Garlic Butter Salmon with Creamy Pesto Pasta
Enjoy this delightful Garlic Butter Salmon with Creamy Pesto Pasta, featuring perfectly seared salmon fillets and a rich, creamy pesto sauce over pasta. Perfect for a satisfying and indulgent meal!
Ingredients:
Garlic Butter Salmon:
4 salmon fillets (skin-on or skinless, about 6 oz each)
Salt and black pepper to taste
2 tbsp olive oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 tbsp unsalted butter
1 lemon, sliced
Creamy Pesto Pasta:
12 oz pasta (fettuccine, linguine, or your favorite pasta)
2 tbsp olive oil
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1/2 cup pesto sauce (store-bought or homemade)
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh basil leaves, for garnish
Instructions:
Cook the Pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
Prepare the Salmon:
Pat the salmon fillets dry with paper towels. Season both sides with salt and black pepper.
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat.
Add the salmon fillets, skin-side down (if using skin-on), and cook for 4-5 minutes until the skin is crispy and the salmon is about halfway cooked. If using skinless fillets, cook until the bottom is golden brown.
Flip the salmon fillets and add the minced garlic and butter to the skillet. Continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes, spooning the garlic butter over the salmon as it cooks.
Add the lemon slices to the skillet during the last minute of cooking. Once the salmon is cooked through and flaky, remove it from the skillet and set aside.
Prepare the Creamy Pesto Sauce:
In the same skillet, add the olive oil and minced garlic. Cook over medium heat until the garlic is fragrant, about 1 minute.
Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer.
Stir in the pesto sauce and grated Parmesan cheese. Cook for 2-3 minutes, until the sauce thickens slightly.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
Combine the Pasta and Sauce:
Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the creamy pesto sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
Serve:
Divide the creamy pesto pasta among serving plates.
Top each plate with a garlic butter salmon fillet.
Garnish with fresh basil leaves and a squeeze of lemon juice if desired.
