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Blackened Salmon Filets with Mafaldine in Creamy Tomato Basil Sauce

This quick and delicious recipe for blackened salmon filets served with mafaldine in a creamy tomato basil sauce is perfect for busy nights.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Calories: 600
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Blackened Salmon
  • 4 filets 4 salmon filets Pat dry before seasoning.
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons paprika For seasoning.
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon cayenne pepper Adjust to taste for heat.
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons olive oil For cooking.
For the Mafaldine with Creamy Tomato Basil Sauce
  • 12 ounces 12 ounces mafaldine pasta Or your favorite pasta shape.
  • 1 can (14 oz) 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 cup 1 cup heavy cream Can substitute with half-and-half.
  • 1/2 cup 1/2 cup fresh basil, chopped For freshness.
  • 1/2 teaspoon 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Grated Parmesan cheese For serving.

Method
 

Cooking the Salmon
  1. Pat the salmon filets dry to help the spices stick.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together paprika, cayenne pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and black pepper.
  3. Rub olive oil on salmon filets and generously coat with spice mix.
  4. Heat a skillet over medium-high heat and add salmon filets, cooking for 4-5 minutes on each side until blackened. Remove and set aside.
Making the Creamy Tomato Basil Sauce
  1. Boil salted water in a large pot. Add mafaldine and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. In the same skillet, add crushed tomatoes and bring to a simmer. Stir in heavy cream and season with salt and pepper, simmerring for about 5 minutes.
  3. Stir in chopped fresh basil and cooked mafaldine, tossing to combine.
  4. Serve generous portions of creamy pasta topped with blackened salmon and sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese.

Notes

For best results, sub heavy cream with half-and-half for a lighter sauce. If sauce is thick, add a splash of pasta water to loosen it up. Adjust spices to your taste.