Creamy Salmon Pasta

Creamy, zesty, and irresistibly fresh—this Salmon Pasta is your new go-to for a quick, gourmet meal ready in under 15 minutes. The velvety cream cheese melts into a luscious sauce, while the zing of lemon zest, briny capers, and fragrant parsley perfectly complement tender pieces of smoked salmon.

📝 Ingredients

• 300 g / 10.5oz Penne Rigate
• 200 g / 7oz smoked salmon
• 150 g / 5.2oz Philadelphia Cream Cheese
• 1 lemon
• 1/4 brown onion (chopped)
• A fresh bunch of parsley (chopped)
• Capers
• Salt & Pepper
• Extra Virgin Olive Oil (EVOO)

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1--- Slice the salmon into small strips and set aside. ---
2. 2Place a large pan over medium-low heat and pour in –3-4 Tbsp of EVOO.
3. 3Add the chopped onion and sauté until golden brown, stirring frequently. If the onions start to stick or burn, add a splash of water and continue cooking.
4. 4Stir in the parsley, a touch more EVOO if needed, and keep stirring to combine. Then, bring 1 litre of water to a boil in a large pot. Add 1 tablespoon of salt and mix to dissolve, then add the pasta and give it a quick stir to prevent sticking. For cooking time refer to the instructions on your packet.
5. 5While the pasta is cooking zest the lemon directly over the pan, adding as much as you like. Squeeze the lemon juice into a small sieve to catch the seeds, then pour the juice into the pan and mix through.
6. 6Add the capers to the pan and season with a small pinch of salt. Crack black pepper over the mixture, adjusting the amount to your taste, and stir together.
7. 7Once the pasta is nearly ready, scoop out a mug of pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta using a colander, then transfer it directly to the pan with the sauce.
8. 8Add a splash of pasta water to the pan and toss the pasta to coat. If the mixture looks dry, add more pasta water gradually, tossing as you go.
9. 9Stir in the Philadelphia cream cheese, mixing thoroughly until it melts into the sauce. Add more pasta water if needed to achieve a creamy consistency and toss to ensure all ingredients are well incorporated.
10. 10Turn off the heat and gently stir in half of the salmon. Reserve the other half for garnish.
11. 11Give the pasta a final toss, adding more pasta water if it looks dry.