Jamie Oliver’s 8-Minute Pasta Is the Only Dinner I Want Right Now

I was recently gifted some smoked salmon, which is not an ingredient I typically keep in the refrigerator. I wasn’t quite sure what to do with it, so I cracked open Jamie Oliver's cookbook of one-pan wonders.

I stopped turning pages when I found his Smoked Salmon Pasta recipe. I had all the ingredients on hand except lasagna noodles, and I knew I could use another shape instead.

Perhaps the biggest sell: Jamie promised dinner would be ready in eight minutes. I decided this recipe was a go.

Why This Recipe Works Right Now

First off, this dish is tasty! It's so quick you won't heat up the kitchen, and it's filling without being heavy. In other words, this pasta is a perfect late summer dinner.

If you’re already a smoked salmon fan, you’re going to love this recipe. Even if you’re like me (i.e., don’t have it often but wouldn’t pass up the opportunity), this recipe will win you over.

With its bold flavor, smoked salmon is going to be the star of any recipe it’s in, so the rest of the ingredients in Jamie's dish play a perfect supporting role. He uses scallions, spinach, lemon, and both Parmesan and cottage cheeses to create a savory base that softens the smoked salmon flavor in the best way possible, while adding a dose of healthy comfort.

My Upgrades to Jamie Oliver’s Smoked Salmon Pasta

The pasta is great as-is, but here are some of my changes that made for an easy, excellent dinner:

• More cheese, please: I doubled the Parmesan and the cottage cheese. (Okay, fine, I tripled it.) I did what I did, and it was delicious.
• Use your noodles: I replaced the lasagna noodles with penne, which meant I needed to adjust the cooking directions. I tossed the cooked pasta with most of the salmon, 1/4 cup of reserved pasta water, lemon juice, cottage cheese, and Parmesan in a skillet. I let it all cook for a couple of minutes until it was nice and saucy, adding more pasta water as needed. Then I removed it from the heat and stirred in the remaining salmon.
• Stir in extra greens: The fresh spinach cooks down to a fraction of its original volume. If you're looking to get more greens in your diet, this is a great place to double up.