Name: Healthy Salmon Spinach Pasta
Prep time: 15 min
Total time: 15 min
Ingredients: 14.11 ounces ready-to-eat salmon (see *Notes below); 4.59 ounces spinach (finely chopped); 6.35 ounces pasta (enough for 4); 3 teaspoons butter; 2 teaspoons flour; 1 cup milk; ½ vegetable stock cube; 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard; 3 tablespoons cream cheese; Fine sea salt and pepper to taste

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This healthy salmon spinach pasta is an easy and delicious way of turning leftover salmon into a speedy and nutritious meal the whole family will enjoy. Ready in as little as 15 minutes!

Salmon and spinach with pasta and creamy sauce in white bowl with fork.

This salmon spinach pasta is a wonderful example of how leftovers can be transformed into completely new, delicious dishes. To make this recipe I used oven baked salmon leftovers, combined it with fresh spinach and stirred along with the pasta into a quick and easy, creamy low-fat sauce.

This simple recipe is a fantastic family weeknight meal idea and there is no need to make a side dish or salad. It's nutritious, made without heavy cream and there'll be enough for a family of 4.

Salmon spinach pasta ingredients and substitutions

Salmon: see details below.
Spinach: I used baby spinach as it's a little sweeter than regular but you can use either (see also hasselback salmon with spinach).
Cream cheese: adds a little tang to the sauce.
Butter: helps to create a creamy sauce and adds flavour.
Flour: thickens the sauce.
Milk: adds creaminess to the sauce.
Stock: adds depth of flavour.
Mustard: enhances the flavour.
Pasta: use your favourite. Cook al dente and reserve some of the water (to loosen the sauce if needed)

Ingredients for making healthy salmon pasta with spinach in individual dishes. — Salmon spinach pasta ingredients.

What salmon to use

To make this healthy salmon spinach with pasta you can use ready-to-eat salmon leftovers or easily prepare salmon from raw (see Instructions below).

You can use canned salmon instead if you prefer although I don't think it works as well as cooked salmon which has a softer texture. (In my opinion the canned variety is better suited to salads and sandwiches). If you do decide to use this alternative I recommend choosing good quality canned salmon packed in water.

How to prepare the salmon

If you haven't got ready-to-eat salmon and prefer not to use canned you can easily prepare salmon from raw.

Season your salmon fillet, drizzle over some oil (or mist with cooking spray) and bake in a preheated oven at 375 F/ 190 C/ gas mark 5 for about 15 minutes or until fully cooked. Remove from the oven, discard the skin (if present), shred and make the recipe.
Alternatively shallow-fry the salmon in a little oil over a fairly low heat for 2-3 minutes on each side.

Top tip

To save time you can cook the salmon and boil the pasta at the same time.

What pasta to use

This spinach salmon pasta works well with linguine, spaghetti or tagliatelle, but fusilli or penne are also good options. Just use your favourite.

Step-by-step recipe instructions

1.Start by boiling the pasta al dente (according to packet instructions). Strain, reserve some of the water and set aside. In the meantime prepare the sauce.

2.In a large pan melt the butter, add the flour and whisk until the mixture is smooth. Add the milk, stock cube and mustard and whisk until the sauce thickens and starts bubbling. Remove from the heat, add the cream cheese and whisk in until smooth.

Making creamy sauce with cream cheese in large pan with green whisk.

3. Stir in the spinach. Heat up the sauce again if needed but do NOT cook the spinach.

Whisking fresh, chopped spinach into creamy sauce in large pan.

4. Add the pasta and salmon, season to taste, stir, drizzle over a little oil and/or lemon juice and serve immediately.

Spaghetti with fork, shredded salmon and chopped spinach in white sauce in large pan.

Serving suggestions

This salmon and spinach pasta is delicious with simple seasoning but you could also serve it with fresh herbs such as chopped parsley, chives, dill or tarragon. You could also add a small amount of finely chopped smoked salmon into the mixture for added flavour. Drizzle over a little oil and/or lemon juice before serving.

Top tips

I recommend using baby spinach as it's tastier and has softer leaves than regular, mature spinach.
Do NOT cook the spinach - just stir into the sauce to combine.
To save time make the sauce while you are waiting for the pasta to boil.
Reserve some of the water from cooking the pasta to loosen the sauce if needed.
If your pan is not big enough for the entire dish you can use it to prepare the spinach sauce which you can then spoon over individual portions.
Heat up the salmon before assembling the dish.
Best served immediately. If you are planning to enjoy this spinach and salmon pasta over 2 days refrigerate the sauce and pasta separately (otherwise the pasta might get soggy).

Can I freeze salmon pasta with spinach

Yes, you can, but not in its entirety. I recommend freezing the salmon and spinach sauce without the pasta (which is likely to absorb some of the sauce and become soggy after defrosting). It's best to boil the pasta just before serving, heat up the rest of the ingredients and assemble the dish.

Top tip

Freeze the salmon along with the spinach sauce ONLY IF the salmon hadn't been previously frozen.

Side view of pasta with spinach and salmon in white bowl with fork.

More leftover salmon recipes to try

Keep in touch!

How has this creamy salmon spinach pasta recipe turned out for you? Did you make any swaps? Let me know in the comments below, thanks!

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