Salmon Pasta With Creamy Sun Dried Tomato Sauce Wellplated Com

Tender flakes of salmon tossed in a creamy lemon sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and whole wheat noodles, this elegant recipe will leave you feeling like a 5-star chef, with the distinct benefit that, unlike the chef in a restaurant, you get to sit down and be the diner too! A certain red-hearted holiday is around the corner. In years past, Ben and I intentionally chose to stay in for Valentine’s Day, which used to feel romantic, especially whenever Ben made me this Balsamic Glazed Salmon. Admittedly, after staying in so many nights in a row, cooking has lost much of its luster. That’s why we need recipes like this scrumptious salmon pasta. This easy recipe is decidedly low maintenance (thank goodness!), but it tastes special enough to make your evening feel like an event. Don your LBD (Little Black Dress) or your SSP (Super Stretchy Pants) and cook this meal for a special someone. And yes, that special someone can absolutely, 100% be YOU! Like my Seafood Pasta, this creamy salmon pasta recipe wants you to light a candle, pour a glass of your favorite wine, and turn on some music. I’m looking forward to this date night already. Aren’t you? While this pasta tastes rich and decadent, per usual I pulled out my wholesome tricks, so you can feel great adding it to your regular healthy meal rotation. As with this Pasta al Limone and this Healthy Shrimp Scampi with Zucchini Noodles, this salmon pasta has no cream. Instead, I used the pasta cooking liquid, lemon juice, and freshly grated Parmesan to make it luscious. To cook the salmon, I turned to my tried-and-true Baked Salmon in Foil, along with several of the tips shared in this comprehensive guide to cooking healthy salmon recipes. Put it all together: al dente noodles + divine cream sauce (no cream!) + tender, flaky salmon, and you have a weeknight dinner you’ll remember for many nights to come.

How to Cook Salmon Pasta

Think of this creamy tomato salmon pasta recipe like a lighter version of salmon alfredo that will make you feel comforted but not comatose.

The Ingredients

Salmon. Tender, perfectly-cooked salmon pieces make this pasta feel especially elegant and add wonderful lean protein. Salmon is rich in beneficial omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins. Pasta. I chose to use whole wheat pasta for its redeeming value, as it’s higher in fiber. Penne, rigatoni, or another similar pasta will work perfectly here. You could even try it with spaghetti or linguine.Lemon Zest + Juice. Gives this dish delicious brightness and acidity. Butter + Shallot + Garlic. The all-important beginnings of our creamy sauce. A touch of butter brings richness, and the garlic and shallot help build deep flavor. White Wine. Helps deglaze the pan and create the liquid for the sauce. You can use white wine, chicken broth, or vegetable broth for this step. Red Pepper Flakes. Adds just the right amount of heat. Sun-Dried Tomatoes. Intense tomato lusciousness is packed into each of these little red jewels. Like in Tuna Pasta Salad, they make the dish feel extra special and add beautiful color. Fresh Basil. A touch of basil (or fresh parsley) adds freshness and Italian flair to the dish.Parmesan. For that can’t-resist cheesy, nutty, yummy goodness.

The Directions

Storage Tips

To Store. This pasta dish is best enjoyed the day it is made, but it can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. To Reheat. Very gently rewarm leftovers on the stovetop over medium heat or in the microwave. To Freeze. Freeze leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container for up to 2 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating. The sauce may separate a little once thawed, but it will taste delicious.

Recommended Tools to Make this Recipe

Dutch Oven. Perfect for making this salmon pasta recipe. Citrus Juicer. My go-to for juicing lemons and limes. Instant Read Thermometer. The easiest way to ensure your salmon is cooked through.

Time to treat yourself, the salmon pasta way! Lemon, red pepper flakes, and garlic are some of the flavors that go best with salmon. A few salmon recipes that highlight these and pair well with pasta are:

Lemon Pepper SalmonGarlic SalmonBlackened Salmon (for a Cajun salmon pasta twist)

Another option is to make this as a Smoked Salmon Pasta, swapping hot smoked salmon in for the baked salmon called for in this recipe. I recommend a thick, flaky salmon (hot smoked salmon), vs. the more thin and tender cold-smoke (think lox-style) salmon.

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Salmon Pasta Video

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