How to make Restaurant Style Stuffed Salmon
Since discovering Northwest Wild Caught Salmon earlier this year, I’ve been having fun finding different ways to prepare and enjoy this lovely fish. I was lucky enough to pick up some nice sockeye salmon at Sam’s Club.
This week Stuffed Salmon was on the menu at home, and I decided to try something a little different with the stuffing using cream cheese in my stuffing mix.
Lisa and I had eaten at a seafood restaurant in Madeira Beach on one of our road trips and they had a similar stuffing with a grouper we had for dinner. So I thought I’d give it a try with salmon. It was such an easy and delicious way to make salmon it’s become a regular addition to our home dinner options.
What do you need to make Crabmeat Stuffed Salmon?
Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Stuffed Salmon. In Chef Speak this is called the Mise en Place which translates into Everything in its Place.
Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed the cooking process, but it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.
What type of salmon can you use for this recipe?
I used Sockeye Salmon for this recipe and always try to find Pacific Salmon for my recipes.
You can, of course, use any salmon you have available in your markets. Coho (silvers) and King (chinook) are two of my other favorites.
Atlantic Salmon is more plentiful and usually less expensive and can also be used. I prefer wild-caught fish to farmed seafood.
*Farmed salmon is much higher in fat, containing slightly more omega-3s, much more omega-6 and three times the amount of saturated fat. It also has 46% more calories — mostly from fat. Conversely, wild salmon is higher in minerals, including potassium, zinc and iron.
Can I use Frozen Salmon for this dish?
You sure can. Fresh salmon is great if you can find it, but if not frozen is the next best thing. Just make sure to let the salmon fully thaw before you stuff it.
*These days, I buy Alaskan Salmon, shipped directly from the supplier in Alaska, and it’s always shipped frozen.
What type of cream cheese should I use for the stuffing?
The first time I made this recipe I used whipped cream cheese. I found that to be a mistake as it did not hold up as well as I thought it should. I made the Stuffed Salmon again using regular cream cheese and also added in shredded mozzarella which gave the dish a better overall appearance and taste.
In a bowl add the cream cheese, mayonnaise, beaten egg and old bay. Mix well, but it’s okay if it has some lumps in it.
Then fold in the spinach, roasted red peppers, mozzarella and crabmeat.
Chef Dennis Tip:
Pull the spinach apart or mix it into the cream cheese mixture first. It has a tendency to clump together.
Mix all the ingredients together as gently as possible so you don’t break up the crabmeat too much.
Refrigerate the mixture for 30 minutes to let it firm up. If for some reason the mixture is too loose, add some bread crumbs to help hold it together.
Can I use other cheese in the stuffing?
I added shredded mozzarella because of its binding properties, but cheddar, swiss or your favorite cheese could be used instead of the mozzarella.
Season the salmon fillets with sea salt and black pepper.
Add the crabmeat stuffing on top of the salmon fillet. Sprinkle the top of the stuffing with panko bread crumbs (or any bread crumb you have on hand). Bake at 350 degrees for 18 – 20 minutes.
Can I use this topping with other fish?
You sure can. This topping would work well on just about any white flaky fish. Flounder, cod, and halibut would also work well. The only fish I wouldn’t try to stuff would be tuna or swordfish.
My Stuffed Salmon is a great way to turn an ordinary night into a special occasion and is great for entertaining as it can be made up ahead of time and cooked before your guests arrive. You may also try stuffing a whole side of salmon and roasting it for a buffet. It will look spectacular!
If you love Salmon, you might also like these recipes:
- Grilled Cedar Planked Salmon
- Mediterranean Style Salmon
- Blackened Salmon Salad
- Marinated Grilled Salmon
Stuffed Salmon with Crabmeat & Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 24 ounces salmon fillets four fillets 6 ounces each, skin off
- 8 ounces crabmeat drained well lump, claw or backfin
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened use regular not whipped
- 1 large egg whipped
- 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
- ½ cup baby spinach cooked with excess liquid squeezed out
- 1 tablespoon roasted red peppers diced (or fresh red pepper)
- ½ cup mozzarella cheese shredded (or your favorite cheese)
- 1 teaspoon old bay
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt adjust to taste
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper adjust to taste
- 2 tablespoons panko bread crumbs or whatever type of bread crumb you prefer
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees
- cook spinach in a little bit of water till fully cooked, take off the heat and allow to cool
- When spinach is cool squeeze out all of the water from the spinach (excess water will make the stuffing loose)
- in a mixing bowl add in the softened cream cheese, mayonnaise, egg and old bay seasoning. Whip together until well blended.
- fold in the spinach, roasted peppers, shredded mozzarella and crab meat (make sure crab meat has been well-drained, squeezing out any excess water). Mix gently and if the mixture is too loose you may add a little bread crumb to tighten it up.
- place salmon on a baking sheet and season with salt and pepper
- portion stuffing out and place on top of salmon fillet, then sprinkle breadcrumbs on top.
- pour a little water on the baking dish to help keep the salmon moist while it's cooking
- cook salmon at 350 degrees for 18-22 minutes. salmon should be done but not overcooked
- serve with your favorite sides
Nutrition
Doreen Chopp
My 16 year old grandson made this for dinner yesterday for his parents anniversary and everyone loved it. He wants to be a Chef, one day and cooks every time he gets the chance.
Ann
Hello Chef Dennis,
I have made this twice now, once with Salmon and once with Cod, both delicious and quite the crowd pleaser! Can the stuffing me made ahead of time and frozen? I want to prepare it on vacation but don’t want to have to bring all of the ingredients with me.
Chef Dennis Littley
it can be frozen, but it will lose something in the process. The cream cheese will help keep the crabmeat intact, but you will get some weeping from both the cream cheese and crabmeat.
Ashley Bartlett
Should I cook/steam the crab legs before pulling the meat out to use for the stuffing?
Chef Dennis Littley
the crabmeat should be cooked first
CK
I’ve made this quite a few times. It’s super easy, and delicious. I’m making it again tonight for my Honey’s birthday. He loves it!
Sherry Mischler
Hello Chef Dennis! I was so excited to find this recipe. My daughter Hannah participated in your Culinary Club at Mount and we’re big fans. Can I use a whole salmon filet for this recipe? If so, how long and at what temp should I cook it? Thank you!
Chef Dennis Littley
hi Sherry
I remember Hannah, how is she doing? As for using a whole filet, you certainly can. As for the cooking time, I would increase it to 25-30 minutes. The best way to know if it’s cooked enough is to use an instant-read thermometer in the middle to see if it’s up to 165 degrees. Salmon can definitely be a little underdone, you just want to make sure that the filling is hot enough.
please feel free to contact me anytime, my email is on my contact page.
Dennis
Eddie
This is wonderful! I made the recipe exactly, except I used fresh king crab. We loved it.
Trudi Annett
How far ahead can you make the stuffing?
Chef Dennis Littley
a day ahead of time is okay. I wouldn’t make it any longer as it will start to weep.
Dan
What a great recipe. Simple ingredients. Easy to make. We loved it!
Marianne
This was amazing, made it for a Saturday night at home dinner for two! Easy too!