Easy Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato and Olive Tapenade
David Scott Allen · Fish & Seafood · Main Course · Provencal Recipes · TasteSeafood is popular in France, with over half of all French residents purchasing fresh or frozen fish from their local grocery store. Salmon is a bright and flavourful fish that goes well with various flavours. This robust dish features tangy sun-dried tomatoes and a delicious olive tapenade to make a gourmet meal that fools anyone into thinking you’re a pro. Pair it with a complex red wine, like Mon Coeur Côtes-du-Rhône from Jean-Louis Chave, and you’ll make an impression.

Salmon with Sun-Dried Tomato and Olive Tapenade
This dish is a great centrepiece to enjoy with some field greens, risotto, and a bottle of top-quality French red wine.
Ingredients
- 2 leeks light green and white parts only
- 5 fresh basil leaves
- 3 tbsp butter chilled
- salt
- freshly ground white pepper
- 4 sun-dried tomatoes chopped
- 8 Oil-Cured Olives pitted
- 1 tbsp capers drained
- 4 sprigs thyme leaves stripped
- 1 tbsp chives chopped
- 1 tbsp parsley chopped, plus extra for garnish
- 2-3 tbsp olive oil
- 2 6-oz Salmon Fillets skinless
Instructions
- Slice leeks in half lengthwise, loosen the layers and run them under cold water to wash out any sand or dirt. Cut the halves into 1/2-inch thick slices and place them in a saucepan of salted water. Bring to a boil, then simmer until leeks are fully tender – about 6 minutes. Drain and place leek slices in a blender with the basil leaves and butter. Purée until very smooth and return to the saucepan to keep warm, and season well with salt and freshly ground white pepper.
- Next, place the sun-dried tomatoes, olives, capers, herbs, and olive oil in a small processor or spice grinder; purée until it forms a chunky paste.
- Divide and spread the paste among the tops of the two salmon fillets, pressing it gently to adhere.
- Place salmon on an oiled baking sheet and roast for 8-10 minutes, depending on thickness and your preference. (Our fillets we about 1 inch thick, and were perfect after 9 minutes.)
- To serve, spoon some of the leek-basil purée on a dinner plate and top with salmon. Sprinkle with parsley.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
Other Recipes You Might Enjoy
Roasted King Salmon with I’itoi Onion Compote
Allow enough time for the onions to cook slowly, as the caramelizing process will make all the difference in the flavour of the compote. Serve with the roasted salmon for a lovely combination. If you have too much onion compote, it won't go to waste, serve with grilled meat or on a sandwich.
Check out this recipe
Seared Salmon with Red Wine Shallot Sauce and Wasabi Mashed Potatoes
Easy, delicious and chef quality a fish dish to impress!
Check out this recipe
Smoky Cinnamon Salmon with Mushroom Lentils
This salmon dish is easy, tasty and full of wonderful spices.
Check out this recipe
Stuffed Zucchini Blossoms: Goat Cheese, Sun-Dried Tomatoes, and Tapenade
This recipe is easy to prepare and delicious to eat. Serve hot with chilled rosé.
Check out this recipe
Salmon with Herbed Chèvre Wrapped in Zucchini
Moist and buttery baked salmon wrapped in zucchini and stuffed with chèvre gently floating in a spicy tomato sauce topped with olives.
Check out this recipe
Seared Salmon with Tomato-Shallot Ragoût
The tomato ragoût is simple to prepare, you can make it in advance as it will keep for a few days. The salmon takes less than 10 minutes to cook, so dinner is on the table in no time at all.
Check out this recipe
Legal
All rights reserved. Perfectly Provence articles and other content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten (including translations into other languages) or redistributed without written permission. For usage information, please contact us.
Syndication InformationAffiliate Information
As an Amazon Associate, this website earns from qualifying purchases. Some recipes, posts and pages may have affiliate links. If you purchase via these links, we receive a small commission that does not impact your price. Thank you in advance for supporting our work to maintain Perfectly Provence.
Previous Post
Discover the Underwater Museum of MarseilleRelated Provence Articles
Salt and Pepper Calamari a Spicy Appetizer
April 27, 2018
Sometimes a sampling of little bites makes for a more interesting evening than a single main course. The Spanish have this perfected with their culinary tradition of tapas and pintxos. We decided quite a while a go to celebrate the New Year (on Paris time) and to do so by tasting our way around the world, in small bites. This year was no different. The seafood themed plates started with skewered shrimp and ended with Salt and Pepper Calamari.…
Homemade French Lemon Tart to Beat the Blues
July 17, 2020
This spring when were house-bound due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it would have been easy to feel down. But, that’s not the way we roll in our home, we start baking and cooking to lift the spirits. When life gives you lemons you might make lemonade. I will always make a French Lemon Tart instead. I …
Chestnut-Pumpkin Risotto with Hazelnuts for Fall
November 16, 2020
When fall weather has settled in, it’s an excuse to make this Chestnut-Pumpkin Risotto recipe that combines the rich, earthy flavours of the season. In Provence, from one week to the next the market shrinks in size as the seasonal vendors begin to pack-up their wares. Scarves replace multi-hued espadrilles, sweaters and puffy jackets take …
Provencal Menu: Autumn Dinner Party
September 23, 2016
After a long stretch of scorching summer days, cooler autumn weather in Provence offers a chance to serve warm, hearty meals. Fall mornings wrapped in a cloth of humidity with heavy dew and fog clouding the early hours until the sun does its work. With the hard work finished for the year, grapevines turn to …
No Comment