How to Cook Delicious Stuffed Salmon Using Fresh Ingredients from Schnucks

Salmon is one of my absolute favorite proteins to cook and eat. It’s so versatile, healthy, and downright delicious when prepared properly. And stuffed salmon? Well, that takes this fish to a whole new level of scrumptiousness! The combination of flaky, buttery salmon with a flavorful stuffing is a match made in culinary heaven.

Recently I discovered that the freshest highest quality salmon and other seafood can be found at my local Schnucks. Their seafood department offers a fabulous selection of fresh salmon fillets just waiting to be transformed into a mouthwatering meal. So I headed over to Schnucks to grab the essential ingredients for making stuffed salmon at home.

In this post, I’ll walk you through my simple, step-by-step method for cooking tender stuffed salmon using top-notch ingredients from Schnucks I’ll also share some tasty stuffing ideas to really take this dish over the top!

Step 1: Select the Perfect Salmon at Schnucks

The starting point for any stellar salmon dish is, of course, fresh fish. One of the things I love about Schnucks is that they offer an awesome variety of fresh, sustainable salmon.

For stuffed salmon, I prefer to use thick, center-cut salmon fillets. The thicker cut provides enough meat to create a pocket for the stuffing. At Schnucks, I found gorgeous, wild-caught Alaskan salmon fillets that looked amazing.

I suggest selecting fillets that are:

• At least 1 1/2 inches thick
• Bright pink/orange color
• Firm, not mushy
• Minimal gray fat marbling

The knowledgeable seafood staff at Schnucks can assist you in picking the best salmon fillets for stuffing,

Pro Tip: Purchase your salmon fillets a day or two before you plan to cook them. Letting them sit overnight in the fridge helps intensify the flavor.

Step 2: Gather Stuffing Ingredients from Schnucks

Once you’ve got your high-quality salmon, it’s time to assemble the stuffing ingredients. This is where you can really channel your inner chef and get creative! Sweet, savory, herbaceous – the possibilities are endless.

On my last trip to Schnucks, I picked up items to make a lemon herb cream cheese stuffing that I thought would pair perfectly with the salmon. Here’s what I grabbed:

• Cream cheese
• Fresh lemons
• Fresh dill
• Fresh parsley
• Garlic
• Green onions
• Salt
• Pepper

Schnucks has a killer selection of fresh produce and spices, making it so easy to find everything you need for the stuffing right there in one spot.

Some other tasty stuffing options include:

• Feta and spinach
• Crab and shrimp
• Breadcrumbs, onions, and mushrooms
• Bacon and cheddar
• Sundried tomatoes and basil

Go with your favorites or get creative – either way, you can find all the fixings at Schnucks.

Step 3: Prep Your Salmon and Stuffing

Now for the fun part – it’s time to put this masterpiece together!

Prep the salmon:

• Rinse fillets and pat dry with a paper towel
• Place skin-side down on a cutting board
• Using a sharp knife, slice horizontally across the center of the fillet, going about 3/4 of the way through
• Open up the slit to expose the pocket for stuffing

Make the stuffing:

For my lemon herb cream cheese:

• Combine cream cheese, lemon zest, chopped herbs, garlic, green onions, salt, and pepper in a bowl
• Mix well until fully incorporated

Stuff the salmon:

• Take about 3 tablespoons of stuffing and press into the pocket of each fillet
• Distribute the stuffing evenly and pack it in gently (but don’t overstuff!)

And just like that, you’ve got professional-looking, restaurant-worthy stuffed salmon ready for cooking!

Step 4: Bake Your Stuffed Salmon to Perfection

For this recipe, I prefer to bake my stuffed salmon which yields tender, flaky meat.

Here’s how to bake it to perfection:

• Preheat oven to 400°F
• Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or foil
• Place stuffed fillets on the sheet and brush the tops with olive oil or melted butter
• Bake for about 20 minutes, or until salmon flakes easily with a fork
• Baking time may vary based on thickness of fish
• Remove from oven and let rest 5 minutes before serving

The baked salmon emerges from the oven moist, tender and infused with the flavors of that scrumptious stuffing. It’s impressive yet easy!

Pro Tip: Add lemon slices, fresh herbs, or a drizzle of lemon juice on top of the fillets for extra flavor and a beautiful presentation.

Step 5: Add Some Sides and Dinner is Served!

A meal of stuffed salmon is not complete without some delicious sides to round everything out. Here are some of my favorites:

• Rice pilaf or risotto
• Roasted asparagus or brussels sprouts
• Garlic mashed potatoes or pasta
• Green salad with vinaigrette dressing
• Crusty bread or rolls

Many of these can be prepared quickly while the salmon bakes. And several sides like salads, veggies, and bread can all be conveniently found at Schnucks to make meal prep a breeze.

When everything comes together on the plate – the tender salmon, savory stuffing, and bright sides – it makes for a fancy yet fuss-free dinner. Your guests will be seriously impressed.

The combination of fresh, high-quality salmon from Schnucks with a creative stuffing is a surefire way to deliver an elegant, gourmet meal. Preparing stuffed salmon at home is much easier than you might think. I hope these tips help you create a memorable salmon dinner your whole family will request again and again.