Cajun Salmon Pasta

Ingredients

• 4 salmon fillets
• 2 Tablespoons butter (melted)
• 2 teaspoons blackened seasoning (or Cajun seasoning)
• ½ lb. pasta (fettucine, linguine, or penne)
• ½ cup butter
• 1 shallot (minced)
• 3 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• 1 cup parmesan cheese (freshly grated)
• 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• ¼ cup reserved pasta water (if needed)

Instructions

1. preheat and boil
2. Preheat the oven to 425°F and start boiling water for the pasta. Cook pasta according to package directions.
3. salmon
4. For the salmon: Pat salmon fillets dry with a paper towel. Place them on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter and blackened seasoning. Brush mixture over salmon on all sides. Bake at 425°F for 10-12 minutes or until the salmon is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork.
5. sauce
6. For the sauce: In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt ½ cup of butter. Add the minced shallot and garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant. Whisk in the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, and Cajun seasoning. Whisk until well combined and let it simmer for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally. The sauce will thicken as it cools.
7. pasta
8. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sauce, tossing to coat. Note: Add 1 Tablespoon of reserve pasta water at a time until the pasta is coated in the sauce and the desired consistency is reached. Discard any unused water.
9. pasta with salmon
10. Top the Cajun pasta with salmon and garnish with chives and a lemon wedge, if desired.