Looking for a quick and delicious easy weeknight dinner? This Creamy Salmon Penne Pasta is a perfect choice! It’s packed with flavour, comes together in under 30 minutes, and is sure to impress your family. With tender salmon, a creamy sauce, and a touch of zest from capers and lemon, this dish will become a go-to favourite.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick and Easy – Ready in under 30 minutes, making it ideal for busy weeknights.
Full of Flavour – The combination of garlic, fish sauce, and capers gives the dish a rich and savoury taste.
Simple Ingredients – Uses pantry staples and fresh salmon for a wholesome meal.
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Prepare the Salmon: Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat. Season the salmon fillets with a pinch of salt and pepper. Cook for about 3-4 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the pan, flake into pieces, and set aside.
- Make the Sauce: In the same pan, add the minced garlic and sliced spring onions. Sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Stir in the fish sauce, thickened cream, capers, and lemon juice. Simmer for 2-3 minutes.
- Combine Everything: Add the cooked penne pasta to the pan, tossing to coat in the creamy sauce. If needed, add some reserved pasta water to loosen the sauce. Gently fold in the flaked salmon.
- Serve and Enjoy: Dish up the pasta, garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.
Loved this recipe?
Please leave a quick star rating.Tips for the Best Salmon Penne Pasta
- Use fresh salmon – It provides the best flavour and texture.
- Don’t overcook the salmon – Keep it tender by cooking it just until flaky.
- Adjust the sauce – If the sauce is too thick, add a little pasta water to achieve the perfect consistency.
Thermomix Method
For those who love the convenience of a Thermomix, I’ve also included a Thermomix-friendly version of this recipe. This method simplifies the process by allowing you to cook the pasta, sauce, and salmon efficiently in one appliance.
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta according to the package instructions. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Place salmon in varoma and 800ml water in thermomix bowl – speed 2 / 8 min varoma
- Remove salmon, place in other varoma to keep warm.
- Dispose of water.
- Place garlic and onion in Thermomix bowl – 2 sec / speed 5
- Add oil – 3 min / 90C / speed 1
- Add thickened cream, fish sauce – 3 min / 90C / speed 1
- Add salmon, capers, lemon juice – 20 sec / gentle stir
- Pour sauce mixture into saucepan of cooked pasta, stir through.
- Serve with parmesan cheese.
Loved this recipe?
Please leave a quick star rating.This easy weeknight dinner is a fantastic way to enjoy a restaurant-quality meal at home with minimal effort.
9 comments
Every time I read a Thermomix recipe it always looks so quick to make – a perfect midweek meal for the whole family.
It really does making some meals easy, the Thermomix is great for busy weeknights 🙂
Perfect timing Kat! I was just about to write out my shopping list for this afternoon! I’ll definitely be making this during the week. Oh and then i scrolled down and saw your Crunchy Tuna Mornay – holy moly yum!!!
Lucy, i have to say the Crunchy tuna mornay is a real favourite of mine too. I find it is perfect for those busy nights.:)
I’m about to make this and am wondering where the instructions are ie time to cook ingredients etc? Am I missing something???
I also am struggling to find the cooking times for the salmon???
Hiya Kat
I’ve made this receipe a couple of times before and my three kids love it! I’ve just come back to make it again tonight and some of the instructions appear to be missing from the method?? Hope you see this message so you can fix it up.
Thanks, Sam
hello
just wondering in the recipe above (Salmon Penne) why you didn’t cook your penne in the basket with the 800ml (might need more to cover) while you steamed the salmon in the varoma at the top. Once less saucepan to wash and less energy used (no stove top)?
just a thought!!!
Hi Kat. Just made the penne salmon. Yum!!!! My husband also loved it which is a testament to you!