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Walnut and Herb-Stuffed Salmon with Spicy Tahini Sauce

This walnut and herb-stuffed salmon is a vibrant, heart-healthy dish that brings together the rich flavours of the Middle East. The central feature is a fragrant pesto-style filling made from toasted walnuts, fresh coriander, and warm spices like cinnamon and cumin. By sandwiching the filling between two fillets, the fish remains incredibly succulent while roasting, absorbing the aromatic oils and citrus notes from the lemon and chillies.

Perfect for a nutritious weekend lunch or an impressive dinner party main, this recipe offers a sophisticated way to serve oily fish. The earthy crunch of the nuts provides a wonderful contrast to the tender salmon, while the spicy tahini sauce adds a creamy, savoury finish. Serve it with a light bulgur wheat tabbouleh for a complete, well-balanced meal that is as wholesome as it is delicious.

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Ingredients for Walnut and Herb-Stuffed Salmon with Spicy Tahini Sauce

  • Two 450g salmon fillets, skin on, centre-cut and trimmed to be the same size

  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

  • 80g walnuts, toasted

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/2 cup fresh coriander, chopped coarsely

  • 1/2 cup flat-leaf parsley, chopped coarsely

  • Juice of 1/2 lemon

  • Zest of 1 lemon

  • 4 hot red chilies, seeded and chopped

  • 1 teaspoon paprika

  • 1 teaspoon cumin

  • 60ml extra virgin olive oil

  • Salt and pepper

  • Kitchen twine

How to make Walnut and Herb-Stuffed Salmon with Spicy Tahini Sauce

Preheat the oven to 191°C. Prepare the salmon fillets by trimming the extra thin belly part. Use tweezers to pull out any bones. Blot dry and sprinkle half of the cinnamon on the meat side of each fillet and set aside to make the filling.

In a food processor, place the walnuts, garlic, coriander, parsley, lemon juice and zest, chilies, paprika, cumin, cinnamon, olive oil, salt and pepper. Pulse a couple of times until all the ingredients are chopped. Don't overprocess—try to keep a slightly coarse texture.

Place one fillet skin side down on a working surface and place enough of the spicy walnut filling to fully coat the fish. Cover with the other fillet skin side up. Using the kitchen twine, gently tie up the fish to ensure the filling stays in place. Drizzle olive oil in the baking dish and put in the prepared fillet, drizzling a little more oil on top. Season with salt and pepper. Bake for about 20-25 minutes until done. Serve with tabbouleh and spicy tahini sauce on the side to drizzle over the cooked fish.

Disclaimer

While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate and up to date, individual needs may vary and dietary requirements can differ based on personal health conditions. Always check food labels and allergen information before preparing or consuming any recipe. If you have specific health concerns, allergies, intolerances, or are following a medically prescribed diet, seek advice from your GP, pharmacist, or a registered dietitian before making significant changes to your diet or lifestyle.

Article history

The information on this page is peer reviewed by qualified clinicians.

  • 16 Jan 2026 | Originally published

    Authored by:

    UK recipe editors

    Peer reviewed by

    UK recipe editors
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