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Delish Salmon Pesto Pasta Recipes

Delish Salmon Pesto Pasta Recipes

Restaurant-quality salmon pesto pasta made easy at home: al dente pasta tossed in a creamy basil pesto sauce with flaky seared salmon, juicy cherry tomatoes, and fresh spinach. Bright lemon and Parmesan finish it off for a fast, crowd-pleasing dinner.
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Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 35 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 120kcal

Ingredients
 

Main Ingredients

  • 12 oz dry pasta such as linguine or penne
  • 1 lb salmon fillets skinless; pin bones removed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 2 clove garlic minced
  • 1.5 cup cherry tomatoes halved
  • 2 cup baby spinach loosely packed
  • 0.5 cup basil pesto store-bought or homemade
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
  • 0.5 cup grated Parmesan cheese plus more for serving
  • 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice freshly squeezed
  • 0.5 tsp lemon zest
  • 1 tsp kosher salt divided
  • 0.5 tsp black pepper freshly ground
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes optional
  • 2 tbsp pine nuts toasted; optional for garnish

Instructions

Preparation Steps

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 0.5 cup pasta water, then drain.
  • Pat salmon dry and season with 0.5 tsp salt and black pepper. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high. Sear salmon 3 to 4 minutes per side until just cooked through. Transfer to a plate and flake into large chunks.
  • Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining 1 tbsp olive oil to the same skillet. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant. Add cherry tomatoes and cook 2 minutes until just softened.
  • Stir in pesto and heavy cream; simmer 1 minute. Add a splash of reserved pasta water (about 0.25 cup) to loosen the sauce.
  • Add drained pasta and spinach; toss until spinach wilts, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in Parmesan, lemon juice, and lemon zest.
  • Gently fold in flaked salmon. Season to taste with remaining salt, more pepper, and red pepper flakes. Add more pasta water as needed for a silky sauce.
  • Serve immediately topped with toasted pine nuts and extra Parmesan.

Notes

For a lighter sauce, swap half of the cream with pasta water or use half-and-half. Gluten-free pasta works well. If using jarred pesto, choose a high-quality brand with extra-virgin olive oil for best flavor.