Seafood Pasta Recipes:
Rotini with Salmon and Shrimp

Here's another of my favorite seafood pasta recipes. It couldn't be faster or easier. It uses just a few ingredients to make a dish that is fancy enough to serve to special guests.

Although this is a quick meal, I can't honestly call it a healthy one, with all that whipping cream. Save this one for special occasions!



Check that you have these staples at home

  • in the cupboard

    • rotini
    • canned salmon
    • canned baby shrimp

  • in the fridge or freezer

    • whipping cream
    • Parmesan cheese

Get out your equipment

  • Essential

    • a pasta pot or large saucepan
    • another saucepan
    • a can opener
    • a pasta strainer

  • Nice to have but not necessary

    • a rotary cheese grater (if not, use a regular grater)




    The recipe

    2 cups/500 ml rotini

    1 1/2 cups/375 mL whipping cream

    1 can (7 oz/220 g) salmon, drained

    1 can (7 oz/220 g) baby shrimp

    1/4 cup/60 mL grated Parmesan cheese

    Cook the rotini according to package directions.

    Meanwhile, put the whipping cream in a saucepan and bring it to a boil.
    Boil it for 3 minutes, stirring frequently.

    Add the salmon, shrimp and Parmesan to the saucepan.
    Heat through.

    Drain the cooked rotini.
    Add it to the saucepan.
    Stir gently to mix.



    Substitutions

    • Use fresh salmon instead of canned. You'll need about 1 cup/250 mL.

    • Use fresh or frozen shrimp instead of canned.

    • Use any variety of chunky pasta in place of the rotini. Fusilli or macaroni would work well.

    Ideas for making this recipe your own

    • Try reducing the fat content of this recipe by using a lighter cream - or by substituting plain yogurt for part of the cream. Please let me know how it turns out!

    Tips

    • If you are using large shrimp, use kitchen shears to cut them into small, baby-shrimp-sized pieces.

    • I prefer using a block of Parmesan cheese and grating it as I need it. The flavor is great! You could also use pre-grated Parmesan from the deli. I don't recommend using the "grated cheese product" that you'll find on the grocery store shelf. It is full of artificial ingredients - and its taste is nothing like the real thing.




    Menu suggestion

    Serve this dish with