Mary Berry's Speedy Salmon Pasta: A Spring-Inspired Delight
Where would we be without pasta? It's a staple in many cupboards, ready to transform simple ingredients like meat, fish, cheese, or vegetables into a quick and satisfying meal. Sometimes, all you need is a drizzle of olive oil and a sprinkle of black pepper to create something delicious.
A Tasty and Simple Recipe for Busy Days
If you're searching for a flavorful yet easy dish, look no further than Mary Berry's speedy salmon pasta. This recipe bursts with the fresh tastes of spring, making it an ideal choice for a midweek supper. Salmon might seem like a luxury, but it's rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which support heart and brain health, and provides a generous dose of protein.
The lemon and caper salmon linguine, featured in Mary's cookbook "Mary Makes It Easy," is described as a "super quick midweek supper" that's elegant enough to impress guests. Best of all, it can be prepared in less than half an hour. You can easily swap the linguine for other pasta types like tagliatelle, spaghetti, or pappardelle based on your preference.
Flavor Profile and Ingredients
Mary Berry explains that the sharpness of the capers and lemon perfectly balances the creaminess of the salmon and pasta. She notes, "Hot-smoked salmon is fresh salmon which has been lightly hot smoked, so the texture is more like cooked salmon than smoked salmon." This detail ensures the dish has a tender, flaky consistency.
Ingredients (serves 4):
- 225g linguine
- 75g pine nuts
- Small knob of butter
- 6 spring onions, trimmed and finely sliced
- 6 tbsp olive oil
- 2 lemons, juice only
- 115g capers from a jar, drained
- Small bunch fresh chives, chopped
- Small bunch fresh parsley, leaves chopped
- 200g hot-smoked salmon flakes or fillets
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
Step-by-Step Method
- Cook the pasta according to the packet instructions. Drain it, reserving 75ml of the starchy pasta water for later use.
- Place a frying pan over high heat. Add the pine nuts and toast them for about 30 seconds until they turn golden brown. Remove and set aside.
- Add the butter and spring onions to the pan, frying for 30 seconds. Then, pour in the olive oil, lemon juice, and capers, heating for another 30 seconds.
- Add the cooked pasta, reserved pasta water, herbs, and salmon to the pan. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, gently tossing everything over the heat.
- Serve immediately, sprinkling the toasted pine nuts over the top for added crunch and flavor.
Recipe Variations and Feedback
This recipe is highly adaptable, as noted by comments on the Penguin website. One reviewer shared, "Very nice. I used thinly sliced cold smoked salmon which cooked within seconds of being mixed with the pasta." Another added, "I have made this for decades (we add prawns too) everyone loves it, however, the addition of the pine nuts is genius! Dinner in under 10 minutes which is both nutritious and tasty!"
For those interested in expanding their culinary skills, consider these cookbooks: Mary Makes it Easy by Mary Berry offers 120 stress-free recipes, while Good Food: 101 Fish and Seafood Dishes by Jeni Wright provides triple-tested ideas. Gordon Ramsay's Quick and Delicious features 100 recipes that take 30 minutes or less, using readily available ingredients.
Prices are correct at the time of publication, and this article may include affiliate links. For more easy recipe inspiration, explore options like pesto salmon with asparagus or one-pot Italian chicken and spinach pasta.
