heavy cream.
Mayonnaise - if you want to try an even healthier version of the homemade tartar sauce, you can try using plain greek yogurt instead of mayo. The texture is very similar.
Relish - as I stated above, tartar sauce can also be made with diced pickles if you prefer pickles over relish.
What to serve with salmon
So, you're going to need a good side dish to serve with this meal. Here are a few ideas to try out.
- Oven Baked Zucchini Chips
- The Crispiest Sweet Potato Fries
- Grilled Veggie Kabobs
- Lemon Asparagus
- Quick Brown Rice or your Favorite Veggie
How can the kids help
I'm the biggest advocate for cooking with your kids! As a busy mother with young kids I am non-stop and when I find an activity we both can enjoy together I jump on it! Here are some fun ideas to include your child in this meal.
- Assist your child in adding all the ingredients to the tartar sauce and mixing them together. This is a great math lesson to help teach measurements.
- Have your child help you push the salmon extra hard into the panko to make sure it really sticks.
Tips and FAQ's
Absolutely! I use frozen salmon all the time because sometimes my meal planning doesn't work out the way I plan. Salmon also defrosts fairly quickly. You can either place the fillet, still in the sealed bag, in a bowl of water to defrost quickly or just place your fillet, still in the sealed bag, on a paper towel on the counter and it will defrost in about an hour.
This recipe can totally be eaten as leftovers, but I must warn you it won't taste the same as when eaten fresh. The fish becomes dryer and the panko doesn't stay as crispy, but you can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Yes! Either frozen or fresh salmon both work great with this recipe.
Other seafood dishes to try
If you give this recipe a try don't forget to rate it below! Always love hearing what you all think. You can also Stay in touch with me through social media on @Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook. Don't forget to tag me when you try one of my healthy recipes!
Panko Crusted Salmon with Homemade Tartar Sauce
Equipment
- shallow bowls
- cooling rack
- baking pan
- small mixing bowl
Ingredients
- For the salmon -
- 1 lb salmon fillets
- ¾ cup panko bread crumbs
- 1 tbsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 eggs
- cooking spray
- For the homemade tartar sauce -
- ¾ cup light mayo
- 1 clove garlic minced
- 1 green onion sliced
- 1 tbsp sweet relish
- juice of ½ lemon
- kosher salt to taste
- ground black pepper to taste
Instructions
- To make the salmon, preheat the oven to 450°. Place a cooling rack onto a baking sheet and spray with cooking spray. Set aside.
- Lightly beat the eggs in a shallow dish and season with salt and pepper. Combine panko, garlic powder, 1 tsp salt, and ½ pepper in another shallow dish. Toss to combine, then add the olive oil and toss again.
- Dip the fish in the egg and then into the panko until well-crusted. Place on the rack and spray with more cooking spray. Then bake for 20 minutes until golden brown.
- To make the tartar sauce, in a small bowl combine mayo, garlic, green onion, sweet relish, lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Mix until well combined.
- To serve, place salmon onto a plate and top with prepared tartar sauce. Serve with your favorite side dish!
Notes
- Assist your child in adding all the ingredients to the tartar sauce and mixing them together. This is a great math lesson to help teach measurements.
- Have your child help you push the salmon extra hard into the panko to make sure it really sticks.
Loved this recipe! So crispy and light!