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Creamy Salmon Pasta Salad with Lemon Dill Dressing

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is about to become your new favourite pasta salad. Savoury smoked salmon, a simple creamy dill dressing, hard-boiled eggs, capers, and red onions combine to amp up pasta salad to a whole new level. You'll find yourself craving this!

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad combines savory smoked salmon with a creamy dill dressing, hard‑boiled eggs, capers, and red onion for a pasta salad that’s bright, satisfying, and easy to make. It’s perfect for weeknight dinners, potlucks, or a light summer lunch.

Smoked Salmon Pasta

I’m a huge fan of smoked fish and use it whenever I can. If it’s on a menu, I usually order it. At home I often smoke my own salmon, and when it’s available I add it to everything from scrambled eggs to salads.

When homemade smoked salmon isn’t on hand, a quality canned smoked salmon is an excellent pantry backup. It’s convenient, flavorful, and makes quick work of recipes like this pasta salad.

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is about to become your new favourite pasta salad. Savoury smoked salmon, a simple creamy dill dressing, hard-boiled eggs, capers, and red onions combine to amp up pasta salad to a whole new level. You'll find yourself craving this!

Canned Smoked Salmon

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is about to become your new favourite pasta salad. Savoury smoked salmon, a simple creamy dill dressing, hard-boiled eggs, capers, and red onions combine to amp up pasta salad to a whole new level. You'll find yourself craving this!

High-quality canned smoked salmon often contains visible fillets that flake easily when you remove the skin. That texture and smoky flavor make it an excellent choice for this salad. If you can, choose a product with minimal additives and recognizable pieces of fish.

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is about to become your new favourite pasta salad. Savoury smoked salmon, a simple creamy dill dressing, hard-boiled eggs, capers, and red onions combine to amp up pasta salad to a whole new level. You'll find yourself craving this!

This recipe came together when I tossed flaked smoked salmon with shaped pasta, a creamy dill dressing, diced hard‑boiled eggs, capers, and red onion. The result is a balanced, flavorful salad that both kids and adults enjoy.

If you prefer fresh salmon, you can substitute cooked, flaked salmon instead of canned smoked salmon. Adjust the seasoning and capers to taste to balance saltiness and smoke.

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is about to become your new favourite pasta salad. Savoury smoked salmon, a simple creamy dill dressing, hard-boiled eggs, capers, and red onions combine to amp up pasta salad to a whole new level. You'll find yourself craving this!

Smoked Salmon Pasta Tips

Smoked salmon pasta recipes deliver big flavor with minimal effort. A few simple tips will help you get the best texture and taste:

  • Cook pasta to al dente. Pasta continues to absorb dressing as it chills, so al dente pasta will stay firmer after refrigeration.
  • If raw red onion is too sharp for you, dice it and soak in cold water for 10 minutes, then drain and repeat once or twice until milder.
  • Use drained brine-packed nonpareil capers for a bright, briny pop—rinse briefly before adding. If you use salt‑packed capers, rinse well and consider reducing the quantity to avoid overpowering the salad.
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Salmon Pasta Salad

To make this smoked salmon pasta salad, start by cooking 1 pound of shaped pasta—like elbow, campanelle, or farfalle—to al dente. Drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking and cool the pasta.

While the pasta cools, whisk together 3/4 cup mayonnaise, 1/4 cup white wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh dill, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black or white pepper in a large mixing bowl until smooth.

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is about to become your new favourite pasta salad. Savoury smoked salmon, a simple creamy dill dressing, hard-boiled eggs, capers, and red onions combine to amp up pasta salad to a whole new level. You'll find yourself craving this!

Add the cooled pasta, 4 ounces flaked smoked salmon (skin and bones removed if present), 1/2 cup finely diced red onion, 2 diced hard‑boiled eggs, and 2 tablespoons drained and rinsed nonpareil capers. Toss gently to coat.

Chill the salad, tightly covered, for at least 1 hour and up to 1 day before serving to let flavors meld. If it becomes too firm overnight, stir in a little extra mayonnaise and white wine vinegar to loosen the dressing before serving.

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad
Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

Rebecca Lindamood

Prep Time 20
Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is flavorful and easy to make—smoky salmon, creamy dill dressing, eggs, capers, and red onion combine for a refreshing pasta salad you’ll want to make again.

Equipment

  • pasta pot
  • colander
  • mixing bowl
  • sturdy spoon

Ingredients

  • 1 pound shaped pasta elbow, campanelle, farfalle, etc.
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup white wine vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons finely minced fresh dill
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground black or white pepper
  • 4 ounces smoked salmon picked free of bones and skin, flaked
  • 1/2 red onion peeled and finely diced
  • 2 hard-boiled eggs peeled and diced
  • 2 tablespoons nonpareil capers drained and rinsed

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta to al dente according to package instructions. Drain and rinse thoroughly with cold water to stop the cooking.
  • While the pasta cools, whisk together the mayonnaise, white wine vinegar, fresh dill, salt, and pepper until smooth in a large mixing bowl.
  • Add the cooled pasta, smoked salmon, red onion, hard‑boiled eggs, and capers. Toss gently to coat. Chill, tightly covered, for at least 1 hour or up to 1 day before serving. It can be served immediately if desired.
  • If stored overnight, stir in a little extra mayonnaise and white wine vinegar as needed to loosen the dressing before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 380 kcal
Carbohydrates: 22 g
Protein: 11 g
Fat: 19 g

Nutritional information is an estimate. Calculate nutrition with the exact ingredients you use if needed.

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Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is about to become your new favourite pasta salad. Savoury smoked salmon, a simple creamy dill dressing, hard-boiled eggs, capers, and red onions combine to amp up pasta salad to a whole new level. You'll find yourself craving this!