Creamy Salmon Pasta (Printable version)

Rich, silky pasta with hot-smoked salmon, creamy lemon sauce, and fresh herbs for an easy 25-minute weeknight dinner.

# Needed ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 12 oz dried fettuccine or spaghetti
02 - Salt, for pasta water

→ Sauce

03 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 small shallot, finely chopped
06 - 3/4 cup plus 2 tbsp heavy cream
07 - 1 tsp Dijon mustard
08 - Zest and juice of 1 lemon
09 - Scant 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water
10 - Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
11 - 5 oz hot-smoked salmon, flaked
12 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
13 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh dill or flat-leaf parsley

# How to make it:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve scant 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
02 - Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Sauté garlic and shallot for 2-3 minutes until soft and fragrant.
03 - Stir in heavy cream, Dijon mustard, lemon zest, and juice. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes.
04 - Add flaked hot-smoked salmon and half of chopped dill or parsley. Stir gently to warm through.
05 - Toss drained pasta into skillet. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen sauce. Sprinkle in Parmesan and toss until pasta is coated and sauce is silky. Season with black pepper, adjust salt if needed. Serve immediately topped with remaining herbs and extra lemon zest if desired.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • It comes together in under 30 minutes but tastes like something from a proper Italian restaurant
  • The hot-smoked salmon does all the heavy lifting, giving you deep flavor without any actual cooking technique
02 -
  • Hot-smoked salmon is already cooked, so just warm it gently rather than cooking it through
  • The pasta water is crucial for getting that restaurant-quality sauce consistency
  • Dont let the cream come to a rolling boil or it might separate
03 -
  • Room temperature cream incorporates more smoothly into the sauce
  • Grate your Parmesan fresh instead of using pre-grated for better melting
  • If the sauce breaks, whisk in a splash of cold water and it will come back together
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