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–+ servings
Skillet of pasta al salmone garnished with fresh basil.
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5 from 2 votes

Pasta Al Salmone

A 30 minute dinner featuring quick poached salmon and a homemade creamy, lemon sauce tossed together with penne pasta!
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 834kcal
Author: Sara Ayesh

Equipment

  • 1 skillet

Ingredients

  • 4 salmon fillets or one large whole fillet
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1.5 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 1 shallot diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 lemon juiced
  • zest of 1 lemon
  • 1 cup dry white wine
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • ¼ cup parmesan cheese freshly grated
  • 16 oz penne pasta
  • basil for garnish

Instructions

  • Heat a large skillet over medium high heat with olive oil. Saute the shallots for 2-3 minutes. Add in garlic and cook one more minute. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper.
  • Add in the salmon fillets and sear for 2-3 minutes. Then flip the salmon over and gently peel the skin to remove it.
  • Add in the white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping the bottom of the pan to remove anything that is stuck. Cook for 8-10 minutes until the wine is reduced.
  • Reduce the heat to low, then pour in the heavy cream and allow to simmer while you prepare the pasta.
  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and add the pasta according to package instructions. Cook 8-10 minutes until al dente. (Strain and reserve 1 cup of pasta water)
  • Add the pasta back to the sauce along with lemon zest, lemon juice, and reserved pasta water just a little at a time to thin out the sauce enough to coat the pasta.
  • Gently flake apart the cooked salmon while stirring (make sure to still leave a few large salmon pieces).
  • Top with fresh basil and extra lemon zest!

Notes

  1. Using fresh vs smoked salmon - I prefer a wild salmon for my recipe, but using smoked salmon could cut down on cooking time and brings a whole new flavor to this dish! Salmon is the star of this dish, so make sure it's good quality as well. 
  2. Achieving the perfect creamy consistency in the sauce is easy, just be sure to use freshly grated parmesan cheese so it melts down beautifully for the best results. 
  3. Remove the pan from heat before adding in the cream to avoid scalding the white cream sauce. 
  4. Cook your pasta al dente for the best texture and avoid it coming out too chewy. 
  5. Use reserved pasta water in the salmon cream sauce to ensure it sticks to the pasta well! 
  6. Use up leftover salmon for seafood pasta recipes like Salmon Spinach Pasta or Salmon Pesto Pasta or in a Cream Cheese Salmon Dip! 

Nutrition

Calories: 834kcal | Carbohydrates: 91g | Protein: 52g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 115mg | Sodium: 1065mg | Potassium: 1221mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 380IU | Vitamin C: 16mg | Calcium: 149mg | Iron: 3mg