Broccoli and salmon: the perfect combination to season pasta

With fresh or smoked salmon, creamier or drier, broccoli and salmon pasta can be prepared in many ways.

It is not clear why, but there are some ingredients which, when combined, give a unique combination of flavors and broccoli and salmon pasta falls into this category. Perfect to serve as a first course even on the most important occasions , it can really be prepared in many ways, using fresh or smoked salmon, which is certainly tastier.

The pasta format is also a good strategy to "ennoble" the dish, as is the idea of ​​blending the broccoli and obtaining a creamy sauce . In short, there are really many ways to prepare broccoli and salmon pasta and we are about to reveal them all to you, starting from the simplest to the richest.

How to prepare the broccoli and salmon pasta recipe

1. First clean the broccoli by removing the florets then wash them under running water.
2. Boil them in plenty of salted water for 10 minutes until they are tender without falling apart. You can test its cooking by piercing the hard part of the inflorescence with a fork. Once this is done, drain and cool them in water and ice to preserve their bright green colour.
3. In a pan, heat the oil with the garlic clove. Cut the salmon into cubes and cook it for a couple of minutes then add the broccoli florets. Season well (the salmon must not be overcooked), season with salt and pepper and flavored with the grated lemon zest (optional).
4. In the meantime , cook the pasta in plenty of salted water for the time indicated on the package. Once ready, toss it in the pan with the sauce and serve piping hot.

Variations of pasta with broccoli and salmon

To obtain a creamy broccoli and salmon pasta you can proceed in two different ways. The first and "lighter" one consists in creaming the pasta with 150 g of philadelphia diluted with a little pasta cooking water. The second instead involves the addition of 200 ml of fresh or cooking cream together with broccoli and salmon, so as to obtain a creamy dressing. Broccoli, salmon and cream pasta is undoubtedly the richest but if you prefer something lighter, better opt for salmon, broccoli and Philadelphia pasta.

For pasta with cream of broccoli and salmon, however, you will have to proceed as follows: once cooked and drained, blend the broccoli in the bowl of an immersion blender using a liquid of your choice between pasta cooking water, milk or cream. Pour everything into the pan together with the salmon so that it warms up then season with salt and pepper before adding the pasta.

All these recipes can equally be made with smoked salmon . Pay attention only to its sapidity when you go to adjust the salt. If, on the other hand, you prefer a more classic recipe, then bet everything on the classic penne with salmon .

storage

Broccoli and salmon pasta can be kept for 2-3 days in the refrigerator , well covered in plastic wrap. You can heat it both in a pan and in the microwave before consuming it.