This creamy smoked salmon pasta has a simple cream based sauce, leeks and plenty of rich smoked salmon. It’s on the table in just under 30 minutes, perfectly portioned for two and makes for a lovely date night meal!
Hey friends!
Hitting you guys up with a super simple pasta recipe that you’re gonna love!
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, I’m thinking this would be perfect to make for you and your honey, bff or, heck, make it all for yourself! No judgement here!
Even forgetting Valentine’s Day, who doesn’t love a meal that’s on the table in less than 30 minutes using simple ingredients?
Ingredients for Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta
- Smoked salmon
- Pasta (linguine or your fave variety)
- Leek
- Heavy cream (also known as ‘whipping cream’)
- Lemon (zest and juice)
- Garlic
- Olive oil, salt & pepper
How to Make Seafood Pasta
Full details in recipe card below, but here are the basics –
First, cook your pasta per package instructions.
Tip: When draining pasta, don’t throw out all your pasta water! Some of that is used later for your sauce.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the seafood pasta sauce –
- In a pot on medium heat add olive oil.
- When oil is shimmering, add thinly sliced leeks. Cook for a little until softened.
- Add minced garlic and give a quick cook.
- Pour in cream.
- Next, pour in some reserved pasta water.
- Season with some freshly cracked black pepper and salt.
- Toss in cooked pasta.
- Add smoked salmon, mixing to combine.
- Off heat, add lemon juice.
- Add a little lemon zest.
- Give another little toss. If you want things looser, add a little more reserved pasta water. Pour in a little at a time until you’ve reached your desired consistency. Remember, it’s easier to add than take away.
- Portion up that deliciousness. Garnish with a little more lemon zest and some finely chopped chive, if you like. Time to enjoy!
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What Type of Salmon Should I Use? How Much Do I Need?
Hot smoked salmon was used here. It’s texture is meaty and flaky (similarly to a regularly cooked salmon fillet, for example). Though, you can get a cold smoked salmon, which has less of a cooked texture and more raw-like.
Smoked salmon is different than lox (salmon belly cured in salt) or gravlax (which includes not only salt, but sugar and dill (and sometimes other ingredients)). Food & Wine has a great article about the differences in all 3 varieties of salmon and how you can make ’em!
Because the smoked salmon is so predominant, I opt for about 2 – 2.5 ounces per person for this seafood pasta recipe. You can add more if you prefer.
Can I Use Another Smoked Fish?
Absolutely! You can sub in smoked trout, if that’s what you have on hand or enjoy. Other options include smoked kippers or smoked mackerel.
Tip: Keep in mind, though, the variety of seafood you use (and the level of smokiness) will impact the overall flavour.
More Helpful Tips & Variations
Prep ingredients before starting. This seafood pasta is made quickly. Have everything ready to go before starting to cook.
Opt for another variety of pasta, if you like! Fettuccine works well here too.
Chives were used for garnish, but you could use another herb or garnish, like green onion or parsley, instead. Panko bread crumbs cooked in melted butter until golden also makes a lovely topping (and adds texture).
Instead of leek (or in addition to) mix in some peas for another pop of colour, brightness and freshness!
Serve with a lemon wedge for an extra bit of brightness and pop of flavour!
For a gluten free version, opt for gluten free pasta.
Make It A Meal!
To make things even more complete, enjoy with an appetizer and dessert!
This apple & gouda mixed green salad has fresh, crisp apple, smoky Gouda cheese and buttery croutons.
Finish things off with lemon curd dessert in a jar! This one has a ‘cheesecake-like’ layer, homemade lemon curd (or use store-bought jam) and plenty of berries.
Sound good 😉 ?
Hope you enjoy this creamy smoked salmon pasta recipe as much as we do!
Until next time, take care and chit chat again soon,
Dawn
Make this creamy seafood pasta? That’s awesome! Love it if you left a comment and rating below. Many thanks!
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Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta (date night dinner!)
Ingredients
- 187 grams linguine , about 1/2 a 375 gram box (or your favourite long pasta, cooked per package instructions)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small leek , halved and thinly sliced into half moons (clean and drain well)
- 3 cloves garlic , minced
- 2/3 cup heavy cream (also known as 'whipping cream', 35% milk fat)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 5 ounces smoked salmon (about 150 grams or 1/3 of a pound torn/cut into bite-sized pieces)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest (zest lemon BEFORE juicing. Plus, more for garnish (garnish optional))
- 3 tablespoons minced chives (garnish, optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta per package instructions and drain. RESERVE 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- While pasta is cooking, in a pan on medium heat, add olive oil.
- When shimmering, add leek and cook until softened, about 5-8 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute.
- Pour in cream, 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta water, salt and pepper. Bring to a light simmer and reduce slightly, about 3-5 minutes or until you've reached your desired consistency.
- Stir in cooked pasta, tossing to combine with sauce. Stir in smoked smoked fish and cook 1-2 minutes until heated through. If you want things looser, you can stir in remaining 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water (optional).
- With heat off, stir in lemon juice and zest. Portion onto warmed plates/bowls and garnish with additional lemon zest, chives and another pinch of black pepper, if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Prep ingredients before starting. This seafood pasta is made quickly. Have everything ready to go before starting to cook.
- Opt for another variety of pasta, if you like! Fettuccine works well here too.
- Chives were used for garnish, but you could use another herb or garnish, like green onion or parsley, instead. Panko bread crumbs cooked in melted butter until golden also makes a lovely topping (and adds texture).
- Instead of leek (or in addition to) mix in some peas for another pop of colour, brightness and freshness!
- Serve with a lemon wedge for an extra bit of brightness and pop of flavour!
- For a gluten free version, opt for gluten free pasta.
I love hot smoked salmon and pasta, with a good glass of wine you have got an amazingly easy and delicious (yet impressive) dish. Love it Dawn!
Me too! Thank you Matt 🙂
Delicious and so flavoursome – this is a gorgeous dish, Dawn!
Thank you Alexandra!! Appreciate it 🙂
Oh boy – my hubby will love this! He’s a huge salmon fan, and well – we’d eat pasta every day (if we could! 😉 ) This is a keeper! Pinned! xoxo
I could too! Thanks Annie! XOXO
We’ve been eating a ton of seafood lately as we’ve been watching our calorie count. Salmon is perfect for that, but for some reason I haven’t thought about jumping into the smoked side of things. I need to do that ASAP. This smoked salmon pasta really would be a cool meal for Valentine’s Day. Not hard to make, but it looks quite impressive…and I know it would taste amazing! That’s how I like to roll. 🙂
Super easy to make!! Thanks David! Hope you give this one a try 🙂 We love it!
Why don’t I eat smoked salmon more often!? Better question, why haven’t I eaten this yet? Definitely a perfect date night dish!! Beautiful photos and styling too, my friend! That sauce! I’m drooling. Pinning and definitely trying!
For sure!!Thank you very much 🙂 Enjoy, my friend!
Date night or not, I’m in for this. My youngest son loves salmon dinners more than anything and this one will be a big hit with him. All of the combined flavors here are brilliant. 🙂 ~Valentina
Thanks Valentina!! Appreciate the kind words 🙂
Dawn, I love pasta with seafood and smoked salmon sounds perfect here! Love the lemon in this, too! Yum!
Thank you Laura!!
What a fabulous date night dinner Dawn. And perfect for Valentine’s Day next month! Pinned!
Thank you Mary Ann!
Smoked salmon in that creamy sauce, to die for! What a quick yet delicious date night meal!
Thank you Kevin 🙂
My husband LOVES smoked salmon, so this would be perfect for a date night dinner here! Can’t wait to try it. It looks perfect 🙂
Yay! Hope you love it! Thanks Jennifer 🙂
This is perfect date night food! It’s so elegant and the colors and flavors are extra special. Smoked salmon is on of my favorites and great in this pasta.
For sure! Thank you Kathy 🙂
When I think of date night meals, seafood pasta always comes to mind. And since my husband and I both like salmon, I’ll have to save this one to make some time soon. Perhaps Valentine’s Day. I’d also love this one with shrimp or scallops! Pinning! Happy Monday Dawn!
This would be great for Valentine’s Day! Enjoy 🙂
Simple and gorgeous, Dawn! Wonderful for date night or a dinner party!
Thank you so much, Marissa :)!!
I’ve been thinking about this recipe since I saw it on IG this morning. Smoked salmon is soooo good. Add some pasta and a creamy sauce and I’m all over it! You know I have to try this soon!
Oh yeah! Thanks Kelsie!! Hope you love it 🙂
My girlfriend loves smoked salmon and this would be a nice meal to serve when we have her and her husband over for dinner.
Happy to hear that! Thanks Karen 🙂
Hi Dawn – Can you tell me the brand name of the salmon you used. I usually buy smoked salmon in the freezer section at Costco but the consistency of the salmon you used looks much different.. This dish looks delicious!
Hi Paula! Thanks so much 🙂 ! I can’t remember the exact brand right now, but I believe I had at Sobey’s. I’m sure if I saw the packaging, I’d recognize it. You can use whatever variety you like best. Hope you enjoy the recipe and thanks so much for stopping by!