Creamy Asparagus Salmon Pasta Recipes

CREAMY ASPARAGUS & SALMON PASTA

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the bow tie pasta according to package directions until al denté.
• When noodles are done cooking, use a slotted spoon to transfer the pasta to a colander, reserving the pasta cooking water in the pot. Reheat the pot of water over medium heat and add the chopped asparagus spears, cooking until they turn bright green, about 1-2 minutes, then transfer to the same colander as the pasta. You want the asparagus to still have a snap to but not taste raw.
• While the pasta and asparagus are cooking, pour the cream into a 12-inch skillet and bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer and cook until reduced by half and the cream easily coats the back of a spoon.
• Add the lemon zest, Parmesan cheese, fresh dill and cooked salmon to the cream and stir until the Parmesan is melted into the cream and the salmon is warmed through. Season with kosher salt and freshly ground pepper.
• Add the cooked bow tie pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Add more salt and pepper if desired, and top with more Parmesan cheese and dill if desired. Serve immediately.

PENNE WITH ASPARAGUS AND SMOKED SALMON CREAM

Steps:

• Cook pasta in plenty of boiling salted water per package directions. (al dente).
• Melt butter in frying pan and add shallots.
• Sautee' 1-2 minutes until they begin to sweat.
• Add asparagus and continue to sautee' until crisp-tender.
• Once the asparagus are crisp-tender add half and half, lemon zest, 2 tablespoons dill and salt. Bring to a light simmer.
• Drain pasta and add the pasta and the salmon to the cream sauce, lightly toss and heat through. Turn into serving bowl or platter and top with remaining dill and sprinkling of grated cheese.

LEMONY SALMON AND CREAMY ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Cut off the tender asparagus tips at an angle, about a third of the asparagus stems. Boil the tips in 2 cups (500ml) water for 3 minutes, remove with a slotted spoon then blanch in cold water to keep the bright green colour, and reserve in a microwaveable bowl.
• Cut the remaining asparagus stems into rough 2cm pieces and boil, covered, in the same water with vegetable stock powder and white pepper, for about 8 minutes.
• Blend the stems and cooking water, pulsing until fairly smooth but with small chunks of asparagus remaining.
• In the meantime, in a small saucepan over low heat, make a classic roux: melt 2 tablespoons of butter and then stir in 2 tablespoons of flour with a wooden spoon continuously until the mixture combines completely. Let the roux brown very slightly for a couple of minutes.
• Start adding the milk very slowly, stirring all the time, until all the milk is absorbed by the thirsty roux, and then slowly add the asparagus puree, stirring constantly until you have a thick green asparagus sauce.
• Salt to taste, remembering that in a delicate sauce less salt is better, and you've probably used salted butter.
• Add most of the herbs, reserving some for garnish, then add the cream. Stir very well and turn off the heat.
• While you're doing that, oil the salmon fillets on both sides with about a tablespoon of olive oil and briefly sear over medium-high heat in a large non-stick saucepan. Watch as the white colour moves up the side of the salmon, and when about one-third of the way up turn the salmon. When the other side has seared, while the salmon is still pink in the middle, remove from the pan.
• Turn down the heat in the salmon pan, add the rest of the olive oil and soften onions for 2 minutes or so, add mushrooms for a further 3 minutes, and add garlic for a further 5 minutes. Stir often.
• Now's a good time to start cooking the pasta, according to instructions on the packet.
• Pour the asparagus herbed cream sauce into the onion and mushroom saucepan and mix well. Squeeze in the juice of half the lemon, taking care not to add the pips. Stir in half the parmesan cheese.
• Separate the salmon into flakes using a blunt knife. A butter knife is good; salmon flakes beautifully. Add salmon to the warm sauce and stir for 5 minutes or so over low heat. The sauce will finish cooking the medium-rare salmon without toughening it, while it absorbs the yummy creamy asparagus flavours in this honeymoon phase.
• Use the other half of the lemon to slice as garnish for your plates.
• Heat the asparagus tips in the microwave briefly.
• Drain the pasta and divide between the plates. Top with the creamy garlic lemon asparagus salmon sauce, then the asparagus tips and the remaining fresh herbs. Sprinkle with remaining parmesan.

SALMON, ASPARAGUS AND PASTA IN A CREAMY DILL SAUCE

Steps:

• Turn on your broiler and set your upper rack to the middle position. Let it preheat 5 minutes.
• Set 1 qt of water to boil in a medium pot.
• Take a 12" wide section of heavy duty foil and fold into thirds and then fold over the edges by 1/4"- this is what you will bake the salmon on (who doesn't like easy cleanup?). Spray the foil with a spritz of cooking spray, and season the salmon on both sides. Place on the foil and give the top of the salmon a spritz of cooking spray.
• Bake under the broiler- this should take about 6-8 minutes. When its done, remove from the oven and set it aside to rest.
• When your water comes to a boil, salt it and add the pasta. You will add in the asparagus during the last minute of cooking.
• To make the sauce, whisk together the first 9 ingredients of the sauce in a small saucepan and set over medium heat. Stir occasionally. When it has thickened and no longer has a starchy flavor, take off the heat.
• When the pasta and asparagus is done cooking, drain and return to the pan you cooked it inches Dice the salmon into bite sized pieces and add to the pasta.
• Just before adding the sauce to the pasta, stir in the lemon juice and light butter. Dump this into the pan with the pasta, asparagus and salmon, toss gently until the pasta is completely coated with sauce.
• Serve!