This creamy smoked salmon pasta has a simple cream sauce, leeks, and plenty of smoked salmon. It’s on the table in just under 30 minutes, perfectly portioned for two, and makes for a lovely date night meal!
Today I’m sharing 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, best friend 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
- Lemon (zest and juice)
- Garlic
- Olive oil, salt, and pepper
How To Make Seafood Pasta
Full details in recipe card below, but here are the basics:
First, cook your pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some of the pasta water (it’s used for later), then drain the pasta.
While the pasta is cooking, prepare the seafood pasta sauce:
- Heat some olive oil in a pan.
- 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. Simmer and reduce the sauce.
- 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. Then portion up that deliciousness, garnish and serve!
What Type of Salmon Should I Use?
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)). This is a great article about the differences in all 3 varieties of salmon and how you can make them!
How Much Salmon Do I Need?
Because the smoked salmon is so predominant, I usually use about 2 to 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.
Tips and Variations
- Prep ingredients before starting. This seafood pasta is made quickly. Have everything ready to go before starting to cook.
- Serve this seafood pasta with a lemon wedge for an extra bit of brightness and pop of flavour!
- Use another variety of pasta, if you like! Fettuccine works well here too.
- Chives are 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!
What To Serve With It
To make things even more complete, enjoy with an appetizer and dessert!
This apple and 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?
More Easy Pasta Recipes
If you make creamy seafood pasta, be sure to leave a comment below!
Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta
Ingredients
- 6.5 ounces dried linguine, about ½ of a 375 gram box (or your favourite long pasta)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small leek, cut in half lengthwise and sliced thinly into half moons (white, light green and tender darker green parts only, not the tougher dark green part). Rinse well and drain before using as leek can contain debris/dirt between the layers.
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- â…” cup heavy cream (whipping cream)
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 5 ounces smoked salmon, torn or cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest, plus more to taste for optional garnish
- 3 tablespoons minced fresh chives
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- While pasta is cooking, heat olive oil in a 12-inch pan (like a sauté pan or one that's about 2.5 to 3 inches deep) over medium heat.
- Add leek and cook, stirring often, for 5 to 8 minutes or until softened.
- Stir in garlic and cook for 1 minute.
- Add heavy cream, ¼ cup of the reserved pasta water, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook to reduce slightly, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes or until you've reached your desired consistency.
- Stir in cooked pasta, tossing to combine with sauce. Stir in smoked salmon and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until heated through. If you want things looser or thinner, you can stir in remaining ¼ cup of reserved pasta water (optional).
- With heat off, stir in lemon juice and zest.
- Portion the pasta into warmed plates or bowls and garnish with additional lemon zest (if desired) and chives. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Lisa
Hi,
You have lemon juice and lemon zest in the ingredients, but I don’t see these ingredients in the directions. At what point do you add the 1 T lemon juice and lemon zest?
Thanks,
Lisa
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
Hi Lisa, the lemon juice and lemon zest is added in step 7 of the recipe card, right before serving. Hope you enjoy the recipe!
Matt - Total Feasts
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!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Me too! Thank you Matt 🙂
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
Delicious and so flavoursome – this is a gorgeous dish, Dawn!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Alexandra!! Appreciate it 🙂
annie@ciaochowbambina
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
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
I could too! Thanks Annie! XOXO
David @ Spiced
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. 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Super easy to make!! Thanks David! Hope you give this one a try. 🙂 We love it!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
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!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
For sure!!Thank you very much. 🙂 Enjoy, my friend!
Valentina
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
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks Valentina!! Appreciate the kind words 🙂
Laura
Dawn, I love pasta with seafood and smoked salmon sounds perfect here! Love the lemon in this, too! Yum!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Laura!!
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
What a fabulous date night dinner Dawn. And perfect for Valentine’s Day next month! Pinned!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Mary Ann!
Kevin
Smoked salmon in that creamy sauce, to die for! What a quick yet delicious date night meal!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you Kevin 🙂
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
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 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Hope you love it! Thanks Jennifer 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
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.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
For sure! Thank you Kathy 🙂
Leanne
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!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
This would be great for Valentine’s Day! Enjoy 🙂
Marissa
Simple and gorgeous, Dawn! Wonderful for date night or a dinner party!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much, Marissa :)!!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
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!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Oh yeah! Thanks Kelsie!! Hope you love it 🙂
Karen (Back Road Journal)
My girlfriend loves smoked salmon and this would be a nice meal to serve when we have her and her husband over for dinner.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Happy to hear that! Thanks Karen 🙂
PAULA
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!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
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!