Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad

A warm weather favorite

This Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad is perfect for warm spring and summer days. Penne pasta, rich smoked salmon, verdant green peas, crisp English cucumber, and bright cherry tomatoes are tossed in a light and creamy dressing enhanced with a splash of Champagne vinegar, garlic-infused olive oil, Dijon mustard, and fresh chives and dill. This pasta salad is lovely served chilled on a warm day as a main course and also works beautifully prepped and chilled a day in advance for an outdoor bbq or gathering as well.

What type of smoked salmon is best to use?

I prefer cold-smoked salmon for this dish because it has a lovely silky texture that I personally prefer in cold dishes like this pasta salad -- This is one of my favorite options. However, one might ask what's the difference between cold-smoked salmon and hot smoked salmon in the first place?

Cold-smoked salmon

This type of salmon is cured in salt brine before smoking between 70 and 90 degrees F. It has a silky texture and is often sliced very thinly, which gives it an almost translucent look. Cold-smoked salmon is great for cold dishes such as pasta salads, on top of cream cheese with bagels, and served in a cold salad like this Smoked Salmon and Citrus Salad with Cucumber and Avocado.

Hot-smoked salmon

This type of salmon is smoked at a higher temperature, usually between 120 and 180 degrees F. It has a flaky texture from being cooked through and the filets are often left intact or served in chunks rather than thinly sliced. Hot-smoked salmon is great for warm dishes such as warm pastas, risotto, chowders, and frittatas.

What kind of pasta is best to use?

I prefer a hearty tube pasta for this Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad as I love to be able to spear a bite of the smoked salmon and cucumber at the same time, so my go-to pasta shapes are penne, rigatoni, or ziti. However, this pasta salad recipe is equally fantastic with a short pasta shape such as farfalle (bow-tie), fusilli (corkscrew), or cavatappi (double-elbow), or smaller pasta that holds on to the sauce and peas well such as orecchiette or conchiglie (shells). If you are gluten-free, this dish can easily be made with a gluten-free pasta of your choosing — this is one of my favorite gluten-free penne options.

What tools do I need to make this recipe?

• A cutting board
• A chef’s knife
• A kitchen scale (or measuring cups for less precise measurements)
• Measuring spoons
• A large pot or Dutch oven
• A wooden spoon - OR - silicone pasta spoon
• A colander
• A large bowl (to toss the pasta salad in)
• A medium mixing bowl
• A citrus zester
• A citrus juicer (optional, but nice to have)
• A silicone spatula

Are you looking to upgrade to your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.

LOOKING FOR MORE DINNER INSPIRATION?

Love this Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad recipe? Here are some additional dishes that you might enjoy!

• Smoked Salmon and Citrus Salad with Cucumber and Avocado
• Savory Buttermilk Herb Dutch Baby (With Smoked Salmon)
• Gorgonzola Pasta with Brown Butter Lemon and Broccolini
• Pasta with Ricotta Beet Sauce
• Pasta with Olive Tapenade
• Risotto with Mushrooms and Peas
• Tuna Nicoise Salad

A NOTE FOR SPECIAL DIETS

This Smoked Salmon Pasta Salad can be made friendly for gluten-free diets by utilizing a gluten-free pasta — This corn and rice penne is one of my favorite options.

Print