Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta

This Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta is a delicious twist on the classic. The toasted nuttiness of the pine nuts compliments the tang of the grated parmesan, the brightness of the spinach, basil, and lemon, and the saltiness of the smoked salmon, while a good quality olive oil ties it all together.

The first time I really enjoyed a true pesto was in a little cafe in Rome during an exceptionally hot day. My husband and I had gotten into the habit of waking early and taking long walks around the city to sight-see before eating lunch and going back to our hotel to wait out the hottest midday sun before venturing out again. I ordered pesto pasta because the green sauce was so bright, and sounded so refreshing. It was an absolute revelation. Creamy, bright, and absolutely bursting with flavour. Now I just love pesto. 

Traditional Pesto is a delicious raw sauce made out of a combination of cheese, herbs, nuts, and garlic. It’s incredibly versatile, and allows for endless variations and combinations. A traditional pesto is made with Parmesan, Basil, Pine Nuts, garlic, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil, but you can always switch it up once you get the hang of the underlying technique. The traditional way to make a pesto is with a mortar and pestle, but I like to use a food processor which enables me to have this Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta on the table in twenty minutes.

This Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta is a delicious twist on the classic. The toasted nuttiness of the pine nuts compliments the tang of the grated parmesan, the brightness of the spinach, basil, and lemon, and the saltiness of the smoked salmon, while a good quality olive oil ties it all together. From stove to table in twenty minutes, this Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta is as quick as it is delicious. I promise that if you make it, it will soon become one of your favourite dishes as well.

TOTAL TIME

• Preparation Time – 5 minutes
• Cooking Time – 15 minutes
• Total Time – 20 minutes

INGREDIENTS FOR SMOKED SALMON PESTO PASTA

All the ingredients for this Pesto Pasta are easy to source from any local grocer.

Pesto

• 2/3 cup Raw Pine Nuts
• 2 cups Baby Spinach
• 1 cup Fresh Basil
• 2 cloves Garlic
• 1/4 tsp Kosher Salt
• 1/2 cup Parmesan, grated
• 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Smoked Salmon

• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 pinch Chili Flakes
• 1 Lemon, juiced
• 400 grams Smoked Salmon
• 1/2 cup Pasta Water, reserved

Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta

• 2 cloves Garlic, minced
• 2 tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• 1 pinch Chili Flakes
• 1 Lemon, juiced
• 400 grams Smoked Salmon
• 1/2 cup Pasta Water, reserved
• 1 box Linguine (~500g)

CAN I MAKE THIS WITH ANOTHER KIND OF PASTA?

You can make this delicious pesto with any pasta you wish.

WHAT IS SMOKED SALMON?

There are a variety of smoked salmon types readily available. I always buy is an Eastern European Jewish style called lox. It’s a delicious salty cold smoked salmon that is most commonly associated with bagels and cream cheese, but also tastes delicious in this pasta.

CAN I USE PREPACKAGED LEMON JUICE INSTEAD OF FRESH FRUIT?

I never buy prepackaged lemon. It won’t ruin this recipe, but it would affect the taste. This recipe relies on fresh lemon flavour so I would suggest using it if at all possible.

INGREDIENT SUBSTITUTIONS

CAN I USE REGULAR SALMON INSTEAD OF SMOKED?

I think that the salty flavour of smoked salmon is especially delicious with the pesto pasta, however if you’d like to use regular salmon you certainly could: just keep in mind that you will need to cook it longer in the pan.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE A DIFFERENT NUT FOR PINE NUTS?

If you aren’t able to find pine nuts you could also use another fatty nut like cashews if you’d like. The important thing is you want to use a nut that has fat which will allow it to toast beautifully and pulse smoothly.

CAN I USE ANOTHER KIND OF CHEESE?

You will need to use a hard sharp cheese in this recipe. If you’d like to substitute Parmesan for something else, you can use Pecorino or Grana Padano, both of which are delicious sharp cheeses.

CAN I SUBSTITUTE ANOTHER LEAFY GREEN FOR SPINACH?

Other leafy greens that would work beautifully in this pesto would be Kale and Arugula, both of which would change the flavour of this pesto while still being delicious.

EQUIPMENT FOR SMOKED SALMON PESTO PASTA

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Below is a list of the main equipment/kitchen tools needed to make this delicious Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta:

• Pan

• Tongs

• Kitchen Knife – a good kitchen knife is a necessary tool for any home cook. Quality and price point varies widely. This is what I use at home. It’s a perfectly decent knife, while still being very affordable.

• Cutting Board

• Kitchen Aid Food Processor – I use this tool whenever I need to to finely chop and puree vegetables or a sauce. It works beautifully to chop the nuts into fine mince, and then pulse and mix all the pesto ingredients together.
  

• Large Pot

COOKING DIRECTIONS

This Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta can be prepared in twenty minutes. It is as simple to prepare as it is delicious as long as you follow a few tips:

1. Keep a close eye on the pine nuts to ensure they don’t burn.
2. Use good quality olive oil.
3. Use only the freshest smoked salmon.

MAKE AHEAD STORAGE

There is nothing you can make in advance for this meal.

This delicious pesto pasta can be stored in the fridge for up to four days, and can be frozen in an airtight container.

FINISHED DISH

Enjoy your delicious Smoked Salmon Pesto Pasta!

OTHER PESTO DISHES

Orzo Pesto with Sausage

Pasta with pistachio and kale pesto

Caprese Sandwich with Pesto

Pesto Pizza with Olives, Feta, and Sundried Tomatoes

OTHER QUICK PASTA DISHES

Creamy Chicken Carbonara

DID YOU MAKE THIS RECIPE?

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