Description
Mediterranean salmon spinach pasta brings elegant flavors from coastal Italian kitchens to dinner tables. Creamy sauce, fresh herbs, and perfectly seared salmon create a restaurant-quality meal you can easily prepare at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) salmon fillet with skin
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rigatoni pasta
- 4 cups baby spinach leaves
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) Greek yogurt
Seasonings:
- 2 teaspoons dried dill (or 1 tablespoon fresh dill)
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Fresh lemon juice
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400°F. Arrange salmon on a parchment-lined baking sheet with skin facing down, generously seasoning with dill, lemon zest, salt, and pepper.
- Roast salmon for 7-10 minutes until fully opaque and easily flakes with a fork. Carefully separate fish from skin, breaking into rustic bite-sized pieces.
- Simultaneously, cook pasta in salted boiling water until perfectly al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Before draining, carefully set aside one cup of starchy pasta water.
- Return drained pasta to the warm pot over low heat. Immediately add fresh spinach leaves, stirring gently until greens become delicately wilted and vibrant.
- Incorporate creamy yogurt, bright lemon juice, and fiery red pepper flakes into the pasta mixture. Adjust sauce consistency using reserved pasta water as needed for smooth, silky texture.
- Gently fold salmon chunks into the herbed pasta, ensuring each piece becomes lightly coated with the zesty sauce. Plate immediately while warm and serve.
Notes
- Customize Salmon Choice: Opt for wild-caught salmon for richer flavor and more omega-3 nutrients, or choose farm-raised for budget-friendly option.
- Prevent Overcooking: Watch salmon closely during baking to maintain tender, moist texture; slightly undercook as it will continue cooking from residual heat.
- Dairy-Free Adaptation: Swap yogurt with coconut cream or plant-based alternative to make recipe suitable for dairy-sensitive diets.
- Boost Nutrition: Add extra vegetables like roasted cherry tomatoes or sautéed bell peppers to increase vegetable content and enhance overall dish complexity.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 65 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg