Salmon with Cream Sauce over Penne Pasta and Spinach Recipe

Penne pasta with spinach, a light cream sauce and salmon.
It's the perfect side dish when serving lobster. Even if your not serving lobster this is a delicious salmon dish. A garlic cream sauce with spinach. Of course if your not a spinach lover, try some boiled asparagus or even peas. This cream sauce is versatile and goes great with many vegetables. Don't be shy to substitute your favorite.  This is a perfect way to also use up that leftover salmon any way it's seasoned!

8 ounces penne pasta cooked al dente and drained saving 1/4 cup pasta water
4 oz  grilled salmon seasoned with salt, pepper or with any flavoring your like
1 12 to 16ounce package fresh sauteed spinach
1 1/2 cups half an half or heavy cream
1/4 cup Romano and Parmesan blended cheeses and more for pasta
salt, pepper to taste
2 crushed garlic cloves
butter
olive oil

Optional: Broiled Garlic Lobster Tails  click link


Grill salmon or bake till flakes easily cut into chunks set aside.

Boil pasta, drain saving 1/4 cup of pasta water. Add pasta back to the pot. Add the pasta water, 2 tablespoons olive oil,  1 tablespoon butter, 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder, salt and pepper to taste and a few tablespoons of grating cheese, toss all together and set aside keeping warm.

In the meantime while the pasta is cooking saute the spinach.

Saute spinach in 2 tablespoon oil, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, salt and pepper ( you can add a dash of cayenne pepper) saute until wilted and soft around 6 minutes, set aside.

Make the cream sauce in a  small saucepan.  Heat the half an half or heavy cream, bring to a slow boil. Add the 1/4 cup grating cheese, the garlic cloves and 2 tablespoons butter. Simmer for around 6 minutes. Pour over cooked penne pasta in a large pasta bowl. Toss with small chunks of salmon and the sauteed spinach. This is a great side dish or a perfect meal all by itself.

+claudia lamascolo  Author