Penne al Salmone

Penne al Salmone is a delicious and easy Italian pasta dish. It's perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or a date night at home!

Recipe Inspiration

Penne al salmone is an Italian dish consisting of salmon, cream, and either wine or vodka. Some versions use smoked salmon, but this version uses fresh salmon in the recipe.

This pasta is creamy and saucy - it's perfect for salmon and pasta lovers. It takes very little time to cook, so this is a good option for an easy weeknight dinner.

If you're looking for other pasta recipes, check out our Pasta Alla Vodka, Pesto di Zucchini, and Pesto Rosso.

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need for this recipe:

• Olive Oil - use regular olive oil, not extra virgin
• Shallot - a small shallot will do, otherwise use ½ a white onion
• Garlic
• Salmon - this recipe calls for fresh, but you can also use smoked salmon
• Salt
• Black pepper
• White wine - any dry white wine is perfect
• Heavy cream - or half and half
• Penne pasta - or any tubular shape
• Fresh basil - for a touch of freshness
• Parmesan cheese - we recommend freshly grated

Directions

Let's make this recipe together!

Step 1

Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add shallot and sauté for three minutes. Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.

Step 2

Add salmon, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Sear the salmon for 3 minutes, then add the white wine to the pan. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half. Add cream and simmer.

Step 3

Cook penne in a pot of boiling salted water until al dente. When pasta is done, transfer to the the pan, reserving 1 cup of pasta water. Mix well, breaking the salmon in small pieces. Add in more pasta water 1 tablespoon at a time to achieve a 'saucy' texture.

Step 4

Top pasta with fresh basil and parmesan cheese and serve.

Kitchen Equipment

Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.

Pasta Pot - This pasta pot is great for any pasta lover! I use mine multiple times a week and it never fails me.

Cheese Grater - Every home cook needs a cheese grater for a variety of recipes. I love this one because there are different sizes of grates.

Penne Pasta - I love this brand for quality pasta that's delicious every time. I love that I can order it online and always have some on hand in my kitchen.

Recipe Substitutions/Variations

Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy recipe.

White Wine Substitution - You may substitute white wine with vodka, or if you want to remove alcohol, you may use vegetable broth.

Pasta Variation - And short, tubular pasta shape would be great in this recipe. Other options are rigatoni, cannelloni and ziti.

Heavy Cream Substitution - To make this recipe dairy free, use creamy oat milk in place of heavy cream.

Frequently Asked Questions

Recipe Storage and Reheating

Here are storage and reheating instructions for this recipe.

Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight continuer and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.

Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.

Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.

Other Recipes to Try

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Penne al Salmone

Penne al Salmone is a delicious and easy Italian pasta dish. It's perfect for an easy weeknight dinner or a date night at home!

5 from 5 votes

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 0 mins

Cook Time 25 mins

Total Time 25 mins

Course Dinner

Cuisine Italian

Servings 6 servings

Calories 386 kcal

Ingredients

  

• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 small shallot sliced
• 2 cloves garlic minced
• ½ lb salmon skin removed
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 1 cup white wine
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 lb penne pasta
• Fresh basil for serving
• Parmesan cheese for serving

Instructions

 

• Heat olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Add shallot and sauté for 3 minutes, until softened and fragrant. Add garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
• Add salmon, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes to the pan. Sear salmon for 3 minutes, then add white wine. Simmer until the wine is reduced by half. Reduce heat to low. Add cream and simmer.
• Cook penne in a pot of boiling salted water until al dente. When pasta is done, reserve 1 cup pasta water, then strain and transfer directly to the sauce. Mix the pasta into the sauce, breaking up the salmon in small pieces. Add pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
• Top pasta with fresh basil and freshly grated parmesan cheese and serve.

Keyword Penne al Salmone, Salmon Pasta