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Ashlee

Salmon Pasta with Homemade Creamy Pesto Sauce

Creamy pesto pasta with fresh salmon is the ultimate quick weeknight dinner. The pesto sauce has fresh ingredients. It comes together in less than 30 minutes. Savory, tangy, and delicious! 
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Course: Main Dishes
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pesto:
  • 1 1/2 cups fresh basil leaves, tightly packed
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, grated or shredded
  • Juice from 1/2 lemon
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 1/2 cup pine nuts, unroasted
For the Salmon Pasta:
  • 10 oz penne pasta, uncooked
  • 1 lb fresh salmon
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil
  • Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste (for salmon)
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder (for salmon)
  • all-purpose flour, for dredging (for salmon)
  • 1/3 cup chicken broth
  • 1/3 cup homemade pesto sauce (pesto sauce you made or jarred)
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, optional
  • Fresh or dried parsley, for garnish

Method
 

For the Pesto:
  1. Add all ingredients in a blender. Start blending on low and gradually add more olive oil if pesto needs to be thinned out. Blend until creamy. Set aside.
For Salmon Pasta:
  1. In a medium stockpot, boil some salted water. Add penne pasta to pan. Cook until it reaches the al dente stage according to package directions. Drain pasta.
  2. To prepare salmon, you may leave skin on, if desired. Cut salmon half. Season both sides of the salmon with Kosher salt, ground pepper and garlic powder. Dredge with flour on both sides.
  3. In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add salmon to skillet. Cook for about 3-4 minutes on each side until it turns crispy and gold. Transfer salmon to a separate plate. Set aside.
  4. To make the sauce, add chicken broth and pesto sauce. Cook sauce for about 30 seconds until it starts to bubble. Add heavy cream. Stir to combine.
  5. Transfer salmon back to skillet. Cook salmon and pesto sauce together for about 4-5 minutes. Add pasta to skillet and mix in with sauce and salmon.
  6. Serve immediately. Garnish with fresh or dried parsley leaves.

Notes

Suggested Sides:
  • Green salad or side vegetable
  • Garlic bread or breadsticks