This creamy smoked salmon pasta sauce is full of Mediterranean flavor and so easy to make. Fresh tomatoes, spinach, and salty parmesan cheese combine with smoked salmon and cream to create a quick and healthy sauce, perfect to serve over pasta or oven roasted potatoes for a delicious, balanced meal.
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A Busy Morning
Now that Allison is on a somewhat regular sleeping and napping schedule, I schedule my workouts around the times she is asleep in the morning. So this morning I got up before she did, and got my work out in, and then started breakfast. Even though I try to get up early, working out in the morning still puts me behind the rest of the day. I love doing it but it’s always a struggle once I’m done.
Today is one of those days. Breakfast is served at 11am, and then lunch races around the corner and hits me about an hour later. Breakfast hasn’t even been cleaned up yet, but it’s time to prepare lunch.
So this is the kind of moment I would make a smoked salmon dish.
I started making this recipe after my smoked salmon sourdough bagels started getting old. Sometimes we get on these recipe kicks where we have the same thing every week and we get tired of that, so I have to think of new ways to use the same ingredients.
Smoked salmon is one of my go-tos at the grocery store because it’s packaged, ready to eat, and lasts in the fridge for a few weeks. And it’s delicious, and healthy. So it checks off so many boxes in my book. But whenever I need lunch in a pinch, I reach for the smoked salmon and make this recipe.
WHY WE LOVE THIS RECIPE
One thing I love about this creamy smoked salmon pasta recipe is that it can be thrown together in a pinch, using mostly shelf-stable ingredients. Smoked salmon can sit in the fridge for a few weeks, and the spinach is kept frozen. I really love cooking with fresh ingredients, but as a mama of a little one, I also don’t want to be running out to the store every few days. So I try to keep ingredients on hand that last longer, and this is the perfect recipe for that. Using smoked salmon also keeps you from having to buy it fresh and cook it – its ready to be added to any salad, dip, or pasta dish like we are doing here.
This recipe takes like summer! The fish, spinach, tomatoes, cream, and cheese combine to create a light but satisfying meal that is perfect served in summertime, or any time you want a meal featuring fresh Mediterranean flavors. Although we are lucky in the Pacific Northwest to have salmon in the summer, fresh salmon isn’t available year-round. So smoked salmon is our better option for the winter months and beyond, making this a convenient and delicious meal year-round. I love to whip this up for lunch or dinner, and serve it over pasta, oven roasted potatoes (keep reading for a quick recipe), or a bed of seasonal greens.
HEALTH BENEFITS OF SALMON
We are always trying to add salmon into our diets, so this creamy smoked salmon pasta is a delicious way to do that. The healthy fat from salmon is good for brain development, among many other things, and it tastes amazing!
Did you know salmon may be beneficial for helping reduce anxiety? Salmon contains the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA. According to healthline.com, a diet rich in these fatty acids is associated with lower rates of anxiety – these nutrients may help regulate the neurotransmitters dopamine and serotonin, which can have calming and relaxing properties. It’s believed these fatty acids may reduce inflammation and prevent brain cell dysfunction that is common in people with anxiety.
Salmon is also rich in vitamin D, which is another great reason to add salmon to your diet, especially if you live in the Pacific Northwest or other less-than-sunny climates where we unfortunately don’t get as much vitamin D from the sun as we could! Vitamin D has also been studied for its positive effects in reducing anxiety and depressive symptoms.
What about where your salmon comes from? The fresh vs. farmed debate can be a hot topic for sure. For an extensive article on this, click here. If you’re trying to minimize your intake of certain contaminants, it may be a good idea to source your salmon from areas that have stricter guidelines, or simply eat less of it. However, given its high content of omega-3s, good quality protein, and beneficial nutrients, any type of salmon is still a nutritious food choice.
TIPS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE
As I said, this creamy smoked salmon pasta sauce is also wonderful over oven-roasted potatoes. Here is my go-to roasted potatoes recipe: preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut potatoes into bite-sized (about 1/2″) cubes, and place in a large bowl – no need to skin the potatoes first if they are organic. Add a drizzle of avocado oil and two teaspoons each of salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian herbs. Toss until the potatoes are coated. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place an oven-safe baking rack on top (this allows the potatoes to get crispy instead of soft). Dump the potatoes onto the rack and spread into an even layer. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until crispy.
No smoked salmon on hand, or your family doesn’t love fish? No problem – this recipe is also great with chicken. Leftover turkey after Thanksgiving would be tasty too.
If you have a bag or bunch of spinach you aren’t going to use before it turns, put it in the freezer, and then you have it on hand for a recipe like this.
The spinach cooks down quite a bit, so add more than you think.
This recipe serves two hungry adults, but I tailer it to fit our needs. Sometimes I’ll throw in two packs of salmon, or carrots instead of tomatoes. I just cook whatever I have on hand!
TOOLS NEEDED
Cutting board
Knife
Cheese grater
Large bowl (for tossing potatoes?)
Spatula
INGREDIENTS
1/2 stick of butter
5 cloves of garlic, minced
2 cups fresh or frozen spinach, whole
1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/2 tsp each of salt & pepper
1/4 cup cream
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
8 oz smoked salmon
1 package pasta, cooked el dente. I prefer this einkorn penne pasta on Amazon.
HOW TO MAKE CREAMY SMOKED SALMON PASTA SAUCE
In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, sauté butter and garlic for 3-5 minutes.
Meanwhile bring a lot pot of water with a handful of salt to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until el dente. I prefer this einkorn penne pasta on Amazon. Strain the pasta and coat with olive oil and salt to taste.
Turn heat to low, then add the spinach, tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
Sauté for a few minutes until spinach is cooked, then switch heat to low.
Next, add the cream & parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and ingredients are combined.
Lastly add the salmon, breaking into chunks as you gently incorporate it into the sauce (chop first if you prefer).
Stir until salmon is heated through. Serve over pasta and enjoy!
FAQ
What should I serve with creamy smoked salmon pasta?
A bowl of kale salad would add nice vegetable component to the creamy smoked salmon pasta. Or if you have potatoes to use up, you could roast those for a hearty, crispy side dish. Here is my go-to roasted potatoes recipe: preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut potatoes into bite-sized (about 1/2″) cubes, and place in a large bowl – no need to skin the potatoes first if they are organic. Add a drizzle of avocado oil and two teaspoons each of salt, pepper, paprika, and Italian herbs. Toss until the potatoes are coated. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and place an oven-safe baking rack on top (this allows the potatoes to get crispy instead of soft). Dump the potatoes onto the rack and spread into an even layer. Place in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until crispy.
What kind of pasta goes well with salmon?
We like einkorn penne pasta. Top it with this creamy parmesan, tomato, and spinach sauce and you have yourself a complete meal. I came up with this recipe when I was looking into my fridge at the tomatoes, spinach, salmon, and parmesan cheese and thought how could I combine these together? I’ve served this over potatoes or pasta, and they both are delicious. I buy this einkorn penne pasta on Amazon.
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Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta with Spinach and Tomatoes
This creamy smoked salmon pasta is a delicious and healthy late spring or summer meal. With the salmon, tomatoes, and spinach, it's a nourishing meal that can be whipped up in a pinch.
Ingredients
- 1/2 stick of butter
- 5 cloves of garlic, minced
- 2 cups fresh or frozen spinach, whole
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 1/2 tsp each of salt & pepper
- 1/4 cup cream
- 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
- 8 oz smoked salmom
- 1 package pasta, cooked el dente. I prefer this einkorn penne pasta on Amazon.
Instructions
- In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, sauté butter and garlic for 3-5 minutes.
- Meanwhile bring a lot pot of water with a handful of salt to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until el dente. I prefer this einkorn penne pasta on Amazon. Strain the pasta and coat with olive oil and salt to taste.
- Turn heat to low, then add the spinach, tomatoes, salt, and pepper.
- Sauté for a few minutes until spinach is cooked, then switch heat to low.
- Next, add the cream & parmesan cheese, stirring until melted and ingredients are combined.
- Lastly add the salmon, breaking into chunks as you gently incorporate it into the sauce.
- Stir until salmon is heated through. Serve over pasta or oven roasted potatoes.
- This creamy smoked salmon pasta is a delicious and healthy late spring or summer meal. With the salmon, tomatoes, and spinach, it's a nourishing meal that can be whipped up in a pinch.
Notes
This recipe is also delicious served over chopped oven roasted potatoes. And if you're out of salmon, this would also work with chicken or whatever meat you have in the fridge.
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