Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Capers

Servings: 4
Source: Cook Something, Mitchell Davis, Macmillan
Another classic combination, this dish makes people think you went to a lot of trouble. Actually it’s quite simple. It’s an adaptation of a dish my friends Ed and Katie brought to my prebook party. Any shape of pasta works, but I prefer a small noodle such as shells or bowties. Despite what an Italian might otherwise recommend, I like to serve this dish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

Ingredients
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 sm onion, chopped
1/4 lb smoked salmon, chopped
1 cup heavy cream (a.k.a. whipping cream)
3 Tbsp capers, drained
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1 lb pasta, cooked al dente, drained (reserving about
1/4 cup of the cooking water), and tossed with olive oil
Freshly grated imported Parmesan cheese

Directions
In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the onion and sauté until translucent, but not browned. Add the smoked salmon and continue cooking just until the salmon turns opaque, 1 to 2 minutes. Pour in the cream and add the capers. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Be careful how much salt you add because the smoked salmon and capers are both salty. Add the pasta and toss to coat. If there doesn’t appear to be enough sauce, add a couple of tablespoons of the pasta cooking water to thin it down. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.