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.
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
A large, heavy bottomed pot, a large, heavy bottomed pan, a spatula, and a wooden spoon are helpful when making this recipe.
Rasta pasta is a creamy Jamaican-inspired alfredo made with bell peppers and coconut milk.
Jerk pasta is believed to have been created by Chef Lorraine Washington in Negril, Jamaica in 1985.
Jerk salmon pasta is delicious! It has a smoky, creamy flavor that adds a new dimension to classic alfredo.
The salmon pasta is made with salmon, shallots, bell peppers, heavy cream, coconut milk, chicken broth, parmesan cheese, and pasta.
I prefer fettuccine noodles, but any pasta that you would use for alfredo is fine. Penne is another good option.
Smoked paprika, thyme, garlic powder, dried ginger, and jerk seasoning (which includes allspice and nutmeg) make for a deliciously smoky and flavorful one pot salmon pasta.
Salmon pasta can be refrigerated for up to four days. If you plan to freeze it, only freeze the sauce and pair it with freshly made pasta for the best texture.
More dishes to enjoy
If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and rating below! I’d love to know what you think.
PrintOne 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!
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Entree
- Cuisine: Caribbean
Ingredients
- 4 salmon fillets, about 6 ounces each
- Kosher salt
- Freshly ground black pepper
- 2 tsp dried thyme
- 4 tbsp Walkerswood Hot & Spicy Jerk Seasoning
- 1 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 shallot, diced
- 1/2 yellow bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 green bell pepper, diced
- 5 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried ginger
- 2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/4 cup coconut milk
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 6 ounces high quality parmesan cheese, grated
- 1/4 tsp maggi cube
- 8 ounces of dried fettuccine
- Fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
- Boil water for pasta.
- Season salmon fillets with salt, pepper, and a tsp of thyme.
- Rub salmon with two tbsp Walkerswood jerk seasoning and lime juice. Marinate for 15 minutes.
- Heat a pan to medium high and add two tbsp of olive oil. Sear salmon skin side up for 4 minutes. Flip, and fry for 3 minutes on the other side. Remove from pan and keep warm.
- Reduce the heat to medium and add 4 tbsp of butter to the plan. Add the shallot and bell peppers. Once they begin to soften, add the garlic. Season with salt, 1/2 tsp ginger, tsp garlic powder, tsp paprika, and 1/2 tsp of thyme. Add tbsp of jerk seasoning.
- Deglaze the veggie mixture with coconut milk, heavy cream, and chicken broth. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Add fettuccine to boiling water and cook according to package instructions. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
- Add parmesan cheese to the sauce. Season with salt, 1/2 tsp ginger, tsp garlic powder, tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp of thyme, Maggi, and tbsp of jerk seasoning. Simmer on low for 5 minutes.
- Add the fettuccine to the sauce and cook for 1 minute along with a tablespoon of pasta water.
- Top the pasta with the blackened jerk salmon. Garnish with parsley.
Notes
- Generously salt the pasta water – Salting the pasta water will ensure that your pasta is seasoned from the inside out.
- Don’t overcook the pasta – Cook the pasta al dente and finish it in the sauce.
- Adjust the seasonings to your liking – If you like less salt or more spice, change it to suit your tastes.
- Save some pasta water for the white cream sauce – Pasta water makes for a thicker sauce that adheres better to the pasta.
- Simmer the sauce on low – Cooking a cream sauce on high heat has the tendency to lead to a broken, greasy sauce. Make it low and slow.
- Storing Leftovers – Salmon pasta can be refrigerated up to 4 days and the sauce can be frozen for up to one month. To reheat, simmer the sauce on low and add a little milk or cream to make it creamy again.
Keywords: Pasta Dishes, Caribbean recipes, Seafood Dishes
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Oh yummy!!!!!!! I love pasta and salmon. They are a delicious combo. Thank you for sharing your recipe with me.
Isn’t it the best combo?! Of course 🙂
This looks incredible and like it would have so much flavour. I’m always on the lookout for new recipes to try with my partner x
Thank you! It is so good and definitely worth a try as it’s super quick.
Sooo good. Love this recipe ❤️❤️ Yummy
Thanks for sharing
https://uncuaderno4cero.wordpress.com/
Thank you so much 🙂
This pasta looks absolutely delicious! I love to have a twist to a favourite and it looks like it worked perfectly! Will have to give this a try, thanks for sharing x
Right? Fettuccine Alfredo is already delicious, and this just kicks it up a notch. Thank you, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Yum! This sounds great. I actually have a similar recipe coming out tomorrow haha! A Creamy Cajun Chicken Pasta Bake 🙂 I’m going to try my next pasta dish with jerk seasoning! Thanks for sharing x
http://www.lynnmumbingmejia.com
Great minds think alike! I will have to check out your recipe 🙂
O wow this sounds so amazing! I love the twist you gave the recipe and I can’t wait to try it ?
Thank you!! I hope you like it 🙂
This recipe sounds so interesting, I’ve never had anything like it before! Thanks for sharing xx
Of course! Thank you for reading.
Spicy food is great and salmon takes strong flavours so well so I think I’ll be trying this out soon.
Please do! Hope you enjoy.
I am so excited about this dish. I love salmon and I love Rasta pasta. The story behind the dish along with the recipe let’s me know this will be good!
Thank you! I truly hope you enjoy it 🙂
I can’t wait to make this one!!
Enjoy 🙂
This looks so delicious!!!!
Thank you!
Yum! I want to make this but I don’t know where to find the seasoning.
I usually can find Walkerswood seasoning at Walmart or my local grocery store. It is so delicious!
Trying new, local and international foods is one of my passions
This is on my list to try. And prtty soon, may i add, lol
I love trying new cuisines as well! It just makes eating and cooking more interesting.
This sounds absolutely delicious. Love salmon.
Me too. It’s such a simple and versatile protein.
You got me at, “deglaze veggie mixture with coconut milk, heavy cream…etc”. I’ve got to try this pasta dish.
Haha I’m glad you enjoyed the recipe! Hope you enjoy the dish just as much 🙂
Wow, this sounds amazing! Love the Jamaican twist, too.
Thank you so much!!
Looks so amazing and its making me hungry
Thank you so much!