Salmon Asparagus Lemon Pasta Recipes

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.

CREAMY SALMON AND ASPARAGUS PASTA

Steps:

• Boil a salted pot of water for your pasta. Cook it al dente according to package directions.
• Meanwhile, trim your asparagus (I cut about 1.5" of the ends off while the asparagus is still tied up in a bunch to make it easy). Cut it into smaller pieces. Prep your other ingredients and sprinkle the salmon with salt & pepper and the Italian seasoning.
• Add the butter and oil to a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the salmon for 3 minutes/side and then take it out of the pan and set it aside.
• Add the asparagus to the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes (3 minutes if it's on the thicker side or you like it softer).
• Stir in the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add the lemon juice + zest, cream, and parmesan to the pan. Give it a good stir then add the salmon back. Break it up into smaller pieces with your spoon. Cook the sauce for another few minutes until the salmon is fully cooked through, the asparagus is tender, and the sauce has reduced a bit. The sauce is not meant to be very thick in this recipe. Toss the sauce with the drained pasta and serve immediately.

PAPPARDELLE IN LEMON CREAM SAUCE WITH ASPARAGUS AND SMOKED SALMON

Steps:

• Trim asparagus and diagonally cut into 1/4-inch-thick slices. Finely chop shallots. Finely grate enough lemon zest to measure 1 1/2 teaspoons and squeeze enough juice to measure 3 tablespoons. Cut salmon into 2 x 1/2-inch strips.
• Fill a 6-quart pasta pot three fourths full with salted water and bring to a boil for asparagus and pasta. Have ready a bowl of ice and cold water.
• Cook asparagus in boiling water until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes, and with a slotted spoon transfer to ice water to stop cooking. Reserve water in pot over low heat, covered. Drain asparagus and set aside some asparagus tips for garnish.
• In a deep 12-inch heavy skillet cook shallots in butter with salt and pepper to taste over moderately low heat, stirring, until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in cream and zest and simmer, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Stir in 2 tablespoons lemon juice and remove skillet from heat. Return water in pot to a boil. Cook pasta in boiling water, stirring occasionally, until al dente and ladle out and reserve 1 cup pasta water. Drain pasta in a colander and add to sauce with asparagus, 1/2 cup pasta water, three fourths salmon, remaining tablespoon lemon juice, and salt and pepper to taste. Heat mixture over low heat, gently tossing (and adding more remaining pasta water as needed if mixture becomes dry), until just heated through.
• Serve pasta garnished with reserved asparagus tips and remaining salmon.

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.