Celebrate Alaskan Cuisine with Pasta and Smoked Salmon with Vodka Cream Sauce
Here is a quick and delicious pasta dish to celebrate all that is good with Alaskan cuisine. Honestly, if you want a meal on the table in well less than 20 minutes, pasta with smoked salmon is just the dish for you.
We have the magnificent scenery and food of the Alaskan Inside Passage and the staff of the Emerald Princess cruise ship to thank for today’s recipe inspiration. Cruising the Inside Passage on the Emerald Princess is one of the best and most relaxing holidays you will experience. And, the food on the Emerald Princess? In a word – brilliant.
When you are using some of the world’s best seafood in your meal preparation, it is bound to be good. Alaska is remote and surrounded by cold water, but then maybe that is the secret to why Alaskan cuisine is so good!
Please note these are our own opinions and we have not been compensated by anyone for our views.
Seafood is the Star of Alaskan Food
Certainly, around the coast of Alaska, seafood is the star attraction of Alaskan cuisine. With options a little limited on raising land-based food, Alaskans turn to the sea. And, with such species as halibut, crab, cod, scallops and shrimp, it’s no wonder Alaskan food contains so many seafood options.
Traditional Alaskan food consists of multiple species of crab and salmon. Of the more than 80 crab species, 7 are commercially important (including dungeness, snow and king crab). As well, there are 5 Pacific Salmon species available in Alaska: King (or Chinook), Sockeye, Coho, Pink and Dog (or Chum) salmon. And, the salmon very conveniently come into season at different times over the Alaskan summer, making for an extended period of salmon feasting for the locals!
Did you know that 60% of the US fish catch originates from Alaska? It’s no wonder that the fishing industry is massive for Alaska. And you can see why Alaskan cuisine is so rich in seafood.
Gourmet Food and Drinks on the Emerald Princess
Long time readers will be aware taking a cruise on a large ship capable of holding some 3,000 guests is not our usual travel style. Well we are hear to tell you that it is a great experience! You can read a review of our Emerald Princess Inside Passage cruise in a later post.
The Emerald Princess has been voted best cruise line by Wine & Food Magazine. Well, all I can say is I am not surprised. The food, drink and service available to you is just first class. The Emerald Princess has numerous bars and dining rooms, a few of which are buffet-style, but the majority are a la carte, meaning you can have a full sit-down breakfast, lunch and dinner, if you so desire.
As you would expect the kitchen produces a full range of food for guests. Everything on the ship, including the delicious breads, is home-made on the ship.
In addition, the Emerald Princess has a number of specialty dining rooms, where you pay extra. We dined at the Crown Grill and the new Curtis Stone restaurant, Share. Both brilliant and good value.
Rest assured, you don’t need to eat at the specialty restaurants for fine dining on the Emerald Princess. We ate at the “included restaurants” and they were all first class. There were plenty of Alaskan cuisine options including halibut, salmon and crab. Delicious.
The service from the wait staff is impressive. In fact, the Emerald Princess employs more than 500 staff in the kitchens and dining rooms.
And the use of Alaskan cuisine and joy of dining among all of that magnificent, Alaskan-waterways scenery is something I will never forget.
Celebrate Alaskan Cuisine with Pasta and Smoked Salmon
The idea for this pasta and smoked salmon dish came about because we went to a “cooking show” in the ship’s theater. As well, it included a galley tour of the Emerald Princess.
I’m not sure you could put a hot meal on the table any quicker than this pasta and smoked salmon one. And, with a vodka cream sauce, it is super tasty.
The combination of the Alaskan smoked salmon, vodka and cream is very satisfying. True comfort food. And smoked salmon is available year round not just during salmon season in Alaska!
| Servings | Prep Time | Cook Time |
| 4people | 5minutes | 15minutes |
| Servings | Prep Time |
| 4people | 5minutes |
| Cook Time |
| 15minutes |
- 1 lb pasta farfalle is a good choice
- 1 oz olive oil
- 2 ozs butter
- 1/2 cup onions chopped
- 2 cups cream
- 1 tbsp black pepper, ground
- 1/4 tsp chili flakes optional
- 1 lemon grated rind only
- 1/4 cup chives
- 1/2 lb salmon, smoked Alaskan, in chunks and small pices
- 4 sprigs dill optional, for garnish
|
Ingredients
Servings: people
Units:
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- Bring your water to a boil and cook your pasta of choice to al dente, following instructions.
- Meanwhile, over a moderate heat in a large pan that can accommodate the cooked pasta, heat the olive oil and butter. Saute the onions until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Add the vodka, stir, and when most of the liquid has evaporated, add the cream and stir for about 5 minutes. Season with black pepper, chili flakes, if using, lemon rind and chives, stirring for about 1 minute. Add the smoked salmon and stir carefully until well combined.
- Finally, add the the cooked pasta and stir well to combine. Serve immediately with some dill for garnish.
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