For a fresh and easy summer meal, this cold pasta with asparagus, peas, lemon and smoked salmon is a perfect choice. It brings together bright flavours, simple ingredients and a combination of textures that feels light but still satisfying.
The sweetness of the peas, the freshness of the lemon, and the delicate taste of the smoked salmon work beautifully with the asparagus and the orecchiette. The result is a pasta dish that is just as good served slightly warm as it is cold, making it ideal for warmer days, or easy dinners outdoors.
There is a reason lemon works so well with fish: its sharp, fresh flavour helps balance richness and brings out the delicate taste of seafood without covering it. It is a pairing with a very long history, and this article gives an interesting look at why lemon and fish have been linked for centuries.
Let's see how to make it!
Ingredients
- 300 g orecchiette
- 200 g Smokin' Brothers smoked salmon (tail)
- 250 g asparagus
- 150 g peas
- 80 g baby spinach
- Zest of 1 lemon
- Juice of 1 lemon
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 20 g butter
- Black pepper, as needed
- Salt, as needed
- Pine nuts, optional
Method
- Cook the orecchiette in salted boiling water.
- Towards the end of the cooking time, add the asparagus, cut into small pieces, and the peas to the same pot.
- While the pasta is cooking, grate the lemon zest, squeeze the lemon juice, and cut the smoked salmon into small pieces. Keep a few slices aside for decoration.
- Drain the pasta and season it with the extra virgin olive oil and a small knob of butter. Mix well, then add the baby spinach, the diced smoked salmon, and the lemon juice.
- Finish with the lemon zest, a little black pepper, and, if you like, some pine nuts for extra crunch.
This pasta is delicious served warm, but it is even better cold, making it perfect for summer.
A small tip
If you are serving it cold, let the pasta cool slightly before adding the salmon, so the texture stays soft and delicate. A little extra lemon zest on top just before serving will also make the flavours feel even fresher.
Discover our range of smoked products here.