Shelter in Place Plan

Canned Salmon Pasta

Small pasta with canned salmon, peas, oil and lemon. A one-pot dinner on an outdoor stove in about 20 minutes.

  • Serves 4 servings
  • Time 20 min
  • Heat Outdoor stove
A pot of small pasta with pink salmon and green peas on a camp stove

Pasta with canned sauce is on my 14-day list. This is a lighter version built on canned salmon, which also suits days when you want something other than beans.

Ingredients

  • 6 cups (1.5 L) safe drinking water
  • 8 oz (230 g) small pasta (macaroni, shells or orzo)
  • 1 can (7.5 oz / 213 g) salmon, drained
  • 1 can (15 oz / 425 g) peas, drained
  • 3 tbsp (45 mL) olive oil
  • 1 tbsp (15 mL) bottled lemon juice
  • ½ tsp (2 mL) garlic powder
  • 1 tsp (5 mL) dried dill or parsley
  • salt and pepper, to taste

Equipment

  • Camp stove or barbecue side burner, outdoors only
  • Large pot with a lid
  • Colander or slotted spoon
  • Cup for saving pasta water
  • Manual can opener
  • Oven mitt

Fuel used

About 15 minutes on one burner, most of it bringing the water to a boil. Keep the lid on until it boils.

Steps

  1. Set the stove up outdoors on a flat, stable surface, at least 20 feet (6 m) from doors, windows and vents.
  2. Bring the water to a boil with the lid on. Add a pinch of salt and the pasta, and cook as the package says, stirring now and then.
  3. While it cooks, check and open the cans. Drain the peas and salmon, and break the salmon into flakes.
  4. Scoop out about ½ cup (125 mL) of the cooking water, then drain the pasta, pouring away from you.
  5. Put the pasta back in the pot over low heat. Stir in the oil, lemon juice, garlic, dill, peas and salmon, with a splash of the saved water.
  6. Heat for a minute or two until hot, turn the stove off and serve. Eat it within 2 hours unless your fridge is working.

Swaps from the pantry

  • Canned tuna or chicken instead of salmon.
  • Canned spinach or corn instead of peas.
  • Shelf-stable grated parmesan on top, if no one avoids dairy.
  • On days when water is short, choose the rice and beans or ramen instead; boiling pasta uses more water.

Allergens

  • Fish
  • Wheat

Fish from the salmon; wheat from the pasta. Parmesan adds dairy.

Ingredients vary by brand, so read every label for your household's allergies.

Food safety

  • Check every can before you open it. Do not use food from cans that are leaking, bulging or badly dented, or that have a deep dent on a seam.
  • Once opened, eat it within 2 hours, or 1 hour when it is above 90°F (32°C). If your fridge is working and at or below 40°F (4°C), put leftovers in a covered container and refrigerate them. If not, throw leftovers out. See food safety when the fridge fails.
  • Use safe drinking water for everything here, and especially for water that is not cooked: bottled, or boiled or treated as in treating water.
  • When in doubt, throw it out. Do not taste food to test it.

Where to buy

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  • Canned beans, tuna, chicken or stew

    Canned chunk chicken breast, multi-pack

    Fully cooked and ready to eat from the can; USDA FSIS lists canned meat and poultry at 2 to 5 years.

    Check prices and optionsat Amazon.comCheck prices and optionsat Amazon.ca

  • Rice, pasta or oats

    Long-grain white rice, 20 lb (9 kg) bag

    Plain white rice in a large bag; USDA FSIS lists rice and dried pasta at 2 years in a cool, dry place.

    Check prices and optionsat Amazon.comCheck prices and optionsat Amazon.ca

  • Rice, pasta or oats

    Old-fashioned rolled oats, large bag

    Rolled oats can be soaked instead of cooked, as in the soaked oats recipe on this site.

    Check prices and optionsat Amazon.comCheck prices and optionsat Amazon.ca

  • Rice, pasta or oats

    Dried pasta, multi-pack

    USDA FSIS lists dried pasta at 2 years in a cool, dry place.

    Check prices and optionsat Amazon.comCheck prices and optionsat Amazon.ca

  • Camp stove, outdoor use only

    Coleman: Coleman Classic 2-Burner Propane Camp Stove

    A two-burner propane stove for cooking through an outage; use it outdoors only, never indoors or in a garage, because it produces carbon monoxide.

    Check prices and optionsat Amazon.comCheck prices and optionsat Amazon.ca

  • Battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm

    Kidde: Kidde KN-COB-B-LP Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Alarm, Battery Operated

    Kidde lists it as UL Listed with an electrochemical sensor, and it runs on 3 AA batteries so it keeps working in a power outage.

    Check prices and optionsat Amazon.comCanadian link coming soon

  • Battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm

    Kidde: Kidde C3010 Worry-Free Carbon Monoxide Alarm, 10-Year Sealed Battery

    Kidde lists its Canadian C3010-CA as CSA Listed with an electrochemical sensor and a sealed lithium battery, so it keeps working in an outage; check the listing shows the CSA mark before buying.

    US link coming soonCheck prices and optionsat Amazon.ca

Sources

Updated