Description
Silky salmon meets zesty pesto in this Mediterranean-inspired pasta dish. Quick and elegant, this recipe delivers restaurant-quality flavors directly to your plate, promising a delightful culinary journey with each forkful.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) fresh salmon
- 8 ounces (226 grams) uncooked pasta
- ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) chicken broth
- ⅓ cup (79 milliliters) pesto
Seasoning and Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon lemon juice
- Salt & pepper, to taste
- Flour, for dredging
Dairy and Optional Topping:
- ¼ cup (59 milliliters) heavy cream
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese, optional
Instructions
- Prepare a generously sized pot with salted water, bringing it to a rolling boil. Cook pasta to al dente perfection according to package guidelines, typically 8-10 minutes.
- While pasta simmers, generously season salmon fillets with garlic powder, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Delicately dust each fillet with all-purpose flour, ensuring a uniform light coating.
- In a large skillet, combine olive oil and unsalted butter, heating over medium-high temperature until the mixture shimmers and becomes fragrant.
- Carefully place seasoned salmon fillets into the hot skillet, searing each side for approximately 3-4 minutes until a golden-brown crust develops and fish becomes slightly flaky.
- Gently transfer cooked salmon to a separate plate, preserving the flavorful browned bits and pan drippings.
- Pour chicken broth and vibrant green pesto into the same skillet, vigorously whisking to incorporate the caramelized remnants from salmon cooking.
- Introduce heavy cream and fresh lemon juice to the sauce, allowing it to simmer gently for 45-60 seconds, creating a luxurious, velvety consistency.
- Carefully break salmon into rustic chunks directly into the sauce, reducing heat to low and letting the flavors meld together for an additional 3-5 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Drain pasta completely, then fold it into the creamy sauce, ensuring each strand is generously coated. Plate immediately, garnishing with freshly grated parmesan cheese and optional chopped parsley for added brightness.
Notes
- Start by preparing ingredients before boiling water to maximize cooking efficiency.
- Flour coating on salmon creates a delicate golden crust that seals in moisture and adds subtle texture.
- Quick searing technique ensures salmon remains tender and flakes perfectly without overcooking.
- Scraping browned bits from pan develops deep, complex flavor foundation for the entire dish.
- Using same skillet allows natural salmon drippings to enhance pesto sauce’s richness and depth.
- Gentle simmering technique prevents sauce separation and maintains smooth, creamy consistency.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 580 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 48 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg