Creamy Salmon Pasta

Ingredients

• 1¼ lb salmon fillets
• 12 oz fettuccine pasta
• 1½ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
• 3 clove garlic
• 1 shallot
• ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
• ½ lemon (optional)
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp butter
• ½ tsp salt
• ¼ tsp black pepper

Steps

1. Cook fettuccine according to package directions in salted water. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
2. While pasta cooks, season salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat and cook salmon for 4-5 minutes per side, until cooked through and flaky. Remove salmon, flake it into pieces, and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced shallot and garlic and sauté for 2-3 minutes until fragrant.
4. Pour in heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer. Stir in grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce thickens slightly. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
5. Add the cooked and drained fettuccine to the skillet with the cream sauce. Toss to coat, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick.
6. Gently fold in the flaked salmon. Garnish with fresh parsley and a squeeze of lemon juice, if desired, before serving immediately.