A Tasty Salmon & Alfredo Pasta Recipe
In this dish, I’ve combined the classic Italian flavors of salmon and Alfredo sauce with fettuccine noodles. The result is a creamy but healthy meal that will satisfy your taste buds and keep you feeling full all evening long.
What is Alfredo
Alfredo is a creamy, cheese-based sauce that gets its name from the chef who first served it at The Ritz Carlton in New York City. It’s made with butter, cream and parmesan cheese—and there are plenty of variations on the classic recipe. Alfredo sauce can be used to dress up pasta like fettuccine or penne, but it’s also delicious on pizza!
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound pasta, preferably linguine or spaghetti
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup heavy cream, plus more if needed to thin out the sauce (if you prefer a thicker sauce)
- 1/4 teaspoon salt and black pepper, to taste
- 1 sprig parsley, leaves finely chopped (for garnish)
Methods/Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat; add garlic and onion, sauté for 2 minutes; add peppers and cook for 1 minute more until softened slightly; remove from pan and set aside on plate (you can use this time to make your Alfredo sauce if you haven’t already done so)
- Add salmon pieces, skin-side down first to the pan that had just been used for cooking the vegetables; gently press down with spatula or wooden spoon (not metal) until all edges are covered with oil and flesh is exposed (don’t move them around too much while doing this).
- Cook 3 minutes without disturbing until browned on top side then carefully flip each piece over using another spatula/spoon and cook other side for 2 more minutes before adding sauce ingredients back into pan along with drained pasta and tossing together so that everything’s well combined.
Special Note
- Add-ins and variations. This recipe can be customized in a number of ways, depending on what you have in your pantry or fridge. You can add diced bell pepper, cherry tomatoes, green beans or asparagus; just make sure to cook them first (or wait until the end).
- How to make it vegan. Use olive oil instead of butter and plant-based milk instead of cream—try almond or cashew milk for an even richer alternative!
- How to make it gluten-free. Replace the pasta with rice noodles (gluten-free if necessary) and use rice flour instead of all purpose flour for dredging the salmon fillets before frying them in vegetable oil over medium heat for about 4 minutes per side until cooked through but still tender inside—you’ll want to check these closely so they don’t overcook! If you don’t want any carbs at all then skip the pasta altogether!
Pro Tip
We’re sure you will enjoy this salmon and alfredo pasta recipe. If you want to add in some extra nutrition, try adding in some vegetables! You can also add in some meat for extra protein and/or cheese for extra flavor. Finally, if you want even more flavor, add some herbs or spices!
Add-ins and Variations
The beauty of this recipe is that you can customize it to suit your tastes. Feel free to mix and match add-ins with the sauce, or even use different sauces altogether! Here are some suggestions:
- Add bacon (duh)
- Add spinach
- Add chicken
- Add shrimp
- Add artichokes (or even better, jarred artichoke hearts)
- Sun dried tomatoes packed in oil (make sure it doesn’t contain any preservatives!)
Add olives, capers and anchovies if you want an extra salty kick! You could also add Parmesan cheese or basil for a bit of Italian flair. Finally, for some freshness we’d recommend oregano as well
Alfredo is a classic Italian dish that can be made in many different ways. It has become increasingly popular over many years and will likely stay on menus for years to come as well!
