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Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad

Large shell pasta is tossed with flaky cooked salmon, lemon zest and juice, fresh dill, shallot, capers, garlic, and lemon-infused olive oil for a bright, herb-forward salad. Parmesan adds a lightly nutty finish, while the lemon vinaigrette keeps it fresh rather than mayonnaise-based—well suited to a light lunch, picnic, or make-ahead dinner.

  • Prep10 mins
  • Cook15 mins
  • Serves4
  • DifficultyEasy
Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad

easyChef Pro health score

Calculated from USDA-referenced nutrient data for the ingredients in Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad, not estimated by an AI model. The same recipe returns the same score every time.

45 Health Score
Glycemic ImpactFair
53 / 100
Carb quality, not quantity. Higher is better.
Nutritional DensityPoor
17 / 100
Nutrients per calorie. Higher is better.
Energy DensityFair
50 / 100
Calories by weight. Higher means more food for fewer calories.
NOVA Processed Culinary Ingredients
2 / 4
Processing level, 1 (whole) to 4 (ultra-processed). Lower is better.

How it scores for each health goal

The same recipe scores differently against different goals, because the goal changes the calculation rather than filtering a list. Set your goal in easyChef Pro and every recipe is scored against it.

59
Heart Health
65
Metabolic
29
Digestive
34
Inflammatory
46
Performance
38
General Wellness
  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add shells and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, about 9 minutes. Drain; transfer to a large bowl.

  2. 2

    Whisk oil, shallot, capers, lemon zest, lemon juice, dill, garlic, salt, and black pepper together in a large bowl until combined. Add flaked salmon; stir to combine.

  3. 3

    Add salmon mixture to pasta; toss to combine. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving. Top with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.

About This Recipe

Bright Lemon Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad is an Italian side dish recipe made with 16 ingredients. It takes about 25 mins, serves 4, and is rated easy. Key ingredients include Black Pepper, Capers, Fresh Dill, and Fully Cooked Salmon. Each serving provides about 331.87 kcal, and is a good source of protein.

Recipe Questions

What is Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad?
It is an Italian salad recipe made with 16 ingredients, usually served for side dish or dinner or lunch or salad.
What is Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad made of?
The main ingredients are Black Pepper, Capers, Fresh Dill, Fully Cooked Salmon, Garlic. The full list of 16 is above.
How long does it take to make Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad?
About 25 mins in total: 10 mins to prepare and 15 mins to cook.
How many calories are in one serving?
One serving provides about 331.87 kcal. The full nutrition breakdown is above.
Is Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad easy to make?
This recipe is rated easy, with 16 ingredients and 3 steps.
Is Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad healthy?
Bright Lemon-Dill Salmon Shell Pasta Salad has an easyChef Pro health score of 45/100. Per serving, it provides 331.87 calories and 20.96 g of protein, or 42% of the Daily Value. Worth noting per serving: sodium at 154.24 mg (7% of the Daily Value) and saturated fat at 1.44 g (7% of the Daily Value). It contains Citrus, Fish, Milk, Wheat, Gluten, Garlic and Onions, so it may not be suitable for people with those allergies or dietary restrictions. Whether it fits your goals depends on your complete meal plan and nutritional needs. Remix it in easyChef Pro to adjust the ingredients and generate fresh nutrition and scores.

How easyChef Pro scores recipes and products

easyChef Pro analyzes up to 41 nutrients using data sourced from USDA and other verified food databases. Its scoring method uses the nutrients relevant to nutrition quality, calorie density, processing level, and your selected health goal. Recipes and food products get a health score from 0 to 100, calculated using consistent rules instead of being estimated by AI. The same nutrition data, serving size and health goal will produce the same result.

The calculation evaluates nutrients, calorie density, processing level, and how well the food supports your selected health goal. Protein, fiber, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients can strengthen the score. High amounts of sodium, saturated fat, added sugar and other nutrients may lower it.

Your health goal also matters. easyChef Pro evaluates recipes and products across six health areas and adjusts their importance for your selected goal. This means the same food may be a better fit for one health goal than another.

For recipes, changing an ingredient, quantity or serving size changes the nutrition and may change the score. Remix the recipe in easyChef Pro to calculate fresh nutrition and scores for the version you actually make. Product scores are based on the nutrition and serving information associated with that specific product.

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