Salmon with Creamy Pasta
Valentine’s Day is this week and if you are looking for a simple, yet extremely elegant dinner for two, give this Salmon with Creamy Pasta recipe a try!
In December, when I traveled to Quebec City and stayed at the iconic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, one of the best meals of my entire life was at the hotel’s restaurant, Sam Bistro. After my wonderful waitress described the chef’s special that night, I knew I needed to order it.
The special being a pan-seared salmon on a bed of creamy fregola pasta with tomatoes and dressed greens.
Here is the picture I captured when the plate came out of the kitchen, and before I devoured it in approximately 4.7 seconds.
Just kidding. I savored every single bite!
It was one of those meals that left a lasting impression and one that I knew I needed to try my hand at recreating when home.
Pan-seared salmon may seem intimidating, but it is in my opinion one of the easiest proteins to cook.
The key is using a well-seasoned, hot skillet, plus a little bit of olive oil.
Sear the salmon for about 4-5 minutes on one side (skin side up). Then flip to the other side to finish.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta until al dente.
In Quebec City, the salmon was served on fregola, but since fregola is nowhere to be found around these parts, I used couscous.
Any small pasta would work well.
Then just whip up a quick cream sauce. To make things extra decadent, add in either lobster or crab.
Place the creamy pasta in a dish, top with the cooked salmon, and lightly dressed greens.
Perfect for a romantic meal at home or to serve for an easy dinner party with friends.
You will not be disappointed.
Salmon with Creamy Pasta
This Salmon with Creamy Pasta is the perfect recipe to serve for a romantic dinner for two. The best pan-seared salmon with crab pasta.
Ingredients
Creamy Pasta
- 4 oz Small Pasta (fregola, couscous, or similar)
- 3/4 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 tsp Chopped Parsley
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- 1/4 tsp Pepper
- Dash Paprika
- 1/4 cup Crab or Lobster Meat optional
- 1/4 cup Cherry Tomatoes, halved
Pan-Seared Salmon
- 2 fillets Salmon, approx. 6 oz each
- 1/4 tsp Salt
- Pepper
- 1/2 Tbsp Olive Oil
Greens
- 1 cup Salad Mix (Spring Greens or Arugula is my favorite here)
- 1/2 tsp Lemon Juice
- 1/2 tsp Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper, to taste
Instructions
Creamy Pasta
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In a pan, bring water to a boil and cook pasta as directed on the package.
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Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, heat the cream until it is at a gentle boil. Reduce heat and let cook until it thickens enough to coat the back of a spoon. Season with parsley, salt, pepper, and paprika.
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Stir in crab meat and cherry tomatoes right before plating.
Pan-Seared Salmon
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Season both sides of salmon with salt and pepper.
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Heat oil in a 12 inch non-stick skillet over medium-high heat until hot and shimmering.
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Cook, skin side up, about 4-5 minutes.
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Flip and reduce heat to medium. Cook for another 4-5 minutes or until the fish is cooked to your preference.
Greens
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Clean and dry your salad mix.
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Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, salt, and pepper.
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Drizzle over and toss gently with the salad greens.
To Plate
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Divide the pasta between two dishes. Top each plate with a fillet of salmon. Then sprinkle salad greens over the top.
Recipe Notes
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