Pan-Seared Salmon with Avocado Pesto and Zucchini Ribbons
A rich, keto-friendly salmon dish topped with creamy avocado pesto and served alongside fresh zucchini ribbons for a light, low-carb meal. This Mediterranean-inspired keto recipe (low carb), ready in about 20 minutes, pairs salmon fillet, avocado, fresh basil leaves for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 1, so it slots cleanly into a low-carb week and pairs well with cauliflower rice or roasted green vegetables. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.
Ingredients
- 6 oz salmon fillet
- 1/2 medium avocado
- 1/4 cup packed fresh basil leaves
- 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese
- 3 tbsp, divided olive oil
- 1 tbsp lemon juice
- 1 minced garlic clove
- 1 medium zucchini
- 1/2 tsp, divided salt
- 1/4 tsp, divided black pepper
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Equipment for this recipe
Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.
Instructions
- Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Pat 6 oz salmon fillet dry, season both sides with 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper. Place salmon skin-side down and cook for 4-5 minutes until skin is crispy. Flip and cook another 3-4 minutes until salmon is opaque and flakes easily.
- Step 2: Meanwhile, in a food processor, combine 1/2 medium avocado, 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, 2 tbsp grated parmesan cheese, 1 tbsp lemon juice, 1 minced garlic clove, 1 tbsp olive oil, and a pinch of salt. Process until smooth and creamy, scraping down the sides as needed.
- Step 3: Using a vegetable peeler, shave 1 medium zucchini lengthwise into thin ribbons. Toss the ribbons with remaining 1/4 tsp salt and 1/8 tsp black pepper to taste.
- Step 4: Serve the pan-seared salmon topped generously with avocado pesto alongside the fresh zucchini ribbons, drizzled with any remaining pesto for added flavor.








