Description
A quick and elegant weeknight dinner featuring flaky salmon and tender pasta tossed in a rich, garlicky cream sauce emulsified with starchy pasta water.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds fresh salmon fillets, skinless
- 1 pound spaghetti or linguine
- 4 to 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup dry white wine (such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 lemon, zested and juiced
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining, then set pasta aside.
- Pat salmon fillets dry and season generously with salt and pepper.
- Heat olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Sear salmon for 3-4 minutes until golden, flip, and cook for another 2-3 minutes until cooked through. Remove from pan and flake into chunks.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tablespoon of butter to the pan. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes, sautéing for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes to reduce.
- Lower heat to medium-low and pour in heavy cream. Simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add cooked pasta and flaked salmon to the sauce. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted. Remove from heat and mix in lemon juice and zest. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Garnish with fresh parsley and serve immediately.
Notes
Do not overcook the salmon; remove it when just barely cooked through as it will continue to cook from residual heat. Never skip the pasta water, as the starch is essential for emulsifying the sauce. If using frozen salmon, ensure it is completely thawed and patted very dry before cooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate with salmon
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: salmon pasta, creamy garlic sauce, quick dinner, weeknight meal, easy seafood, Italian pasta, 15 minute meal