Stuffed salmon is an impressive yet easy to make dish that takes salmon fillets to the next level. By stuffing salmon with a savory spinach and shrimp filling, you add tons of extra flavor while keeping the salmon deliciously moist and tender. This baked stuffed salmon recipe comes together quickly and makes for an elegant presentation without requiring expert cooking skills. Read on for a simple step-by-step guide to preparing perfect stuffed salmon with spinach and shrimp every time.
Benefits of Spinach and Shrimp Stuffed Salmon
There are several advantages to choosing stuffed salmon as an easy weeknight meal or dinner party dish:
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Only requires a few affordable ingredients that most people have on hand already – salmon shrimp spinach, cream cheese, and basic seasoning.
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Way less fussy yet just as delicious as delicacies like beef wellington or chicken cordon bleu.
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Allows you to add creativity with different fillings. Spinach and shrimp is a classic, but you can also do crab, lobster, vegetables, cheeses, herbs, etc.
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Keeps the salmon moist and infuses it with extra flavor from the stuffing ingredients.
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Makes for an elegant presentation by transforming a salmon filet into a complete entrée
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Provides a good balance of protein, healthy fats, and vegetables.
Tips for Selecting Salmon and Shrimp
A few things to look out for when purchasing the main ingredients:
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Salmon – Go for thick center-cut fillets around 6 ounces each. Farmed Atlantic or wild Pacific both work well.
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Shrimp – Opt for raw peeled and deveined shrimp. Small or medium size are easiest to work with.
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Spinach – Use fresh baby spinach if possible. Otherwise, frozen chopped spinach is fine too.
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Cream cheese – Stick with full fat cream cheese for the best creaminess and flavor.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Follow these simple steps for perfect spinach and shrimp stuffed salmon every time.
Step 1: Prepare the Filling
First, you’ll sauté some aromatics and cook the shrimp:
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Cook minced garlic in olive oil over medium heat until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
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Add sliced mushrooms and sauté 3-4 minutes until softened.
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Stir in a few handfuls of spinach until just wilted.
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Mix in the raw shrimp and cook 1 minute until opaque.
Step 2: Make the Spinach-Shrimp Cream Cheese
Next, combine the filling ingredients:
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In a bowl, mix the cooked spinach-shrimp mixture with cream cheese. Use a 2:1 ratio of cream cheese to filling.
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For extra flavor, add minced garlic, lemon zest, nutmeg, etc.
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Refrigerate the filling for 15-30 minutes to firm up.
Step 3: Prepare the Salmon
While the filling chills, get the salmon ready:
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Pat the fillets dry and slice horizontally through the side to create a pocket.
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Generously season the salmon all over with salt, pepper, herbs, etc.
Step 4: Stuff the Salmon
Now pack the salmon with the chilled filling:
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Use a spoon to fill the pocket and mound the top with spinach-shrimp cream cheese.
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Really overstuff these fillets – the more filling the better!
Step 5: Sear and Bake
Finally, cook the stuffed salmon:
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In an oiled pan, sear the salmon over high heat skin-side down for 1 minute.
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Transfer to a baking sheet and bake at 400°F until opaque in center, 5-15 minutes depending on thickness.
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For extra browning on the filling, switch to broil for 1-2 minutes.
Step 6: Finish and Serve
Let the salmon rest before serving:
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Allow to rest for 5 minutes so the filling sets.
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Gently lift the fillets off the skin and transfer to plates.
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Spoon any filling that falls out back on top. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.
And that’s all it takes for an impressive yet easy spinach and shrimp stuffed salmon dinner!
Handy Tips for Stuffed Salmon Success
Follow these tips for perfect results:
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Use a sharp knife and make clean cuts when slicing open the salmon to create a nice pocket for stuffing.
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Pack the filling generously without overstuffing to the point of falling out. You want these fillets overflowing with yummy goodness.
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Searing the salmon skin before baking helps lock in moisture and flavor.
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Since salmon cooks so quickly, check early and remove once just opaque in the thickest part.
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Letting the cooked stuffed salmon rest for 5+ minutes allows the filling to set up nicely.
Simple Ways to Switch Up the Filling
While the spinach and shrimp combination is a classic, feel free to change up the filling to suit your tastes:
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Substitute shrimp with lump crab meat or lobster for a luxurious stuffed salmon.
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Use different greens like kale or chard instead of spinach.
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Mix in roasted red peppers, sun-dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, caramelized onions, etc.
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Add fresh herbs like dill, basil, cilantro, or parsley.
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Use goat cheese or mascarpone instead of cream cheese.
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Top with crunchy toasted nuts or panko breadcrumbs.
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Make it vegetarian by omitting the shrimp and adding mushrooms, chickpeas, or white beans.
Cooking and Serving Suggestions
Serve your stuffed salmon with complementary sides and sauces:
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Baked or mashed potatoes make a perfect pairing, as do roasted vegetables or fresh green salad.
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Rice, quinoa, couscous, or pasta also pair well to soak up any delicious sauce.
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Compound butters, creamy lemon or dill sauce, and classic hollandaise or beurre blanc dress up the dish.
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Add seared scallops, sautéed shrimp, or chicken for a complete surf and turf meal.
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Cook an easy weeknight version in the air fryer at 390°F for 13-15 minutes.
This simple yet elegant stuffed salmon with spinach and shrimp is sure to become a new family favorite. The combination of flavors takes basic salmon fillets to the next level while still being approachable enough for a casual weeknight meal. Give this stuffed salmon recipe a try soon and get ready for requests for seconds!
How to make crab and shrimp stuffed salmon
- Melt the butter in a large pan. On medium heat, add the chopped shrimp and cook for about 1 minute and 30 seconds. Remove from the heat and set aside. The shrimp will continue to cook in the oven.
- In an large bowl, stir together the mayonnaise, cream cheese, bread crumbs, egg, Old Bay seasoning, onion powder, dried parsley, and fresh or dried dill weed. Stir the crab into the mixture. Follow this by the buttered shrimp (which should be at room temperature).
This filling/topping is similar to a crab cake mixture, with the addition of shrimp and cream cheese for some extra creaminess.
- Cut a pocket into each piece of salmon. Then, rub each piece of salmon with the oil and salt.
- Generously stuff and top each piece of salmon with the crab and shrimp mixture.
- Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for about 25 minutes or until the topping is golden.
SUPER Creamy Spinach STUFFED Salmon Recipe
FAQ
Can you eat salmon and shrimp together?
Not at all! Mixing shrimp and salmon in a salad can create a delicious and diverse flavor combination. The contrasting textures and flavors often complement each other well. Give it a try!
What stuffing goes with salmon?
Tender, juicy fillets of salmon, a dream-boat filling of cream cheese, spinach, mozzarella, and Parmesan, and exactly 10 minutes of prep, this five-star Stuffed Salmon is the kind of epically impressive, yet paradoxically easy, recipe that will have you swearing off going out to eat.
How long to soak salmon before cooking?
Soaking salmon in a simple, quick brine for as little as 10 minutes (up to overnight, if you like planning ahead) is all it takes. To make it happen you need two very basic ingredients: water and salt. Combine 1 tablespoon of salt for every cup of water.
What seasoning is good for crab stuffed salmon?
Season the salmon with Old Bay seasoning and olive oil, then rub to distribute evenly on all sides. Make the filling. Place lemon juice, Old Bay seasoning, mayonnaise, whole grain mustard, and black pepper in a bowl. Stir until well combined.
What is shrimp stuffed salmon?
This creamy Shrimp Stuffed Salmon is an elegant meal made super easy. Shrimp is mixed with a garlic and spinach cream cheese filling and stuffed inside a salmon filet, then baked to perfection. With minimal ingredients and clean up, you’ll look like a top chef!
What can I substitute for shrimp stuffed salmon?
Crab and shrimp stuffed salmon – Replace half the shrimp with jumbo lump crab meat to make the filling for the recipe. Florentine – Add ½ cup well squeezed frozen spinach to the stuffing mixture to make shrimp and spinach stuffed salmon.
How do you cook shrimp stuffed salmon?
Minimal dishes – All you need is a small pan to cook the shrimp filling and then the rest is roasted in the oven. Easy to find ingredients make this shrimp stuffed salmon quick and affordable. Salmon Fillets – These can be previously frozen, but for cooking they need to be defrosted or “fresh”.
How long does spinach stuffed salmon take to cook?
This spinach stuffed salmon is a flavor explosion, with the creamy richness of the cheese and the earthy goodness of the spinach perfectly complementing the tender, flaky salmon. It’s a restaurant-quality meal that’s ready in just 45 minutes! Salmon is one of my favorite kinds of seafood to make.
How do you make salmon stuffing?
Mix together the mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, and mozzarella cheese with the cooked shrimp and garlic to make the salmon stuffing. Use a sharp knife to cut each fillet horizontally, creating a pocket for the stuffing. Be sure not to cut all the way through the fillet. Stuff each fillet with shrimp and cheese mixture.
How do you make stuffed salmon with crabmeat?
A yummy stuffed salmon with crabmeat recipe that comes together in about 35 minutes. PREHEAT your oven to 350 degrees and PREPARE the parsley by chopping. SEASON the shrimp with salt and pepper and set aside. ADD 2 tablespoons butter to a sautee pan over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, ADD in the minced garlic and 1 teaspoon of paprika.