25-30 minTotal time
730kcal*
31 gProtein*
87 gCarbs*
*Per serving, estimate. Serves 4.
This creamy smoked salmon pasta combines gluten-free penne with zucchini, cherry tomatoes and strips of cold-smoked salmon in a light cream sauce. Shallot, red onion and garlic give the sauce its base, and lemon juice and black pepper keep it fresh.
The cold-smoked salmon only needs about 3 minutes in the sauce, and the tomatoes keep a little bite. About 150 ml of hot pasta water loosens the light cream and helps it coat the penne.
The whole dish is ready in 25 to 30 minutes and serves 4. Serve it right away with freshly grated Parmesan on top. Use penne labeled gluten-free and check the other labels too.
Gluten-Free Creamy Smoked Salmon Pasta with Tomatoes
This creamy smoked salmon pasta combines gluten-free penne with zucchini, cherry tomatoes and strips of cold-smoked salmon in a light cream sauce. Shallot, red onion and garlic give the sauce its base, and lemon juice and black pepper keep it fresh.
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Ingredients
- 400 g gluten-free penne (Barilla) about 14 oz, dry; check the label
- 400 g cold-smoked salmon about 14 oz; ready to eat, cut into bite-size strips
- 1 medium zucchini diced or cut into half-moons
- 150 g cherry tomatoes about 5.3 oz; halved
- 250 ml cooking cream, 7% fat about 1 cup; see the notes for substitutes outside Germany
- 1 shallot finely diced; or use 2 shallots in place of the shallot and the red onion
- 1 red onion finely diced
- 1-2 garlic cloves finely diced
- 4 tbsp olive oil 60 ml
- splash of white wine or vegetable broth optional, for deglazing; a splash, amount not specified
- 1/2 lemon, juiced fresh
- fresh dill or parsley chopped; dill if you can get it; to taste
- salt and freshly ground black pepper salt the pasta water; use only a little in the sauce, because smoked salmon is salty
- 150 ml hot pasta cooking water about 2/3 cup, for the sauce; scoop out a cup before draining so you have enough
- Parmesan freshly grated, to taste; check the label
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring plenty of salted water to a boil and cook the penne al dente according to the package directions (11 minutes; check your pack). Before draining, scoop out a cup of the hot pasta water. Drain the pasta and do not rinse it.
- Prep. Cut the smoked salmon into bite-size strips. Wash the zucchini and cut it into small cubes or half-moons. Wash and halve the cherry tomatoes. Finely dice the shallot, red onion and garlic, and chop the herbs.
- Soften the vegetables. Heat the olive oil in a large pan. Cook the shallot, red onion, garlic and zucchini over medium heat for 3 to 4 minutes.
- Make the sauce. If you like, deglaze with a splash of white wine or vegetable broth and let it reduce briefly. Pour in the cooking cream and about 150 ml (2/3 cup) of the hot pasta water and simmer gently. Season with lemon juice, plenty of black pepper and only a little salt, because the smoked salmon is salty.
- Warm the salmon and tomatoes. Add the halved cherry tomatoes and the salmon strips to the sauce. Simmer gently over low heat for about 3 minutes, so the tomatoes keep a little bite and do not fall apart.
- Combine and serve. Add the sauce with the salmon, tomatoes and zucchini to the large pot with the drained penne. Add the herbs, toss everything well and serve right away, with freshly grated Parmesan on top, to taste.
Notes
Cold-smoked salmon: this recipe uses cold-smoked salmon (400 g), not a raw or cooked salmon fillet. It is only warmed in the sauce for about 3 minutes, so keep the heat low. It is ready to eat, tastes good cold too and keeps well in the refrigerator; the shelf life depends on the product, so check the best-before date.
Food safety: cold-smoked salmon is not cooked through. If you are pregnant, elderly or have a weakened immune system, follow the instructions on the pack or ask your doctor before eating it.
Sauce: the cooking cream is light, so the sauce relies on hot pasta water to loosen and bind it. About 150 ml (2/3 cup) went into the sauce; add it a little at a time until the sauce coats the penne.
Tomatoes: add the cherry tomatoes late, as in step 5, so they keep their shape. Added together with the zucchini, they fell apart.
Salt: the smoked salmon is very salty, so use only a little salt in the sauce and taste before adding more.
Onions: the recipe uses 1 shallot and 1 red onion; 2 shallots work instead.
Cooking cream outside Germany: 7% fat cooking cream is a German product and no exact match is known for English-speaking countries; none of these swaps has been tested here. In the US, half-and-half (about 10.5 to 18% fat, often about 12%) is the lightest common cream and the closest to try. In the UK, single cream has at least 18% fat and half cream at least 12%. In Canada, half-and-half or table cream (about 10 to 18% fat) are the nearest. All are richer than 7%, so the sauce will be richer and higher in calories; a little milk can thin it, but that is untested too.
Herbs: dill is nice if you can get it; parsley works too.
Gluten-free check: use penne that are labeled gluten-free and check the labels of the smoked salmon, cooking cream, Parmesan and, if used, the broth and wine for gluten-containing additives. This is a label check, not a guarantee.
Nutrition values are an estimate calculated from the ingredient list, not a lab analysis. They do not include the Parmesan, optional wine or broth, herbs, salt, pepper or pasta water, because they are to taste or no amount is given; 10 g of Parmesan would add about 43 kcal in total.
Questions about creamy smoked salmon pasta
Is this creamy smoked salmon pasta made with cooked salmon?
No. It uses cold-smoked salmon cut into strips, which is only warmed in the sauce for about 3 minutes.
Why do I save pasta water?
The cooking cream is light. About 150 ml of hot pasta water loosens the sauce and helps it coat the penne.
What can I use instead of 7% cooking cream?
Cooking cream with 7% fat is a German product. Half-and-half (US, Canada) or single cream (UK) are richer options; none has been tested here, and the sauce will be richer.
Is the pasta gluten-free?
It is made with gluten-free penne. Check the labels of the pasta and the other packaged ingredients; this is a label check, not a guarantee.