Creamy Salmon Pasta – Gluten Free

Need a quick healthy gluten-free pasta dinner recipe? Look no further. This  creamy salmon pasta dish is a gluten-free meal made in under 30 minutes. The creamy sauce is filled with seared fresh salmon, zucchini and cherry tomatoes. The creaminess comes from coconut milk and cheese. 

This is not your typical gluten-free Italian pasta meal. The sauce is mildly flavoured with Thai spices, a pinch of basil and coconut milk. To make the pasta sauce extra creamy, I added Gruyere cheese. The sauce is light, not overly heavy, with cream and cheeses, showcasing the healthy salmon and fresh veggies.

Creamy salmon pasta dinner under 30 minutes.

I love this healthy salmon dinner recipe. It takes just minutes to whip up, and the results are outstanding. This creamy salmon pasta dish is simple enough for a weeknight meal and special enough for when the company is coming.

So much flavour!

To start, the salmon is seasoned with basil, salt and pepper. Then it is seared, keeping the juices and flavours of this delicious healthy fish. Once the salmon is ready, using the same skillet, add garlic and zucchini. The flavour in the skillet from the salmon blends deliciously with the fresh zucchini.

Now that the salmon is ready and the zucchini lightly cooked with garlic, I added some Thai red curry paste, coconut milk and cheese. Once the cheese starts to melt, add the fresh cherry tomatoes and return the salmon pieces to the skillet. 

The sauce is now ready for the pasta. The pasta is gently tossed with the sauce until well coated. I often add some pasta water to the sauce if the sauce is too thick. I like to rest the pasta for about 15 minutes before serving. The sauce will thicken, and the pasta will absorb the flavours from the tasty sauce.

How to cook gluten-free pasta?

Not all gluten-free pasta takes the same time to cook. So it is essential to follow the package directions. My most favourite gluten-free pasta is the Barilla pasta. I can honestly say this pasta has never disappointed me. The pasta is made with two flours, corn and rice. There are other varieties, but my family and I love this pasta the best!

To cook the pasta, make sure the water is well salted and not overcook the pasta. The pasta should be cooked al dente – cooked but firm to the bite. To cook pasta al dente, drain it around 2-3 minutes before the cooking time mentioned on the package. Italians always slightly undercook their pasta.

Is slightly undercooked pasta healthier?

Slightly undercooked pasta means that our stomach’s digestive enzymes take longer to break down the starch into sugars. Overcooking pasta increases its glycemic index (GI), which taxes organs such as the pancreas, and could lead to diabetes and obesity in the long run.

Salt or no salt in the water?

When pasta is cooked in salty water, the pasta will absorb some salt while cooking. The salt makes the pasta more flavourful and makes the entire dish more delicious.

To serve this most delicious Italian-Thai inspired creamy salmon pasta dish, I like to give it a good sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese and fresh herbs. And what goes well with pasta dinner? It all depends. If you are looking to lighten the meal up, add our healthy rainbow salad. If you have big appetites to feed, add a side of our quick and easy gluten-free cheese and garlic flatbread. Yum!