Pasta a little bit fancy.
I love salmon… but I really really love hot smoked salmon which is why I love this smoked salmon spaghetti recipe. A lot of people don’t know the difference between cold smoked salmon and hot smoked salmon. Let me explain the difference to you.
When you say “smoked salmon” most people would think of cold smoked salmon. That is, the salmon that is still quite raw but infused with a wonderful smoky flavour. This salmon is fantastic for breakfasts with eggs and hollandaise sauce, fancy sandwiches and appetisers when entertaining.
Hot smoked salmon is exactly that. The smoke has heat which cooks the salmon as well as infuse it with smoky deliciousness. This type of salmon is perfect for tarts, salmon paté, salmon cakes, and of course… pasta. You can find hot smoked salmon in the same section where they have cold smoked salmon. When you go to buy it, you’ll notice that there is a lot more brands and variety of cold smoked salmon so you may need to hunt the shelves a little to find the hot smoked stuff.
The pasta I use in this meal alternates between spaghetti and fettuccine. Go with whatever you have on hand at home. I find that fettuccine tends to stick together when you’re cooking it but it’s a great pasta to use for this meal if you can ensure it doesn’t become clumps a cooked pasta. I normally use dried pasta but if you want to go a bit fancy, either make your own pasta or buy fresh pasta from the chiller section of the supermarket.
I think I discovered this smoked salmon spaghetti recipe at a restaurant many many moons ago. After then I just concocted the recipe myself based on what I remembered the meal tasting like. Yes, it’s a little bit fancy but it’s definitely a firm family favourite. The great thing is it’s quick to make. I can whip this up on the nights I work late and need to get dinner on the table before the kids go feral. You always need recipes like this on hand! The kids love this meal. Actually, they pretty much love any meal made with pasta or noodles. I’m sure nearly all kids are the same. I think it’s the fact they can slurp it up into their mouths.
Want another delicious recipe?
If you like this recipe, you’ll also love others available here. From pastas to risottos, cookies to desserts, and bliss balls to gluten-free options with everything in between. There is truly something here for everyone. I have developed this website to provide family-friendly recipes where I maximise both fresh produce while minimising cost.
Smoked Salmon Spaghetti
Ingredients
- 500 g dried spaghetti pasta
- 150 g smoked salmon
- 1 medium onion, sliced into small pieces
- 1 medium red capsicum, sliced into small pieces
- 250 g cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 120 g baby spinach
- 300 ml cream, low fat
- 1.5 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoons parsley, chopped fresh or dried
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese, grated
- salt, to taste
- Pepper, freshly ground to taste
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Instructions
- In a large pot, add water. Bring to boil on the stove and add dried pasta, cooking as per instructions on packet. Spaghetti takes about 8-9 minutes to al dente.
- While the water is boiling, In a large frying pan, add the oil and onion. Sauté on medium heat until onions start to cook through but without browning.
- On medium to high heat, add the hot smoked salmon (minus the skin) into a frying pan and break it up with a wooden spoon into small pieces as it heats up.
- Add cream, garlic powder, parmesan, parsley, salt and pepper to taste. Let the sauce cook through for 2-3 minutes.
- Add capsicum and tomatoes. Mix into the sauce and cook through for 3 minutes. Add baby spinach and mix into the sauce to wilt it.
- Drain the pasta once cooked and mix immediately with the smoked salmon sauce mixture and serve.