Description
Cajun shrimp pasta delivers a spicy Southern symphony of flavors dancing across creamy linguine. Zesty Creole seasonings and plump Gulf Coast shrimp create a delectable meal you’ll savor with passion and pleasure.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound raw shrimp, deveined, cleaned, and tails removed
Pasta and Salt:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) penne pasta
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
Sauce and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup parmesan cheese, finely grated from a block
Instructions
- Gather and prep all ingredients, ensuring everything is measured and ready for seamless cooking.
- Fill a large pot with water, add of kosher salt, and bring to a rolling boil over high heat.
- Submerge pasta into boiling water, cooking until perfectly tender yet firm (al dente), following package time recommendations.
- Extract of starchy pasta water, then carefully drain pasta and set aside in a warm location.
- In a medium mixing bowl, thoroughly coat raw shrimp with Cajun seasoning and extra virgin olive oil, ensuring each piece is evenly seasoned.
- Position a large skillet over medium-high heat, allowing the surface to become uniformly hot.
- Introduce unsalted butter to the skillet, letting it melt and create a golden, bubbling surface.
- Arrange seasoned shrimp in a single layer across the skillet, avoiding overcrowding to promote proper caramelization.
- Cook shrimp for approximately 2-3 minutes per side, developing a rich golden-brown exterior and ensuring internal doneness.
- Transfer perfectly cooked shrimp to a clean plate, keeping them warm and preventing overcooking.
- Reduce skillet temperature to medium, then pour heavy cream into the pan, scraping accumulated browned bits for enhanced flavor depth.
- Allow cream to gently simmer, creating a luxurious base for the sauce.
- Lower heat to minimal setting and integrate freshly grated parmesan cheese, stirring until completely melted and smooth.
- Reintroduce cooked pasta and seared shrimp into the creamy Cajun sauce, gently folding to ensure complete coating.
- If sauce appears too dense, incrementally add reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until achieving desired silky consistency.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, adding extra salt if needed to balance flavors.
- Serve immediately, presenting a vibrant and aromatic Cajun shrimp pasta dish.
Notes
- Spice Up Your Cooking: Cajun seasoning transforms ordinary shrimp into a flavor-packed protein that brings zesty excitement to every bite.
- Timing is Key: Cook shrimp quickly over high heat to achieve a golden-brown exterior while keeping the inside tender and juicy.
- Sauce Rescue Trick: Reserved pasta water acts as a magical solution to thin out thick sauces, ensuring a perfect creamy consistency.
- Batch Cooking Wisdom: Avoid overcrowding the skillet when searing shrimp to guarantee an even, beautiful golden-brown color and prevent steaming.
- Cheese Melting Secret: Add parmesan cheese off direct heat to prevent separation and create a smooth, silky sauce that clings perfectly to pasta.
- Flavor Layer Building: Scraping browned bits from the pan captures intense, caramelized flavors that elevate the entire dish’s taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 520 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 22 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 290 mg