Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Salmon Pasta

Creamy sun-dried tomato salmon pasta – A nourishing salmon pasta dinner ready in under 20 minutes and perfect for busy nights. Salmon is crispy on the outside and drenched in a creamy and super fragrant sun-dried tomato sauce. Enjoy!

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Ingredients list for the salmon tomato pasta

• 1 1/2 pounds (700g) salmon fillets, without or without skin
• 3 large garlic cloves, minced
• 1/2 yellow onion, minced
• 1 small jar (3-4 oz) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced (reserve 2 tablespoons oil for the recipe)
• 1/4 teaspoon paprika
• 1 cup (250ml) half and half
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup (125ml) vegetable stock (or 1 crumbled bouillon cube with 1/2 cup water)
• 1/4 teaspoon salt and fresh cracked pepper, to taste
• 8 oz (250g) farfalle pasta
• 1 tablespoon Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
• 1 tablespoon fresh chopped basil

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Directions

1. To make the creamy salmon pasta: Cook pasta according to package instructions, until al dente. Drain, reserving some pasta water and set aside. 

2. Lightly season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. In a large nonstick pan on medium heat, sear salmon fillets in 2 tablespoons oil, 2 – 3 minutes on each side. Remove salmon from the pan and set aside.

3. In the same skillet add 2 tablespoons oil reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes jar, saute onion, garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, paprika, red chili pepper flakes and Italian seasoning for 1 minute until garlic is fragrant.

4. Add vegetable stock to deglaze the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer. Add half and half to the skillet and stir until a creamy sauce forms. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.

5. Remove the sauce from heat. Stir in cooked pasta and mix well. Add a bit of pasta water to dilute the sauce if it’s too thick.

6. Add salmon back to the skillet over pasta and reheat for a few minutes. Sprinkle with fresh basil and serve the creamy salmon pasta immediately. Enjoy!

Recipe notes: Half and half is made from equal parts light cream and milk. You can use half light cream and half 2% milk, in place of half and half. Alternatively, you can use all light cream or heavy cream.

Photo credit: © Eatwell101.com

Tips for the Creamy Salmon Pasta recipe

This creamy salmon pasta recipe with sun-dried tomatoes is just the kind of weeknight dinner that’s sure to become your new favorite. A winning combination for the whole family! Here are a few tips to make the best creamy salmon pasta ever!

• To prevent cooked pasta from sticking together, wait until the water is at a full, rapid boil before adding the farfalle. Then stir the pasta as it cooks, aim for stirring every 2-3 minutes.
• Use fresh, good quality parmesan that will you grate yourself. Not the white sandy dust packaged in plastic boxes we sometimes find in the grocery aisle.

What other types of pasta can we use?

Use any pasta shape that holds the sauce well. Penne and rotini make excellent alternatives for this salmon pasta recipe.

How and how long to store the creamy salmon pasta leftovers?

This creamy salmon pasta recipe keeps well in the fridge for 2 or 3 days. Reheat on the stove or in the microwave, adding a tiny splash of water to loosen up the sauce if necessary. If you kept the salmon fillets, you can cover with a lid to allow for better reheating, without crumbling the fish when stirring.

What other readers are saying about this creamy pasta recipe

“Came out super good! I used chicken stock instead of veggie and added Parmesan cheese last.” – Talitha

“I love it. However, I used chicken stock instead of the veggie stock and it worked just fine.” – Ibtihal

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• Tomato Spinach Sausage Pasta
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