Description
Succulent Mediterranean-inspired smoked salmon pasta salad brings coastal flavors to your table with elegant simplicity. Fresh dill, capers, and zesty lemon unite creamy textures, inviting coastal culinary exploration that delights hungry guests.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 oz cold smoked salmon, flaked or sliced
- 8 oz short pasta (fusilli, farfalle, or penne)
- ½ cup cucumber, diced
- ½ cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- ½ cup plain Greek yogurt or sour cream
- ¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
- ¼ cup capers (optional)
- ¼ cup fresh dill, chopped
- 2 tbsps mayonnaise
- 2 tbsps chopped fresh chives
- 2 tbsps lemon juice
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp fresh dill (or more to taste)
- 1 tsp Dijon mustard
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente, then rapidly cool under cold running water to halt cooking process and prevent clumping.
- Dressing Creation: Vigorously whisk yogurt, mayonnaise, olive oil, fresh lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and chopped dill in a compact mixing bowl, seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper to develop a harmonious flavor profile.
- Salad Composition: In a spacious mixing vessel, artfully combine cooled pasta, delicate smoked salmon, ripe cherry tomatoes, crisp cucumber, piquant red onion, briny capers, fragrant dill, and delicate chives, ensuring even distribution of ingredients.
- Final Assembly: Drizzle prepared dressing over the composed salad, gently folding ingredients to ensure comprehensive coating without disrupting the salmon’s delicate texture.
- Flavor Enhancement: Refrigerate the salad for 20-30 minutes, allowing ingredients to harmonize and develop a more complex taste profile. Optional: Garnish with additional fresh herbs or bright lemon zest just before serving to elevate visual appeal and aromatic complexity.
Notes
- Refrigerate the pasta salad for 20-30 minutes to enhance flavor fusion and allow ingredients to blend perfectly.
- Rinse pasta immediately with cold water to stop cooking and prevent clumping, ensuring a crisp, fresh pasta base.
- Choose high-quality, fresh smoked salmon for optimal taste and ensure it’s thinly sliced for even distribution throughout the salad.
- Swap ingredients like using Greek yogurt for extra protein or adding gluten-free pasta to accommodate dietary preferences without compromising flavor.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 450 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 35 mg