15-Minute Creamy Salmon Pasta with Tarragon & Broad Beans Recipe

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Creamy pasta with chunks of salmon, broad beans (or edamame), and fresh tarragon in a light sauce, presented on a white plate.

    🍝 Pasta Waits For No One. Click For The Recipe!

    Let’s talk about weeknights. You’re tired, you’re hungry, and you want something that tastes like a five-star hug, not a two-minute microwave mistake. Well, put down the takeout menu, because this Salmon Tagliatelle with Tarragon and Broad Beans is your dinner hero. It’s elegant, it’s ridiculously creamy, and it clocks in at just 15 minutes cook time - which is faster than deciding what to binge-watch next.

Overhead shot of raw ingredients for creamy salmon pasta: two salmon fillets, a bowl of broad beans, butter, lemon, fresh rosemary, olive oil, and three nests of tagliatelle.

    The Secret Sauce: Tarragon, Lemon, and Creamy Magic

    The magic here isn’t just the flaky, buttery pan-seared salmon; it's the sauce. We ditch the heavy cream and use crème fraiche, which gives you all the luxurious texture without the cloying thickness. Then, we hit it with fresh tarragon - the king of herbal pairing for fish - and a bright, zesty squeeze of lemon. The result is a vibrant, herbaceous, and utterly fresh sauce that clings perfectly to the thick strands of tagliatelle.

                    Close-up of the creamy salmon and broad beans mixed with tagliatelle    

    And those bright green jewels? Those are broad beans (or edamame, if you’re in a pinch). They add a pop of colour and a satisfying burst of fresh, slightly sweet crunch that completes the dish. This recipe serves two, but trust me, you'll want to double it—it vanishes fast.

    Pro-Tip: Don't Forget the Pasta Water

    The key to any professional-level pasta sauce is the reserved pasta water. This starchy, salty liquid is what emulsifies the crème fraiche and lemon juice, turning it into a silky, cohesive sauce instead of a watery mess. It’s the final trick that makes this 15-minute meal taste like you spent an hour sweating over it.

   


               

🍝 15-Minute Creamy Salmon Pasta with Tarragon & Broad Beans

   

A 15-minute weeknight masterpiece! Flaky salmon and vibrant broad beans tossed with tagliatelle in a light, herbaceous sauce of fresh tarragon and zesty lemon and crème fraiche.

       
        Creamy Salmon Tagliatelle    
   
       
               
  • Prep: 10 minutes
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  • Cook: 15 minutes
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  • Servings: 2
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Ingredients

  • Drizzle of olive oil
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  • knob of butter
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  • 2 salmon fillets, skin removed
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  • 150g dried tagliatelle (or pasta of your choice)
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  • 175g broad beans (shelled)
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  • 5 tbsp crème fraiche
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  • zest and juice 1/2 lemon
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  • small bunch of fresh tarragon, roughly chopped
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  • salt and pepper to taste
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Instructions

           

  1. Cook the Salmon: Generously season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper. Put the oil and a knob of butter in a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat, swirling around the pan until melted and foaming, then turn up the heat. Once the butter starts bubbling, add the salmon fillets to the pan, skin-side-down, and fry for 3 minutes until crisp. Flip the fillets over, lower the heat and cook for 2 minutes more, then drizzle with the lemon juice.

    2.        

  2. Prepare Salmon Pieces: Transfer the salmon to a plate and baste with any of the buttery juices left in the pan. Chop the fillets into bite-size pieces.

    3.        

  3. Cook Pasta and Beans: Meanwhile, boil the pasta following packet instructions, adding the broad beans 2 minutes before the end of cooking. Once the beans and pasta are just tender, reserve a cup of the cooking water, then drain.

    4.        

  4. Finish and Serve: Remove the pan used for the salmon from the heat, then add the crème fraiche, 3 tablespoons of the reserved cooking water, the lemon zest and juice, and tarragon. Season to taste and toss until the pasta is covered with creamy sauce, then stir in the chopped salmon pieces and serve immediately.

    5.    

🍴 Go Ahead, Conquer That Carb Craving!

    So there you have it: a dinner that tastes like a weekend project but only took a slice of your lunch break. This Creamy Salmon Pasta with Tarragon & Broad Beans Recipe proves that you don't need a sous chef or an hour of prep time to impress yourself (or your lucky dinner guest). Go ahead, skip the dishes for tonight (or at least, delegate them), because you just mastered a main course that’s ready faster than your favourite streaming service can buffer. Enjoy the applause, you culinary hero - now go grab that fork!

One last tip: If you find yourself enjoying this dish a little too much and decide to eat both servings, don't worry—it's protein, healthy fats, and greens, which technically makes it a power lunch no matter the hour. Your secret's safe with me, now go forth and conquer that carb craving!

Dinner Ready in 15? Share the Secret! 👇