Smoked Salmon Pasta

An elegant, easy, 20-minute creamy smoked salmon pasta recipe that is deeply satisfying, brightened with lemon and chives. This is easy Italian home cooking, adapted from Italy's famed Silver Spoon cookbook.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Servings: 4 people

Calories: 772kcal

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Ingredients

▢ 1 pound pasta, such linguine, fettuccine, or tagliatelle
▢ 6 ounces smoked salmon, cut into pieces
▢ 6 tablespoons (3 ounces) butter
▢ 2 lemons, zested and juiced
▢ 2/3 cup heavy cream
▢ 3 tablespoons minced chives (can substitute 2 tablespoons thinly-sliced scallions)
▢ Kosher salt, to taste

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta until just shy of al dente. Drain, reserving some pasta water.
While the water is boiling, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the smoked salmon pieces, lemon juice, half of the lemon zest, and half of the chives. Cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally. Stir in the cream and cook over low heat (the cream should be at a simmer) for about 5 minutes.
Add the drained pasta to the cream mixture. Cook for a few minutes, tossing to coat. Taste for seasoning. If the pasta looks a little dry, add pasta water a tablespoon or two at a time until it is creamy enough.
Serve immediately, topped with the remaining chives and lemon zest.

Notes

Substitutions: Chives have a lovely, delicate flavor that perfectly complements the smoked salmon flavor, but you can also substitute thinly-sliced scallions, minced parsley, or minced fresh dill.

You can substitute half and half for the heavy cream, but you will lose a little bit of richness. Do not use milk.

Additions: Toss in some lightly-cooked fresh peas, asparagus coins, or wilted spinach if you'd like to incorporate some vegetables.

Storage and reheating: Like all creamy pastas, this dish is best served immediately. If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one day.

Reheat leftover salmon pasta slowly in a pan on low- to medium-low heat. Add a few tablespoons of water or extra cream to help reconstitute a sauce. Stir frequently.

Nutrition

Disclaimer: Nutrition information is provided for courtesy purposes only, and is an estimate not verified by medical or nutrition experts. Read the full nutrition disclaimer.