Bow Tie Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese

Name: Bow Tie Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 15 min
Total time: 25 min
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 360 g Bow tie pasta; 10 g Salt; 3 g Pepper; 60 g Red onion; 200 g Cream cheese; 10 g Dill, fresh; 30 g Capers; 200 g Smoked salmon

Bow Tie Pasta with Smoked Salmon and Cream Cheese · ready in 25 min · 4 servings · 540 kcal per serving · easy · 8 ingredients

Tender bow tie pasta is coated in a silky cream cheese sauce, folded with smoky salmon, fresh dill, briny capers, and a touch of red onion for a luxurious yet easy-to-make meal.

Prep: 10 min
Cook: 15 min
Total: 25 min
Serves: 4
kcal: 540
Difficulty: easy

Italian American Main dishes Quick (30 min or less)High-protein (25 g+)

A QiMeal recipe · Updated 3 October 2026

Ingredients · 4 servings

360 gBow tie pasta
10 gSalt
3 gPepper
60 gRed onion
200 gCream cheese
10 gDill, fresh
30 gCapers
200 gSmoked salmon

Equipment

stovetop, colander, large pot, measuring cup, serving spoon, spatula, stove, wooden spoon

Instructions

Prep and boil
Gather all ingredients and tools, then bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil over high heat for the bow tie pasta. · 5 min
What to look for: water at a rolling boil
Cook pasta
Add the bow tie pasta to the boiling water and cook over high heat until al dente, stirring occasionally so it does not stick. · 10 min
What to look for: pasta tender with a slight bite
Reserve pasta water
Scoop out 1 to 2 cups of the starchy pasta cooking water and set it aside before draining. · 1 min
What to look for: steam rising as water drains
Drain and add onion
Add the red onion to the pot, drain the pasta, then return the hot pasta and onion to the same pot off the heat. · 1 min
What to look for: steam rising from pasta
Add creamy mix
Add the cream cheese, fresh dill, capers, and smoked salmon to the hot pasta and gently toss to combine. · 2 min
What to look for: cream cheese starting to soften
Loosen sauce
Toss the pasta while adding reserved pasta water a little at a time until a light, creamy sauce coats the pasta evenly. · 2 min
What to look for: glossy sauce coating pasta
Season and serve
Season the pasta lightly with salt and pepper, then divide among plates and serve immediately. · 1 min
What to look for: glossy creamy finish

Nutrition (per serving)

kcal	540
Protein	27 g
Carbohydrates	48 g
of which sugars	4 g
Fat	28 g
of which saturated	14 g
Fibre	3 g
Sodium	820 mg

Nutri-ScoreC

Allergens

Contains: gluten, fish, milk

Storage and reheating

Fridge: up to 2 days
Freezer: not recommended

Ingredient substitutions

Bow tie pasta

Penne pasta: Any short pasta shape will hold the sauce well.
Gluten free pasta: Cook carefully to avoid overcooking.

Salt

Sea salt flakes: Dissolve well in the pasta water.

Pepper

White pepper: Keeps the sauce visually lighter.

Red onion

Shallot: Milder and sweeter than red onion.

Cream cheese

Mascarpone: Creates an even richer sauce.
Cream cheese alternative: Choose an unsweetened variety.

Dill

Chives: Adds mild onion freshness.