Pasta with Salmon Caviar

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Ingredients

1. Salt
2. 1/2 pound dry tagliarini or fettuccine
3. 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
4. 1 shallot, minced
5. 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons crème fraîche or sour cream
6. 1 tablespoon finely chopped flat-leaf parsley
7. 1 teaspoon chopped tarragon
8. Freshly ground pepper
9. 2 ounces thinly sliced smoked salmon, cut into 1/2-inch ribbons (1/2 cup)
10. 4 ounces salmon caviar

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add a large pinch of salt. Add the tagliarini and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of the cooking water.
2. In a large, deep skillet, melt the butter over moderate heat. When the foam subsides, add the minced shallot and cook over moderately low heat for 2 minutes, stirring. Add the crème fraîche, parsley and tarragon. Stir in about 1/4 cup of the reserved pasta cooking water and season with pepper. Add the pasta and smoked salmon ribbons and toss well. Add up to 2 more tablespoons of the reserved cooking water if the pasta seems too dry. Remove from the heat. Add three-fourths of the caviar and toss gently. Serve in shallow bowls, garnished with the remaining caviar.