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A white plate of penne pasta with burst cherry tomatoes and flaked salmon topped with parsley sits on a white marble countertop with a yellow linen, a pan of salmon penne pasta, a bunch of parsley, and a copper-colored fork.

Penne al Salmone

A light, summery pasta with flaked pan-seared salmon, sweet burst cherry tomatoes, and a white wine sauce.
5 from 45 votes
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Course: Lunch, Main Course, Pasta
Cuisine: American, Italian
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 25 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 small or 2 large
Calories: 253kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 fillet salmon patted dry, about 6 ounces
  • 8 ounces penne pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil extra virgin
  • 4 cloves garlic
  • 1 shallot
  • 8 ounces cherry tomatoes
  • 5 sprigs fresh thyme
  • ½ lemon
  • cup white wine
  • kosher salt to taste
  • fresh parsley or basil optional

Instructions

  • Slice the shallot and garlic.

Pasta

  • Place a pot of salted water over high heat and bring to a boil.
  • Once boiling, add pasta and cook to box directions. When cooked, strain and add a bit of olive oil to prevent sticking.

Salmon

    If Using Stainless Steel Pan for Salmon

    • Place pan over high heat. Once hot, add oil and turn down to medium heat.
    • When the oil is shimmering, add salmon skin side down until it is cooked ¾ of the way through and the skin lifts easily from the pan. Flip and cook until salmon reaches internal temp of 125°F.
    • Remove salmon from pan and let rest on cutting board. Flake with a fork.

    If Using Nonstick Pan for Salmon

    • Place pan over medium heat. Add olive oil.
    • Once shimmering, add salmon, skin side down until it is cooked ¾ of the way through. Flip and cook until salmon reaches internal temp of 125°F.

    Tomatoes

    • While the salmon rests, turn heat on the frying pan to medium low. Add shallots, garlic, and more olive oil if the pan seems a bit dry. Cook until softened, about 2 minutes.
    • Squeeze lemon juice into pan and add white wine. Deglaze the pan (scrape up the brown bits).
    • Add tomatoes and thyme and cook for 15-20 minutes, until tomatoes are burst and create a sauce with the white wine and lemon juice. To speed up cooking, prick the tomatoes with a paring knife.
    • Once the sauce is slightly thickened, taste for seasoning. Remove thyme stems. Add pasta and salmon to the pan, stir, and top with fresh herbs if desired.

    Notes

    • You can replace the penne with any short, tubular pasta, like rigatoni, ziti, or mostaccioli.
    • Fresh thyme can be replaced by ½ teaspoon dried thyme or Herbs de Provence.
    • Use any white wine that you would drink yourself - something light and dry will work well here.
    • If you prefer your salmon well done, cook to 140°F.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 253kcal | Carbohydrates: 24g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 23mg | Sodium: 28mg | Potassium: 430mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 357IU | Vitamin C: 24mg | Calcium: 33mg | Iron: 2mg