It is a delightful recipe of salmon that is rich in flavor and crunchiness.

Fantastic recipes. Do not let the list of ingredients deter you from making this recipe. You will love your salmon tenderness while biting into various flavors and crunchiness.

grilled salmon with olives and pine nuts

Sweetness and acidity play an essential role in this dish.

Subscribe to Giangi's Kitchen!

Get my FREE email series: 5 Days of Easy Elevated Recipes plus a weekly newsletter!

First Name
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Easy to put together, 30 minutes; you cannot beat that, but the flavor was out of this world. I could not stop eating it.

I love olives and capers and the sourness of the vinegar.

However, I also enjoy cooking with raisins. Their sweetness thrives in balance with the vinegar.

Have all the ingredients ready before starting to cook. This recipe goes quite fast once you turn your burner on.

In this Article

We love salmon fillets as they are easy to prepare and seldom have fish bone on them. One note to attention is when turn it over in your skillet.

It is a delicate meat, and we always enjoy skinless salmon; therefore, ensure that a nice crust is formed before turning over, as this avoids breakage.

Here are a few helpful tips for the ingredients needed to make this grilled salmon with Olives and Pine Nuts

Skinless Salmon fillets – Skinless makes cooking easier, as you can also create a wonderful crust when searing it.

Black raisins – have a deeper flavor, which balances well with the olives. Golden raising can be a good substitution.

Celery stalks – small diced and only the central core

Pine nuts – add crunchiness to your dish

Caper and caper juice – my favorite as they are salty and vinegary and give the perfect natural balance of seasoning.

Saffron strands – give a beautiful color as well as a great flavor to your salmon,

Green olives – pitted and chopped.

Parsley – the perfect herb to use with fish,

Lemon zest and juice – bring the uplifting flavor and the perfect acidity to your dish.

Salt and pepper – seasoning

grilled salmon with olives and pine nuts

Equipment Needed

Small bowl – Used to rehydrate the raisins

Large skillets – one used to prepare the celery with the olives and pine nuts. The second one is to sear the salmon.

Chef’s knife – to chop the pine nuts, celery stalk, green olives and parsley

Fish turning spatula – My preferred when working with fish as it is longer and goes well underneath it to make turning easier.

Grilled Salmon with Olive and pine nuts

Cooking tips and step-by-step instructions on how to make this excellent grilled salmon with nuts.

This wonderful grilled salmon recipe can be prepared in two ways.

As I have it here, on the stove or in your oven. The recipe card will be instructions for the stovetop; below, you will find the oven method.

  • First, rehydrate the dark raisins with warm water for about 20 minutes.
  • Chop all your ingredients, have everything ready, and set aside.
  • Season your skinless salmon with olive oil and generous salt and pepper.
  • Prepare the celery with the pine nuts. Add the capers with the diced olives and saffron strands. As well as the raisins, lemon zest, juice, and parsley.

This preparation will infuse itself with all the beautiful flavors while you will prepare the salmon fillets.

Once the above is done, you can proceed with your salmon using the stovetop or oven. I leave that to you as both methods render the perfectly grilled salmon.

Stovetop Method

Add olive oil in a large enough skillet to hold your salmon fillets and sear the salmon for three to four minutes per side.

Oven Method

An alternative to searing the salmon on the stove is to bake it in the oven at 375F for 10 to 12 minutes. I prefer it.

  • Place the salmon on parchment paper, and add salt and pepper for seasoning.
  • Once the salmon is in the oven, cook all the other ingredients.

Final touches to your dish

Place the grilled salmon fillets on each dish and spoon the olive sauce over it generously.

grilled salmon with olives and pine nuts

What to serve with your grilled salmon?

A simple bowl of Cilantro White Rice or Rice with Peas and Butter.

Two straightforward recipes that will bring the perfect balance to your salmon.

And, of course, your classic green salad with a simple oil and vinegar vinaigrette.

Storage and reheating

Any leftovers will be stored well in a glass air-tight container in the refrigerator for up to two days.

When ready to enjoy, bring it back to room temperature, and you can either warm it up in the refrigerator at 250F for 20 minutes or if your desire warmth.

An alternative is to warm it on the stovetop in a skillet with a drop of olive oil and a tablespoon of water over medium-low. You do not want to dry it out.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between salmon and salmon fillet?

There are a few differences between the two. The fish steak is perpendicular to the spine and through the bone. However, a fillet is cut parallel to the bone. Due to how they are cut, fillets are typically flaker than steaks.

Is it better to bake or pan-fry salmon?

Pan-frying salmon results in a crispy and moist interior. Pan-searing is the way to go if you indulge and love a golden brown crust. It also requires little preparation, and it cooks relatively fast, making it a convenient cooking method.

Is it better to bake salmon at 350 or 400F?

Baking the individual fillets at a higher temperature of 400 to 425F is best.

Shop This Post

More recipes that you will love and enjoy:

Salmon with basil Mushroom Sauce – The Perfect Last Minute Dinner

Ricotta, Arugula, Pine Nuts, and Penne Pasta – The Best!

Salmon Fillets with baby Greens and Arugula Salad

Grilled Salmon with Olives and Pine Nuts

5 from 2 votes
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Author: Giangi Townsend
A delightful recipe of salmon that is rich in flavor and crunchiness.
Print Pin

Ingredients 

  • 4 6 ounces each salmon fillets , skinless
  • ½ cup black raisins
  • ½ cup olive oil
  • 4 celery stalks, discard all green leaves, diced
  • 1 ounce pine nuts, roughly chopped
  • 3 tablespoons capers
  • 2 tablesppons capers juice
  • ¼ cup green olives, pitted and chopped
  • ¼ teaspoon saffron strands, placed in 1 tablespoon hot water
  • 2 tablespoons parsley, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon lemon zest
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice
  • salt
  • pepper

Instructions

  • Rehydrate the raisins with hot water in a small bowl with enough water to cover them. 20 minutes meanwhile proceed with the recipe below.
  • Rub the salmon’s fillets with olive oil and sprinkle generously with salt and pepper.
  • In a large skillet add 1/3 cup of olive oil over high heat. When hot add the celery and the pine nuts and cook for 4 to 5 minutes stirring constantly. Remove from the heat once the pine nuts start to color. 
  • Away from the heat add the capers and the juice, the diced olives, saffron strand with the water and a pinch of salt. Drain the raisins and add them to the skillet as well as the parsley, lemon zest and lemon juice. Set aside.
  • In another skillet add 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium high heat. Sear the salmon fillets, 3 – 4 minutes each side. A bit more if you like the salmon well done. 
  • Place a salmon fillet on each dish and arrange generously the olive sauce over it.

Notes

Stove Top Method
In a large enough skillet to hold your salmon fillets, add olive oil and sear the salmon for three to four minutes per side.
Oven Method
An alternative to searing the salmon on the stove is to bake it in the oven at 375F for 10 to 12 minutes. I prefer it.
  • Place the salmon on top of parchment paper, and add salt and pepper for seasoning. 
  • Once the salmon is in the oven, cook all the other ingredients.

Nutrition

Calories: 363kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 321mg | Potassium: 272mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 235IU | Vitamin C: 6.3mg | Calcium: 12mg | Iron: 1.1mg

Giangi’s Kitchen provides nutritional information, but these figures should be considered estimates, as a registered dietician does not calculate them.

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @giangiskitchen on Instagram

Visit my Amazon Storefront for my selection of favorite kitchen essentials. I only recommend equipment that I use and love.

Giangi's Kitchen Amazon Storefront

Please read my privacy policy for more info. I only recommend the products that I love and use. This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.

Originally published on September 10, 2019. Updated on September 5, 2023.