Jamaican jerk salmon tops a delectably creamy and cheesy pasta. Customize your heat on the fish and cool it off with the cream sauce. You won’t be disappointed!
I was originally going to put this recipe in my seafood eBook, but I decided that the Glam Kitchen Gang needed a new, lit pasta dish.
Of course “rasta” is from Jamaica, and I wanted to pull all those Jamaican flavors into this dish. Coconut milk and jerk seasoning coat fresh veggies and pasta, plus thyme and paprika add the finishing touch. These all infuse a ton of flavor into a colorful dish.
I’ve seen this dish on so many restaurant and chef Instagram pages and I decided to take a stab at it.
Glam Kitchen Ingredient Tips
- I use skinless salmon filets as I just prefer that on my dish. Because we are layering it over a creamy pasta, the crisped up skin would just get lost anyway. If you love crispy skin then go for it – layer your dish with the skin up for a pretty presentation.
- Feel free to use whatever colors of bell pepper catch your eye at the market this week. Just make sure and use more than one color to really make things pop. I love that peppers don’t lose any color during booking like some other veggies do.
- I call for mild Jamaican Jerk Seasoning, but feel free to up the heat if that’s your jam.
- It’s important to use a high-quality Parmesan. It just tastes better, plus it will melt better! Either buy a little cup of shreds or grate your own at home off the block. Definitely don’t use the “green can” here or you’ll be disappointed!
- The key to getting a smooth sauce is to add the cheese in two batches and make sure your heat isn’t too high. Whisk well as you add the cheese and everything will be just fine.
Aren’t a fan of Parmesan? Feel free to switch it up and try asiago or romano. You just want to use a hard cheese (so not mozzarella or cheddar) and again, fresh is best! There are some ingredients you just can’t “cheat” on and cheese is one of them. Many pre-shredded cheeses have stabilizers or ingredients to keep the shreds from clumping. These will all work against a smooth sauce so make sure and read the ingredients if you aren’t just buying a block.
Weeknight Dinner Tips
You can make this meal in a flash by cooking your pasta earlier in the day or even the night before and pop it in the fridge. Because you are adding it to the warm sauce, it’ll heat through in no time.
If you are making the pasta at the same time as the entire meal, save a little pasta water in a measuring cup before draining. If your sauce is too thick, just stir a little pasta water in to thin it out as well as add a silky feel.
As usual, let me know what you think and don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you have any questions or comments! Enjoy!

Salmon Rasta Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 salmon filets 4-6 ounces each
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium red bell pepper
- 1 medium green bell pepper
- 3 sprigs green onion
- 3 garlice cloves minced
- 2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup coconut milk
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 5-8 ounces shredded parmesan cheese
- 16 ounces rigatoni noodles
- pink himalayan salt
- ground black pepper
- jamaican jerk seasoning mild
- thyme
- paprika
- parsley optional garnish
- grated parmesan optional garnish
Instructions
- Generously sprinkle both sides of the salmon filets with salt, pepper, jerk seasoning, and thyme and set aside
- Add 2 tablespoon oil to a skillet and warm over medium high heat
- Add salmon, and cook on each side for about 3-5 minutes, depending on thickness of filet
- Remove from heat and set aside until ready to assemble pasta plate
- Cook noodles according to packaging, then drain and set aside
- In a large pot, add 1 tablespoon of oil and garlic then cook for 1-2 minutes on medium high heat
- Add the red pepper, green pepper, and green onion then sauté for 5-7 minutes or until tender
- Stir in heavy cream, coconut milk, and chicken broth and allow it to simmer for 10 minutes while stirring every few minutes
- Generously season sauce mixture with salt, pepper, jerk seasoning, paprika and thyme -stir well
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and allow sauce to cook for 5-7 minutes (taste to make sure it’s seasoned to your liking-adjust if necessary )
- Add the noodles to the sauce mixture and cook for another 7-10 minutes, stirring every few minutes
- Remove from heat and serve!
- Garnish pasta with parsley and grated Parmesan (optional)
Yes yes yeessssss!!!! *gathers ingredients**
I’m so excited!! Thank you!! I can’t wait for your seafood book!! I’m dancing to the kitchen! 💃🏽💃🏽
I’m so excited!! Thank you!! I can’t wait for your seafood book!! I’m dancing to the kitchen! 💃🏽💃🏽
Yassssss💃🏿💃🏿💃🏿 and you’re welcome !!
How do you keep the paramesean from getting gritty?
Glam Kitchen Tips Use a whisk to mix the Parmesan cheese into the sauce Make sure you’re using a good quality Parmesan cheese If cheese is clumping, whisk it harder until it smooths out
I can’t wait to try this one! It looks amazing.
Thank you !
Thank you for this recipe, OMG it was so delicious. My family loved it
You’re welcome! Glad they enjoyed it!
Hi can you tell me about how much jerk seasoning you’re using? I plan to make this tonight
Hi, I don’t measure the seasoning but you can start with 1 tablespoon and sprinkle to adjust. Hope that helps
Greetings,
Is it possible to Substitute the Parmesan cheese for something else, for someone who doesn’t eat cheese?
I wouldn’t substitute it with anything else sorry ❤️ I will definitely think of adding non cheese pasta sauces as one recipe in the future
Amazing recipe, and simple – thank you!
Thank you !!!
What brand of Jamaican jerk seasoning do you use?
Hi, I use Grace brand or Caribbean Sunshine dried jerk seasonings
Hello!!! Happy Holidays! Is heavy whipping cream and whipping cream the same?
Happy holidays ! It should say heavy whipping cream on the carton
This was soooo good! Thanks for the recipe!
This was my second dish from your list of recipes. I absolutely loved this. Family enjoyed this. I am going to order a cookbook. You really make me enjoy cooking again. Going to try the cornish hen next. The coconut milk gives this dish a great balance. I am so happy my son discovered your page. Keep up the good work
Thank you so much I really appreciate that and I’m so happy that the family enjoyed and that you are enjoying cooking again
Why go out for Valentines Dinner when I can make this at home with a bottle of wine and some cheesecake (store bought). Trying this tomorrow!!!
Made this
Today! It came out really good!
I’m happy to hear that! Glad you enjoyed
Hi! What can I use in place of coconut milk?
Use more heavy cream ❤️
Girl! This came out so AMAZING and I don’t even care for Salmon. Thanks for sharing😘
I am so happy to hear that ! And you’re welcome 😘
Hello , what type of paprika do you use for this recipe?
Plain store brand paprika
My family absolutely loved this! Thanks for posting these amazing recipes 😘
I’m so happy to hear that ! Thank you 😘
Just made this last night, it was so delicious 😍 I will be trying your other recipes as well. Thank you so much 💛
I’m so happy to hear that ! And you are welcome ❤️❤️
Excellent and easy to follow as always!
Thank you !❤️
I love love love this recipie. I’ve made this dish at least 5 times now. Thank you for sharing. My homegirl loved it so Much when I prepared it. That she asked can I teach her. All in all we spent our Sunday enjoying this dish. And it is now my 6th time cooking this =].
I am so happy to hear that you enjoyed !!! Get it !!!! ❤️❤️❤️
Hello, what is a great quality parmesan cheese.
Hi, I don’t really use a particular brand
Oh my goodness. So dang delicious.
Yasssss- I’m o glad you enjoyed it
This was amazing! Thank you so much for the recipe. Directions were so easy to follow. The result was delicious and so pretty!
You are welcome ! I’m so glad you enjoyed it !
Omgoodness, this is delicious!!! I’ve never had rasta pasta before but have always been interested in it. I followed your recipe (except I used spicy jerk seasoning) and made it with jerk BBQ chicken thighs and it’s so good….thanks for sharing.
So happy to hear that ! And thank you for supporting ! This pasta is def one of my faves
I made this tonight and despite the cheese clumping, it was a definite hit Tay.
Yassssss glad you hear you enjoyed it ! And next time try using a whisk to get the lumps out or slowly add the cheese and stir versus adding it all at once – that should help❤️
Haven’t made it yet. Was wondering what’s the difference in regular salt and the pink Himalayan salt?
Made this last night and it was amazing! Wish I could leave a picture comment to show the finished dinner. Thank you so much for this recipe!
I am so happy to hear that thank you so much
Hi,
I use pink salt because it contains more minerals like calcium potassium etc but it’s def a personal choice you can use what you have on hand
Hello how much salt pepper and paprika should be used?