This salmon penne with tomato vodka sauce is a delicious way to dress up a classic pasta dish with one of our favorite fish. It's decadent, but comes together in less than 30 minutes, start to finish.
Jump to Recipe (or scroll for photos...)I could call this recipe Quick and Easy Penne with Vodka Sauce and Salmon, but honestly, doesn’t Salmon Penne alla Vodka sound so much better? It gives it an Italian flair and lets us in on the secret that this is a decadent and delicious meal. No-one needs to know how easy it is to put together and how it can be made in under 30 minutes. Let everyone believe in your mastery in the kitchen and the time you devote to feeding them well. I won’t tell.
There are very few ingredients in a classic tomato vodka sauce, so make sure you use the best ingredients you can find. That means really good quality tomatoes and true Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. Those two ingredients will set the bar for flavor in this recipe. You can read all about how to make Tomato Vodka Cream Sauce here, but I’ve included the directions in the recipe card as well so you don’t have to go back and forth.
When purchasing salmon for this recipe, you don’t need to go top shelf. The most important thing to look for when buying any fish is to know its source. Wild salmon or ethically-raised and sustainable salmon is the best choice. If it’s not abundantly clear in labeling, just ask behind the fish counter to learn more about what you’re purchasing. I like both Pacific and Atlantic salmon, and am especially fond of Scottish salmon, but there are lots of different options available these days. (Read about how to skin and fillet a side of salmon here.)
You could make your life a little more difficult and sear the salmon for this pasta dish. You could pan roast it or air-fry the fillets and then break it up into the tomato vodka cream sauce. Or… you could follow this easy recipe and just let the cubes of salmon cook in the sauce for 4 to 6 minutes. So easy. So quick. So delicious.
The big advantage to buying a whole side of salmon is that you get to determine the portion sizes and...View Technique
So many recipe start with onions - diced, sliced, julienned, you name it! Here's all you need to know about...View Technique
Just a note… You should know that we are a participant in affiliate sales programs that allow us to earn a small commission for providing links to affiliated sites. The products are sincerely recommended by us and don’t cost a penny more for you.
Wow……we made this tonight and it was fabulous!!! We eat sooooo much salmon and I was sick of the “same ole same ole” recipes so I jumped on your site to see what recipes you had and we picked this one.
So easy to make and incredibly flavorful! I love all of your recipes and am so glad your share your talent and love of food with us!
Trying this tonight! I’m excited!