Description
A creamy, spicy Cajun salmon pasta that combines bold flavors with healthy ingredients for a quick and indulgent dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 lb (450g) salmon fillets, skin-on preferred
- 8 oz (225g) fettuccine or linguine pasta
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning (paprika, cayenne, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, thyme, salt)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1 cup (240ml) heavy cream
- ¾ cup (180ml) chicken broth
- ½ cup (50g) freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) if finishing salmon in oven. Season salmon fillets on both sides with 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning and a pinch of salt.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente (8-10 minutes). Reserve ½ cup (120ml) pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook salmon skin-side down for 4-5 minutes until skin is crispy. Flip and cook 3-4 minutes until cooked through. Remove and let rest. Flake into large chunks, discarding skin.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add butter to skillet, then sauté garlic and shallots for 2 minutes until fragrant and translucent. Stir in remaining 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning.
- Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened. Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
- Add drained pasta and flaked salmon to skillet. Toss gently to coat noodles in sauce. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley on top and serve immediately with extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
[‘Rest salmon after cooking to make flaking easier.’, ‘Make your own Cajun seasoning for better control of salt and spice.’, ‘Use reserved pasta water to loosen sauce without watering down flavor.’, ‘Slightly undercook pasta to hold up better when tossed with sauce.’, ‘Use a combination of butter and olive oil for searing salmon to add flavor and prevent burning.’, ‘Fresh Parmesan cheese melts better and adds more depth than pre-grated.’, ‘Clean as you go to make cooking less daunting.’, ‘To make dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk and Parmesan with nutritional yeast or dairy-free cheese.’, ‘Leftovers reheat well with a splash of milk or broth to loosen sauce.’, ‘Do not freeze with salmon to avoid sauce separation; freeze pasta and sauce separately if needed.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the recipe
- Calories: 450
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 35
Keywords: Cajun salmon pasta, spicy salmon pasta, creamy pasta, healthy dinner, quick dinner, seafood pasta