Agile in the kitchen

Creamy salmon pasta salad

A close up of a large blue bowl with creamy salmon pasta salad. Visible are fusili pasta, spinach, cucumber, tomatoes cut in half and spring onions.
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Bring a basic pasta salad to the next level with this creamy salmon mix, add a splash of lemon to make it summer fresh. This pasta salad is a version of my basic pasta salad. Using hot smoked salmon and leftover pasta can make this pasta salad into a quick no cook dinner.

In a large blue bowl, creamy salmon pasta salad is mixed, visible are fusili pasta, spinach, cucumber, tomatoes cut in half and spring onions. On a background with a white, textured table cloth and a folded cloth napkin with pink and blue flowers.
Creamy salmon pasta salad eaten outside

Hot smoked salmon

The star of this pasta salad is the hot smoked salmon. I buy the salmon ready from the store, but of course you can smoke your own salmon. The great thing about hot smoked salmon is that it is ready to eat straight from the package. Also perfect for those who do not like the fishy smell when cooking fish. This is a wonderfully easy ingredient to work with.

On a wooden cutting board with a flowery cloth napkin, the ingredients to make creamy salmon sauce. Clockwise, a lemon cut in half, a glass bowl of Greek yogurt, hot smoked salmon flaked on a blue plate, a glass bowl with mayonnaise
Ingredients for creamy salmon

No waste cooking

Whenever I make a pasta salad, I either use leftover pasta from the freezer or I plan my dinner the night before and make extra portions of pasta. Then when I put the salad together, I do not need to wait for the pasta to cool.

If you do not have any pasta ready, cook it according to instructions on the package, depending on which pasta shape you choose. Once it has cooked to al dente, rinse it under cold water, this will cool it down quicker and by the time you have prepared the vegetables and the hot smoked salmon mix, you are ready to mix it all. Make sure to check the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities.

On a wooden cutting board, closest to the camera a lemon cut in half, in the middle a blue plate with creamy salmon mix, in the background a stone wall
Creamy salmon on a plate

Substitutes

If you do not like the texture of hot smoked salmon, try this same recipe with cold smoked salmon, cut the slices in long pieces then follow the rest of the recipe.

If the vegetables that I have used does not suit your tastes, add any vegetables to your taste.

Freezer Friendly

Once the salad has been put together, I do not recommend freezing it. However I freeze cooked pasta all the time. Whenever I have leftovers that I know will not be eaten in the next few days, it will go into an airtight container and in the freezer.

Sometimes when I make this and other pasta salads, it is with a variety of pasta shapes, which ever I have in the freezer. Take it out about two hours before and leave it on the counter to thaw. Or overnight in the fridge. And it is perfect to put into your pasta salad.

A close up of a large blue bowl with creamy salmon pasta salad. Visible are fusili pasta, spinach, cucumber, tomatoes cut in half and spring onions.
Creamy pasta salad bowl

Salad variations

I have several other variations of pasta salads in my repertoire, perfect for the summer months when I do not really feel like cooking. Try my basic pasta salad or my Mediterranean version with sun dried tomatoes and feta cheese. Or why not try another salmon version, using canned salmon in my lemony salmon pasta salad.

In a large blue bowl, creamy salmon pasta salad is mixed, visible are fusili pasta, spinach, cucumber, tomatoes cut in half and spring onions.
Print Recipe

Creamy salmon pasta salad

Bring a basic pasta salad to the next level with this creamy salmon mix and a splash of lemon to make it summer fresh.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: Lunch
Cuisine: Basics
Keyword: salad, smoked salmon
Servings: 6 portions

Ingredients

  • 350 g uncooked pasta
  • 1 cucumber
  • 1 shallot or two small
  • 200 g canned corn
  • 200 g fresh spinach
  • 250 g Tomatoes plum and cherry

Creamy salmon

  • 200 g hot smoked Salmon
  • 50 ml mayonnaise
  • 100 ml creme fraiche
  • 2 tbsp lemon juice

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to instructions on package.
  • Drain the pasta in a colander. Then rinse in cold water which will help speed up the process of mixing the salad. This step can be done the day before to keep in an airtight container in the fridge overnight.
  • Slice and quarter the cucumber.
  • Peel and dice the shallots.
  • Open and drain the canned corn.
  • Rinse and drain the spinach.
  • Cut tomatoes in half.
  • Mix all vegetables with the pasta and set aside.

Creamy salmon mix

  • Use a fork to flake the hot smoked salmon into smaller pieces.
  • Mix the mayonnaise with the creme fraiche.
  • Add in the salmon into the mayonnaise mix.
  • Juice the lemon and add a little bit at the time to the salmon mix. Taste as you go along how much juice you need.
  • Add the creamy salmon mix to the pasta salad. Mix well and serve, or keep in the fridge in an airtight container.

2 responses to “Creamy salmon pasta salad”

  1. Lemon salmon pasta salad – Agile in the kitchen

    […] for the summer months when I do not really feel like cooking. Try my basic pasta salad or my Creamy salmon pasta salad for a different version to use salmon. Or my Mediterranean version with sun dried tomatoes and feta […]

  2. Mediterranean pasta salad – Agile in the kitchen

    […] when I do not really feel like cooking. Try my basic pasta salad or one of my salmon variations, creamy salmon or lemon salmon.If you prefer couscous to pasta, try my zucchini and couscous […]