I like a creamy pasta dish. It’s one of my favorite go-to meals. Who doesn’t, after all? It’s adaptable and comfortable, and it can be dressed up or down for any occasion. Furthermore, it is usually a crowd pleaser. I recently changed things up and made a creamy salmon and zucchini pasta dish, which soon became one of my faves. Furthermore, since there are so many versions of this recipe, you may simply adjust it to your taste preferences.
Contents
- Why Is This Pasta Dish Special?
- How to Prepare Creamy Salmon and Zucchini Pasta?
- Creamy Salmon and Zucchini Pasta Recipe Variations
- What to Serve With Creamy Salmon and Zucchini Pasta?
- FAQs
- Is zucchini a good substitute for pasta?
- When should you not use zucchini?
- How do you make zucchini pasta not watery?
- Is zucchini one of the Dirty Dozen?
- Do you leave the skin on zucchini?
- Can you cut mold off zucchini and still eat it?
- Why is my sauteed zucchini mushy?
- Should you salt zucchini noodles before cooking?
- What is the cleanest vegetable?
Why Is This Pasta Dish Special?
There are many reasons why this Salmon and Zucchini Pasta is so unique. It’s not only creamy and delicious, but it’s also healthful and simple to make, making it ideal for a weekday supper.
First and foremost, it is quite simple to prepare. You just need a few basic ingredients, and you’ll have a great, healthy supper on the table in about 20 minutes.
Second, this meal is full of flavor. The creamy sauce is rich and tasty since it is created with salmon, zucchini, garlic, Grana Padano, and cream.
Finally, the pasta meal is nutritious and satisfying. The salmon delivers a healthy dosage of Omega-3 fatty acids, while the zucchini adds vitamins and minerals. [1] [2] It’s an excellent dinner at any time of day.
How to Prepare Creamy Salmon and Zucchini Pasta?
The best part about this dish is how simple it is to make. Just follow these steps and you’ll be fine! So, even if you’re not an expert chef or haven’t cooked salmon in a long time, don’t give up.
Let us begin by acquiring all of the required ingredients:
To make this flavorful pasta for five people, start with 14 oz (400 grams) of spaghetti. In terms of ingredients, I used 18 ounce salmon fillets (4 pieces or 510 grams) and 2 medium zucchinis.
Of course, seasoning the meal and adding additional tastes is always necessary, so you’ll need some olive oil, 3 garlic cloves, 2 oz Grana Padano (4 tablespoons; 57 grams), salt and pepper, and a cup of heavy cream (200g) to blend everything together well!
Also, do not discard any of the water used to boil the pasta. To make your meal more moist, add two ladles of the previously cooked pasta water.
Once you’ve collected everything, you can begin creating this simple and tasty lunch.
Step 1: Chopping the Main Ingredients
If the salmon fillets are frozen, thaw and pat them dry before salting both sides. Use a small grater to squeeze or grate the garlic, then cut the zucchini into cubes.
While you’re doing that, heat the oil over medium heat and place the salmon fillets on top.
Step 2: Preparing the Salmon and Boiling the Spaghetti
Once the salmon is cooked through, remove it from the pan and sauté the garlic in the same oil for approximately 30 seconds, or until golden brown, before adding the zucchini cubes.
Stir everything well and cook for approximately 5 minutes on medium heat. Season everything to taste with salt and pepper.
Cook the pasta according to package directions in a separate pot.
Step 3: Finishing Up
After the salmon has cooled, remove the skin and separate the salmon flesh with a fork.
Pour the heavy cream over the zucchini cubes, along with two ladles of the pasta-cooking water. Bring everything to a boil, then add the fish and remove from the heat.
Combine everything with the pasta and top with the Grana Padano.
Creamy Salmon and Zucchini Pasta Recipe Variations
When it comes to making versions of this creamy salmon and zucchini pasta, the choices are unlimited.
Grilled or roasted vegetables, such as bell peppers, eggplant, or tomatoes, might be added. For added protein, you may also add cooked shrimp or chicken.
Finally, don’t overlook the cheese! A sprinkling of grated Parmesan or Romano cheese would be exquisite. Finally, before serving, season your meal with salt and pepper. A little more love goes a long way and may make all the difference in the end product!
The possibilities are unlimited, so be creative and personalize the meal.
What to Serve With Creamy Salmon and Zucchini Pasta?
The last step is to decide what to serve with your creamy salmon and zucchini pasta. This pasta dish is versatile in that it may be served as a main course or as a side dish.
Serve a main course with a good salad, fresh bread, and garlic butter. Roasted veggies such as broccoli or Brussels sprouts might also be included.
If you’re serving the salmon and zucchini pasta as a side dish, I recommend serving it with grilled fish or chicken. Roasted potatoes are also delicious with this beautifully creamy recipe. Remember to provide some vibrant colors with fresh salads or cooked veggies such as green beans or asparagus.
Overall, the possibilities for what to serve with this wonderful creamy salmon and zucchini pasta are limitless; just choose the sides that appeal to your taste buds!
FAQs
Is zucchini a good substitute for pasta?
Are Zucchini Noodles a healthier alternative to pasta? They most certainly are. One cup of cooked zucchini has 33 calories, 6 grams of carbs, and 2 grams of fiber. So-net carbs are considerably lower, at 4 grams per serving.
When should you not use zucchini?
To the touch, bad zucchini will feel rubbery or slimy. It may also have an unpleasant odor and black or fuzzy rotten areas. Bad zucchini may have an off-white to brownish interior with stringy, mushy flesh and huge, hard seeds.
How do you make zucchini pasta not watery?
Avoiding Watery Zucchini Noodles
After spiralizing the zucchini, pat it dry using paper towels.
Zoodles should be cooked over medium-high heat.
Cook the zucchini without covering it.
Avoid overcrowding the pan.
Add no salt to the pan.
Make use of a heat-conducting pan.
Avoid overcooking the zoodles.
Is zucchini one of the Dirty Dozen?
The EWG is calling this year’s list the Dirty Dozen Plus, as it did last year, to draw attention to collards, kale, summer squash, and zucchini, which did not qualify for the Dirty Dozen but are of particular concern because samples tested positive for highly toxic organophosphate and organochlorine pesticides.
Do you leave the skin on zucchini?
It is not necessary to peel the zucchini. In fact, the skin is a good source of nourishment for zucchini (the vivid green hue is a dead giveaway), so leave it on. After thoroughly rinsing the zucchini squash under cold water, chop off the stem and discard it.
Can you cut mold off zucchini and still eat it?
If food is covered with mold, discard it.
Why is my sauteed zucchini mushy?
If you cook zucchini until it loses its moisture and then continue to simmer until the moisture evaporates, you’ll have a buttery-soft pulp that may lend creaminess and sweet vegetal flavor to pasta or rice meals like this Skillet Chicken, Zucchini, and Cheesy Rice.
Should you salt zucchini noodles before cooking?
Do not, under any circumstances, soak your chopped zoodles in salt before cooking. Similarly, never salt the zucchini while it is cooking in the pan. Don’t salt your zucchini if you’re cooking it in a pan! The salt will cause the water in the zucchini to evaporate, resulting in a soggy mess.
What is the cleanest vegetable?
According to EWG’s study of the most current USDA data, these 15 goods had the fewest pesticide residues.
Melon with honeydew skin.
Kiwi.
Cabbage.
Mushrooms.
Mangoes.
Sweet potatoes are a kind of potato.
Watermelon.
Carrots.