Description
A restaurant-quality seafood pasta dish featuring pan-seared flaky salmon over fettuccine in a rich parmesan sauce. This quick, intermediate-level recipe combines high-protein salmon with a velvety garlic butter cream base for a decadent Italian-American dinner in under 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Salmon Fillets (1.5 lbs, skinless, cut into large cubes)
Fettuccine Pasta (1 lb, dry or fresh)
Heavy Cream (2 cups, full fat)
Parmesan Cheese (1.5 cups, freshly grated)
Unsalted Butter (4 tbsp, divided use)
Garlic (5 cloves, minced finely)
Fresh Parsley (1/4 cup, chopped)
Lemon Juice (1 tbsp, freshly squeezed)
Salt and Pepper (to taste, sea salt preferred)
Instructions
Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the fettuccine according to the package directions until al dente.
Reserve half a cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the noodles.
Pat the salmon dry with paper towels and season generously with salt and pepper on all sides.
Melt two tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Add the salmon cubes to the skillet and sear for three minutes per side until golden and flaky.
Remove the salmon and set aside on a plate.
In the same skillet, add the remaining two tablespoons of butter and sauté the minced garlic for 30 seconds until fragrant.
Pour the heavy cream into the skillet and bring to a gentle simmer. Avoid boiling.
Stir in the freshly grated parmesan cheese, a little at a time, until fully incorporated and smooth.
Add the reserved pasta water to the sauce and mix until the sauce reaches a velvety consistency.
Toss the cooked fettuccine noodles into the skillet and stir to coat evenly with the parmesan cream sauce.
Return the seared salmon to the skillet and mix gently to ensure all pieces are well-coated.
Stir in the freshly chopped parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice for brightness.
Season with additional salt and pepper to taste if needed.
Immediately transfer the salmon and pasta to serving plates, ensuring an even distribution of the creamy sauce.
Garnish with additional parmesan cheese and lemon wedges for serving.
Notes
Use a single-pan searing technique to preserve salmon moisture and create a flavorful crust. Fresh parmesan is essential for the best texture and flavor in the sauce. If using fresh pasta, reduce the boiling time by 1-2 minutes to prevent overcooking. Substitute with garlic bread or steamed vegetables for additional sides.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Pan-Searing
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving of salmon and pasta
- Calories: 750
- Sugar: 1g
- Sodium: 1800mg
- Fat: 42g
- Saturated Fat: 23g
- Carbohydrates: 23g
- Fiber: 0g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 320mg