Pistachio Crusted Tuna Steaks: (with Options for Red Snapper)

This is an easy, delicious way to bring a low carb fish dinner to the table in a hurry! This recipe uses ground pistachio nuts to form a crust, or the “breading”, for fish filets. A nut crust is an great option for many kinds of fish (salmon, cod, red snapper, tuna). The recipe below uses the pistachio nut crust on tuna and pairs it with a sour cream sauce.

Jump to: RECIPE | Best Fish for Nut Breading | Illustrated Step by Step | How to Tell When Fish is Done | Best Nuts to Use for Crusts | What to Serve with Breaded Fish

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What kind of Fish is Best for Nut Crusts?

Just about any kind of fish filet can work with a nut crust. Just be aware of the thickness of the filets. Tilapia, sole, catfish, perch and other thin filets will cook very quickly, whereas salmon, cod and sea bass and sometimes red snapper tend to be thicker and will take longer to cook.

Cod is the most common type of fish filet to make with a nut crust. This is partially because it is a thicker filet and partially because it is fairly bland and needs dressing up.

I chose tuna for the recipe below because I had some in the freezer, and also because it is robust enough to stand up to a pistachio nut crust, which is the nut I wanted to use. Here are the ingredients for the pistachio crusted tuna along with the sour cream sauce:

Illustrated Steps:

These steps are the same no matter what fish you use. Here are the basic process steps:

How Can You Tell When Fish is Done?

The trick with seafood is always how long to cook it. It is really easy to overcook fish and it can get very rubbery if overcooked.

The best way to tell if most fish fillets are done is by testing it with a fork (this excludes tuna). Insert the fork at an angle, at the thickest point, and twist gently. The fish will flake easily when it’s done, and it will lose its translucent or raw appearance.⁠

Looking at the texture and the “translucency” is the easiest way to tell if your fish is done, and it gets easier with practice. Keep in mind that fish continues to cook for a couple minutes after you take it off the heat.

If you want to get more technical, a conservative rule of thumb is to cook fish to an internal temperature of 120 degrees. If your fish is freshwater or lake fish cook to a higher temperature (130 to 140 F), to avoid any potential parasites.

Also, know that medium-to-fatty fish with a firmer texture and richer flavor (like cod, salmon, or swordfish) can withstand more heat and therefore lend themselves to grilling or broiling.⁠

Tuna is a fish that is frequently undercooked to keep it’s texture. Notice the pink color in the photo below. A great recipe for tuna without the nut crust, but still undercooked, is Seared Tuna with Balsamic Glaze.

Another excellent low carb tuna dish, but without a nut crust is this seared tuna with a balsamic glaze.

What Kind of Nuts Work Best for Breading?

The caution for using nuts as a crust is they have a tendency to burn. Since the cooking process for fish is usually shorter it shouldn’t burn, but if cooking on the stovetop, cook over medium-high rather than high heat.

Any ground up nut will work for the crust. Here are a few of the more popular nuts to use:

• pistachio nuts
• mix of pistachio and panko
• pecans
• walnuts
• macadamia nuts

What to Serve with a Nut-Crusted Fish Dinner

Making an entire healthy dinner with nut-crusted fish can be quick for weeknight dinners or a little more fancy for guests or special occasions. Below are some suggested side dishes that work well for casual or fancy!

Complementary Vegetable Side Dishes

Vegetables are the crux of a good Pesco Mediterranean diet (and most diets for that matter). Here are a few of my favorite veggies to pair with nut-crusted fish:

• quinoa spinach salad
• Moroccan carrots
• bok choi
• romano beans and cherry tomatoes
• brussel sprout and cauliflower salad
• Trio of low carb side dishes
• steamed broccolini

Complementary Grain Side Dishes

Because I am coming from a long-term lifestyle of low carb eating, I don’t usually include grains with my dinners. If you are eating for health and not weight loss however, whole grain side dishes are great, especially if complemented with vegetables.

• Couscous
• quinoa
• roasted potato wedges
• brown rice

Complementary Sauces

The nutty crust of the fish pairs beautifully with a wide variety of creamy sauces. Here are a few of my favorites, from low carb to tropical to sweet:

• Simple Dijon cream sauce: 1 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup dijon mustard, salt and pepper — heated and stirred over low heat for 3 minutes
• Tropical sauce of coconut milk, lime juice and jalapenos
• Sweet mango sauce with pear juice and coconut cream (quite sweet)
• Sour cream dill sauce: see recipe below

Enjoy this Recipe? Here are a Few More Healthy Fish Dinners:

Fish tacos with an avocado cream sauce

Plum Sauce for Fish Dinners

Low Carb Mexican Fish Veracruz

Cod with Spanish Pil Pil Sauce

Recipe for Pistachio Crusted Fish with Sour Cream Sauce