Salmon, Peas and Asparagus with Pasta in Lemon Cream Sauce

Here’s a new recipe that’s just bursting with flavor, brilliant hues of green and vivid pops of red and orange.  It’s our fresh Salmon, Peas and Asparagus with Pasta in Lemon Cream Sauce !  This main dish salad is loaded with peas and asparagus alongside buttery salmon filets . . . it almost sounds too healthy!  Gorgeous meets healthy in a one-dish complete meal!   

One downfall about this recipe, well, it’s not really a bad thing, is that I munch on it while making it.  Am I the only one who secretly does that while cooking?  Popping the creamy and cheesy sauced-pasta in our mouths while putting it all together is irresistible.  I’m not great at packing creative lunches to take to work, but when we have leftovers from something like this, an awesome lunch is in store to take to the office!  

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We just love sweet baby spring peas and fresh asparagus.   They’re just so packed with flavor and healthy goodness with their anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits!  Some of our favorite ways to enjoy these emerald jewels are Farfalle With Asparagus, Peas And Pancetta In Cream Sauce   and Tortellini Alla Panna With Prosciutto And Peas

Doesn’t this just make you think of spring or summer?  And yet this can be prepared any time of year.

While you’re cooking the pasta and preparing the salad, you need to bake the salmon filets.  Sprinkle garlic powder (not garlic salt) and lemon pepper all over the top of the salmon filets.   

Bake salmon at 350 F degrees for about 40 minutes . . . we like our fish medium-well done, nothing rare or soft inside.  We enjoy sushi and ahi tuna, but this is better when thoroughly cooked.  You want a nice flakiness of texture on your fork, not something soft and mushy.

Meanwhile, get the lemon cream sauce going.  Saute the freshly minced garlic in butter and olive oil, add the cream, freshly squeezed lemon juice, and lemon zest.

Add the capers, rinsed thoroughly and the Italian parsley.

See how much sea salt is packed inside this small jar of imported Italian capers?  Make sure you rinse the salt off of the capers as best as you can or the sauce will be ruined from having too much salt that cannot be taken back out.

Before rinsing off all of the salt (left) and after rinsing off all of the salt (right).

Adjust the ingredients in the sauce according to your preferences.  Do you like more butter . . . add another tablespoon or two.  Or perhaps you prefer more cream?  Add in a dash or two more.  Also if you want salt and pepper in this meal, then this is the time to do so.

Pour about a cup or so of the sauce in a nice gravy or cream dish with a spout.  Place it on the table or buffet to be passed around to guests.  

After the pasta is cooked to a very firm ‘al dente’ firmness, take some of the sauce and toss it with the pasta, reserving some to pass around to your guests.  Garnish with freshly chopped Italian parsley.  Place it in a nice bowl to serve.

The garlic, lemon, cream, cheese and capers come together perfectly to form a fabulous creamy base for the pasta! Don’t forget to also ladle this creamy sauce on top of the salmon.  My husband said while eating with his mouth full, “I want more sauce for the salmon please”!  

Music to my ears!

There you go!

The pasta is tossed in a light, lemony cream sauce.

A fresh mixed lettuce salad with peas and asparagus complements the pasta.

And salmon filets baked to perfection make this a delicious meal.

So bring your guests to the table . . . dinner is ready!

Enjoy this Salmon, Peas and Asparagus with Pasta in Lemon Cream Sauce!

Salmon, Peas & Asparagus with Pasta in Lemon Cream Sauce

2018-01-29 20:19:07

Serves 6

Perfectly roasted salmon filets on a bed of vivid green mixed lettuce, peas, asparagus and fresh herbs. Paired with a delightful and delicate lemon and caper cream sauce, this is perfect for brunch or dinner. Prep everything ahead of time and when it's time to prepare your meal, it goes together swiftly. This is a large salad that can serve 4 - 6 hungry guests.

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Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

45 min

Prep Time

30 min

Cook Time

45 min

Lemon Cream Sauce

1. 4 Tbsp. butter
2. 3 cloves of fresh garlic, minced
3. 1-1/2 cups heavy cream
4. juice of 1/2 lemon (more is OK if you want a stronger lemon flavor)
5. zest of 1 lemon (approx. 2 tsps.)
6. ½ cup freshly grated Parmigiana cheese
7. 2 Tbsp. capers, rinsed thoroughly
8. 2 Tbsp. Italian parsley, or increase according to your preference

Green Mixed Salad

1. 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
2. 4 cups of mixed spring lettuce
3. 1 lb. fresh asparagus tips (about 2 inches long)
4. 2 cups (16 oz.) fresh or frozen small spring peas
5. 1 cup of Italian pine nuts or sliced almonds
6. 1 lb. pasta prepared according to package instructions. We use farfalle or penne.
7. 4 - 6 salmon filets
8. garlic powder and lemon pepper to use when baking the salmon

Instructions

1. Pre-heat oven to 350 F degrees.
2. Sprinkle garlic powder and lemon pepper all over the top of salmon filets.
3. Bake for 35 - 45 minutes. When done, cover with aluminum foil and keep warm in a microwave oven or warm oven while you complete the lemon cream sauce and the salad.
4. Boil a tall pot of water.
5. While water boils, prepare the lemon cream sauce.
6. Heat the butter in a saucepan on medium heat.
7. Add the minced garlic and saute' until aromatic for approximately 3 - 5 minutes. Do not burn the garlic.
8. Add cream, lemon juice, lemon zest, capers and parmigiana cheese. Heat through on medium heat for approximately 5 - 10 minutes.
9. Add chopped Italian parsley.
10. Set aside to toss into the pasta.
11. When water boils, add the pasta and cook for about 5 - 7 minutes until al dente.
12. When finished, strain the pasta and stir it into the lemon cream sauce, saving some sauce to the side to pass around to guests.
13. Put the pasta/cream sauce into a nice serving bowl.
14. Assemble the mixed lettuce, peas and asparagus.
15. Sprinkle slivered almonds all over the salad.
16. Place warmed salmon filets on top of lettuce, peas and asparagus.
17. Slowly pour the lemon cream sauce over the salmon fillets
18. Garnish with slivered almonds and fresh sprigs of Italian parsley or basil.

Notes

1. You can substitute chicken or tuna for the salmon.
2. Recipe from La Bella Vita Cucina @italianbellavita.com All images and content are copyright protected. Please do not use my images without prior permission. If you want to share this recipe, please simply link back to this post for the recipe. Thank you.

By Roz Corieri Paige | La Bella Vita Cucina

La Bella Vita Cucina https://www.italianbellavita.com/

 
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