Description
Salmon Sauce and Garlic Pasta combines succulent flakes of pan-seared salmon with a rich, velvety cream sauce infused with fresh garlic. It strikes a perfect balance between luxury and nutrition, making it an ideal weeknight meal for any busy professional.
Ingredients
Scale
1 lb Salmon Fillets
12 oz Linguine or Fettuccine
6 cloves Fresh Garlic
1 cup Heavy Cream
2 cups Fresh Baby Spinach
1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese
1 tbsp Lemon Juice
1 tbsp Olive Oil
1 tbsp Butter
1/2 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
Instructions
- Boil the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add your pasta and cook until it is just al dente. Reserve about a half-cup of the starchy pasta water before draining
- Sear the Salmon: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Season your salmon chunks with salt and pepper. Sear them for about 2-3 minutes per side until they develop a golden crust. Remove the salmon from the pan and set it aside on a plate
- Sauté the Aromatics: Lower the heat to medium and add the butter to the same skillet. Toss in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes. Sauté for about 60 seconds until the garlic becomes fragrant but not brow
- Build the Sauce: Pour the heavy cream into the skillet, scraping the bottom of the pan to release the flavorful browned salmon bits. Let the cream simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until it begins to thicken slightly
- Incorporate the Greens: Stir in the baby spinach and let it wilt into the warm cream sauce. This should only take about 30 seconds
- Combine and Finish: Add the cooked pasta and the grated Parmesan cheese to the skillet. Toss everything together, adding a splash of the reserved pasta water if the sauce looks too thick. Finally, gently fold the seared salmon back into the mixture and finish with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice
Notes
Pay attention to the garlic; never use pre-minced garlic from a jar.
Keep the heat moderate when sautéing the garlic to avoid burning.
Do not overcook the salmon during the sear, as it will continue to cook when folded into the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 mins
- Cook Time: 20 mins
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 420 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg