Summer Salmon Pasta with Meyer Lemon

Ran this salmon pasta with Meyer lemon at my restaurant one night, just throwing together all the leftover bits and pieces from the past couple of nights. Sold out in less than an hour. It's deceptively light, but filling. Great summertime pasta. Serve with garlic toast and salad.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 40 mins
• Total Time: 60 mins
• Calories: 522 Calories

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• salt and ground black pepper to taste
• ¼ cup white wine
• 1 cup fresh orange juice
• 1 ½ cups heavy cream
• 2 large oranges
• 1 dried red chile pepper
• ¼ cup sliced green onions
• 3 large cloves garlic, minced
• 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese, or to taste
• 1 cup cremini mushrooms, quartered
• 2 small Meyer lemons, scrubbed
• 1 cup chopped fresh pineapple
• 1 cup fresh pineapple juice
• 12 sprigs fresh thyme
• 2 cups dried penne pasta
• 1 medium leek, thinly sliced
• ½ cup diced roasted red peppers
• 2 cups packed arugula
• 1 ½ cups cooked salmon fillet, flaked

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Zest and juice 1 lemon; zest remaining lemon and set aside. Zest oranges, peel, then slice roughly.

Step 2

Combine 1/2 of the orange zest and all the orange slices in small pot with chopped pineapple, pineapple and orange juices, lemon zest and juice from 1 lemon, fresh thyme, and dried pepper. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer until juice is reduced by almost half. Discard pepper. Process remainder in a blender until smooth. This is the citrus reduction base for your sauce.

Step 3

Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add penne and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 11 minutes. Drain.

Step 4

Warm up oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add leek, mushrooms, red peppers, garlic, salt, and black pepper. Saute until leeks and garlic are soft, about 5 minutes. Deglaze with white wine. Add remaining orange and lemon zest, 3/4 cup citrus reduction, and cream. Bring to a boil, and cook until reduced to desired consistency.

Step 5

Add cooked pasta, arugula, and salmon. Toss until arugula wilts, and serve. Top with green onions and Parmesan cheese.