Shrimp Pasta

Get ready to dive into a plate of delicious Shrimp Pasta! Imagine juicy, succulent shrimp tossed in a luscious tomato sauce. The sauce is slightly spicy, but the flavours are so scrumptious that you’ll want to come back for more.

Whether craving a quick dinner or looking to impress your friends and family, we promise this dish will deliver comfort in every bite. So get ready to twirl your fork and discover this exciting new dish.

Why you will love Shrimp Pasta?

Shrimp pasta! Something is alluring about it. The deep, red and maroon flavours coupled with the juicy shrimps are reminiscent of the gorgeous Italian coastlines. Picture the blue waters of the ocean, the beautiful restaurants, and a warm plate of Shrimp pasta. Sounds heavenly, right?

Ingredients

Shrimp, Pasta, Onion, Garlic, Butter. Onion powder, Dried rosemary, Dried oregano, Dried basil, Cajun spice, Tomato pasta sauce.

This recipe uses sautéed onions and garlic to form the foundation of the tomato sauce. Butter enhances the richness. We used onion powder, dried rosemary, and oregano to deepen the sauce’s complexity for added flavour. You can substitute the rosemary, oregano, and basil with a store-bought Italian spice blend. Moreover, Cajun spice can be replaced with cayenne pepper or paprika powder. In terms of Pasta, Penne was used for this recipe. However, you can use spaghetti, fusilli, or rigatoni.

When it comes to pasta sauces, you have two options. You can choose store-bought. A few great sauces that will pair with this dish are Arrabiata, basilico, or Napoleata sauce. Avoid passata sauce. It lacks the finesse of a well-seasoned sauce. The second option is to use two large tomatoes and four tablespoons of tomato paste to compensate for that concentrated flavour.

Instructions

Chop the onion and garlic. Prepare the spices and add it to a bowl. Preheat a pan on medium-low heat. Melt the butter and add the garlic and onion. Stir well. You can also use cooking oil in place of the butter if you prefer.

Sauté the onion and garlic for five to eight minutes. It is important for it to caramelize to a brown colour. This will add a ton of flavour to the shrimp pasta. Measure out and add the spices such as dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, Cajun spice and onion powder to a bowl.

You can add two tablespoons of olive oil or cooking oil to the pan, thereafter add the spices and stir. This will allow the spices to release their natural flavours into the oil, thereby infusing into the shrimp pasta sauce.

Add the tomato sauce. Stir to mix all the ingredients and bring the sauce to boil. Then, adjust the temperature to low and simmer for twenty-five minutes with the lid closed. As the sauce simmers, it will reduce in acidity. You can also amplify the process by adding a little bit of sugar to assist in the process.

As the sauce is simmering, Prepare a pot, add approximately two litres of water and bring to boil. The pasta has to be completely submerged in the water to cook properly. Add the pasta and cook according to the time written on the packet. Drain the water once cooked.

Add the shrimp and cook for three minutes with the lid closed. The shrimp is cooked when the colour becomes opaque. It is important to add the shrimp last in the process, to prevent it from turning rubbery as well as shrinkage.

Add the pasta into the shrimp and tomato sauce. Toss to coat the pasta with the sauce and cook the mixture for two minutes on the lowest temperature. Garnish with parsley, and serve immediately.

How to Make Shrimp Pasta taste better?

Adding salt to the pasta water is important. Cook the pasta al dente by following the instructions on the packet. Simmer the sauce on low temperature for at least twenty minutes to lower the acidity of the tomato sauce. The shrimps cook very fast, maximum one to two minutes on low heat.

How to Store and Reheat Shrimp Pasta?

Allow the shrimp pasta to cool down to room temperature. Use an airtight container to store the shrimp pasta in the fridge. This dish can last for up to three days in the fridge and up to two months in the freezer.

You can choose to reheat the pasta on the stovetop or in the microwave. Place the shrimp pasta in a pan over a medium heat. Add half a teaspoon of olive oil, or one tablespoon of water to rehydrate the sauce. Stir occasionally to prevent burning, and avoid overcooking the shrimp. To reheat in the microwave, adjust the heat to maximum and check every minute. Flip the spaghetti around and continue to spin in the microwave until the desired temperature is achieved. 

Reheating the frozen shrimp pasta, or the pasta sauce, in the microwave result in the release of excess water, especially during the thawing process. Make sure to defrost the pasta, dab the released water with a kitchen towel and then follow the same steps as reheating the refrigerated pasta.

How to Reduce Acidity of Tomato Sauce?

Slow cooking for a long period of time on low heat caramelizes the tomato sauce. Adding a bit of sugar or honey also balances the acidity of the tomatoes. Adding butter and olive oil will add a creamy texture to the sauce and reduces the acidity level. Adding vegetables like carrots or onion will enhance the sweetness of the dish. Use ripe tomatoes to prepare the sauce, which are less acidic than unripe tomatoes.

What can you Serve with Shrimp Pasta

There are so many amazing dishes that you can have with Shrimp Pasta. If you are feeling for a green type of salad, our simple Green Salad is amazing. If you’re into a Mediterranean experience, consider a nice Greek Salad. This Caprese salad is adored with creamy mozzarella balls that add a ton of flavour to the entire experience. In terms of other side-dishes, consider Brussels Sprouts, Grilled Asparagus and Sautéed Green beans.