Salmon Pesto Pasta

Have you ever had a night when you unexpectedly have to make dinner because other plans fell through? I did not have anything planned for this evening, but decided to use what I had sitting around in the kitchen. One onion...a package of mushrooms that needed to be used soon...one lonely salmon filet. Hmmmm. What to make, what to make?

The combination of these ingredients plus some fresh basil and basil pesto. Tada! I was in business. I developed a new pasta dish for us that was extra tasty. The only change I would make: double the recipe next time! We loved it and wanted more!!

Ingredients

(2 servings)

1 baked salmon filet

1 Tbsp chopped fresh basil
3 Tbsp tomato paste

1 red onion, chopped

1 package spaghetti
2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms

3/4 cup prepared basil pesto sauce

4 cloves crushed garlic (2 Italian cloves or 4 American cloves)
1/4 cup water

2 Tbsp olive oil

salt & pepper

Instructions

-Preheat oven with cookie sheet inside to 450 degrees.

-Tear two pieces of foil, big enough to wrap salmon with some overlapping. Place foil pieces one on top of the other. Put about 2 Tsp olive oil in center of top piece of foil and lay salmon on top of oil. Spread salmon with 1 Tsp basil pesto. Wrap salmon securely in foil, doubling over the seam and ends several times. Place salmon packet on heated baking sheet and cook 15 minutes.

-Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water until al dente.
-In a skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion, mushrooms, and garlic until onion is transparent and mushrooms are tender. Stir in tomato paste, pesto sauce, fresh basil and water; cook gently for 5 to10 minutes, or until desired consistency is achieved. Salt and pepper to taste.
-Drain pasta. Serve sauce over noodles. Cut baked salmon and place pieces on top of sauce.