One Pot Jerk Salmon Pasta with Cream Sauce

One Pot Jerk Salmon Pasta with Cream Sauce – A delicious Jamaican-inspired pasta dish made with spicy jerk salmon and a luscious alfredo sauce. This easy recipe for creamy salmon pasta is guaranteed to be a favorite. Perfect for quick weeknight meals that still feel special!

If you’ve visited any Caribbean inspired restaurant, you are likely familiar with rasta pasta. It is essentially traditional alfredo jazzed up with hallmark Jamaican spices and ingredients such as jerk sauce and coconut milk. The “rasta” part of the name is derived from the green, yellow, and red bell peppers used in the dish, which mirrors the colors of the Rastafarian flag.

Rastafarianism is a religion that emerged in Jamaica in the 1930s following the coronation of Ethiopian Emperor Haile Selassie. Some Jamaican clergy believed that Selassie was the Black messiah promised by activist Marcus Garvey. This was an inspiring message to a nation enduring the throes of British colonialism. 

To make jerk salmon rasta pasta with cream sauce, start by boiling salted water for pasta; the salt ensures that the noodles will be flavored from within, which protects against bland one pot salmon pasta. The pasta is our base for jerk marinated salmon and a cream sauce flavored with vibrant bell peppers and coconut milk. Whew, I am getting hungry just thinking about it!

Ingredients You’ll Need

The ingredients needed for this recipe are quite simple, and you can use them again and again for different dishes. They are especially handy for other Jamaican-inspired recipes!  

You will need:

• Salmon – Wild caught salmon filets make this a particularly quick pasta meal, since they are already pre-portioned into servings. I prefer skin-on salmon for more flavor, but skinless salmon also works well; just decrease the cook time a bit to prevent dry salmon. This dish is also delicious with other proteins such as chicken, shrimp, oxtail, and goat. 

• Herbs and spices – Thyme, dried ginger, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and fresh parsley make for a deliciously smoky one pan creamy salmon pasta. 

• Jerk seasoning – If you want to make jerk rasta pasta, you’re going to need some jerk flavor! I prefer using store bought Hot and Spicy Walkerswood Traditional Jamaican Jerk Seasoning because it’s amazing and makes for a fast weeknight dinner with simple ingredients. However, feel free to make your own jerk seasoning if you’d like!

• Oil and unsalted butter– You’ll need a little fat to saute the aromatics and sear the salmon. I prefer extra virgin olive oil but any neutral oil will work well.

• Aromatics – Shallots, garlic, bell peppers and lime juice add layers of flavor and texture to jerk salmon pasta. 

• Milk, cream, and chicken broth – While traditional alfredo salmon pasta calls for heavy whipping cream, this Jamaican inspired version also uses coconut milk for that island taste. To make this one pot salmon pasta dairy-free, you can substitute all of the dairy for coconut milk. The heavy cream just makes it extra creamy!

• Parmesan cheese – It’s alfredo, so parmesan cheese is going to make an appearance. There are non-dairy options from brands such as Daiya that you can likely substitute for this ingredient. 

• Salt and Pepper – These two seasonings are mainstays in just about every kitchen. I like to use Diamond Crystal kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. The quantities of salt called for in the recipe below reflect the fact that kosher salt is less salty than table salt. I also add chicken bouillon or a bit of a Maggi seasoning cube for extra flavorful salmon pasta with cream sauce.

How to make this recipe: step by step instructions

Boil the pasta water – Add water to a medium pot and salt generously. Bring to a boil while preparing the rest of the ingredients so that it is ready for the pasta.

Marinate and cook the salmon – Season salmon filets with salt, pepper, thyme, jerk seasoning, and lime juice. Marinate for 15 minutes and sear in a pan (Photo 1). 

Sauté aromatics – Sauté shallot, bell peppers, and garlic along with salt, dried ginger, smoked paprika and thyme (Photo 2). 

Make the creamy pasta sauce – Add coconut milk, heavy cream, chicken broth, and parmesan cheese to the aromatics. Simmer to make a smooth, savory sauce (Photo 3).

Add pasta and salmon to the white sauce – While the sauce is simmering, cook pasta in the boiling water until it is al dente and drain it. Add the pasta and cooked salmon to the jerk alfredo sauce and allow the flavors to marry. Garnish with fresh parsley.

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Sides for One Pot Salmon Pasta

• Grilled, steamed, or roasted vegetables

• Green Salad

• Garlic bread, breadsticks, or yeast rolls

Recipe Tips & Frequently Asked Questions

• Generously salt your pasta water – Salting the pasta water ensures that your pasta is seasoned, leading to a more flavorful dish.

• Do not overcook the pasta – The pasta will continue to cook in the white sauce, so cook it al dente according to the time on the box. 

• Reserve some pasta water for the cream sauce – Adding a bit of pasta water to the sauce once you put in the pasta makes for a thicker, more flavorful, and creamier sauce that adheres to the pasta.

• Do not overcook the salmon –  We want moist salmon that pairs well with the creamy pasta. To check for doneness, look at color and feel. It should go from red to a lighter pink, and become firm and flaky as opposed to soft and wet.

Creamy jerk salmon pasta q & a

More dishes to enjoy

• Crispy Salmon with Mango Salad
• Crab Linguine with Truffle Butter, Basil, and Chives

If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to know what you think.

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