An unusual recipe and definitely not for everyone, this cocoa pasta with smoked salmon is certainly a pasta dish with a difference! Why not try it and see?
I know, cocoa pasta and salmon does not sound right, but don't judge too soon. I wouldn't have tried it either, except that I was given a packet of Hotel Chocolat cocoa pasta for Christmas. Never having had chocolate flavoured pasta before, I wasn't quite sure what to do with it. As the recipe on the packet was for a savoury dish and the packet said, made with pure unsweetened cocoa, I assumed the pasta would not be sweet. Maybe the cocoa would just give the pasta a slight bitter flavour? Taking the easy route, I decided to make the recipe on the pack. After all, I reasoned, Hotel Chocolat must know what they are talking about. The pasta must be suitable for savoury dishes.
As the pasta was cooking, a lovely chocolaty smell wafted up from the pan. Is this really going to work with salmon? I wondered. Luckily, the chocolate smell is stronger than the chocolate taste, but there is still a definite chocolate taste to the pasta. Chocolate rather than cocoa. Milk chocolate rather than dark chocolate. I checked the ingredients. Sugar. The pasta contained sugar!
It was a little odd to eat slightly sweet pasta with a creamy salmon sauce. A little odd but not unpleasant. I would even eat it again if it was given to me. However, I won't be making it myself again as my husband claimed it made him feel a little sick.
There is still some pasta left in the packet and I'm sure it'll end up in a delicious dessert soon.
Cocoa Pasta with Smoked Salmon
Recipe
Cocoa Pasta with Smoked Salmon
Ingredients
- 150 g cocoa pasta
- 2 tablespoon mascarpone
- 2 tablespoon parmesan grated
- 100 g smoked salmon
- 1 lemon quartered, to serve
- pinch black pepper to serve
Instructions
- Put the pasta on to boil.
- When the pasta is al dente, drain it and return it to the pan along with a little of the cooking water.
- Mix the mascarpone and parmesan into the pasta until it forms a smooth sauce and has heated through. Stir in the smoked salmon.
- Serve with the lemon wedges and black pepper
Notes
Nutrition
How about checking out some more of my pasta recipes?
I love pasta for an easy meal and usually make it with a tomato sauce. The recipe I make the most is this spicy tomato pasta:
We also love this avocado spaghetti with chilli and lemon.
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Couscous & Consciousness
What an intriguing sounding dish. I have never come across chocolate pasta before and I can't imagine it with salmon, but I'd be game to try anything. Maybe it would be good with something "gamey", such as venison.
Janice Pattie (@serialcrafter)
Chocolate pasta sounds decidedly odd! Well done on having a go with it.
Denise
Definitely a sweet pasta - especially with mascapone, maybe some fruit rather than salmon?
although I admit sweet pasta really doesn't sound right does it.
Corina
Yes, sweet pasta does sound unusual but I think this pasta would make a really good sweet dish. There is a sweet recipe on the Hotel Chocolat site and I'm thinking of trying that with the pasta I've got left. It uses berries and I'm sure it'll be a much better choice!