Ingredients: |
Ingredients: Pasta:
1 box penne pasta
Shrimp:
2 tbsp. olive oil
1 pound shrimp (without shells, and deveined
3 garlic cloves, minced
¼tsp salt
Creamy Sauce:
4 oz sundried tomatoes (without oil)
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup half and half
1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded (do not use fresh mozzarella, use pre-shredded mozzarella)
1 tbsp. dried basil (if using fresh basil you can add a bit more)
¼ tsp red pepper flakes, crushed
⅛ tsp paprika
½ cup reserved cooked pasta water
¼ tsp salt
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Directions: |
Directions:Pasta:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve ½ cup to 1 cup pasta water. Drain the pasta.
Shrimp:
1. Note: if using sun-dried tomatoes in oil (in a jar), make sure to drain sun-dried tomatoes from oil, before using them. Reserve 2 tbsp. of this drained oil for sautéing the shrimp as described below:
2. Heat 2 tbsp olive oil (reserved from the sun-dried tomatoes jar or regular olive oil) in a large skillet on medium-high heat.
3. Add shrimp with minced garlic. Cook the shrimp on one side for about 1 minute, until the shrimp turns pink or golden brown on that side. While it cooks, Sprinkle salt over the shrimp to cover every single shrimp.
4. Make sure not to crowd the shrimp in the skillet, otherwise moisture will form and shrimp won't sear right.
5. After 1 minute, Flip the shrimp over to the other side and cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute more.
6. The shrimp should be golden color or pink.
7. Remove the shrimp to a plate, being careful to leave all the oil in the skillet.
How to Make Creamy Sauce
1. To the same skillet, add sun-dried tomatoes (drained from oil and sliced into smaller chunks, if needed) and more minced garlic.
2. Saute sun-dried tomatoes in olive oil (remaining from shrimp) on medium heat, stirring, for 1 minute. The skillet should be hot.
3. Add half and half to the hot skillet with sun-dried tomatoes and bring to a boil.
4. Add shredded cheese to the skillet, and quickly stir in while boiling. Immediately reduce to simmer.
5. Continue cooking the sauce on low simmer heat, constantly stirring, until all the cheese melts and the creamy sauce forms.
6. If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of half and half or reserved cooked pasta water.
7. Add basil, crushed red pepper flakes. paprika and stir.
8. Add ¼ tsp of salt gradually, stirring on low heat and tasting (you might need slightly less than
¼ tsp).
How to assemble Shrimp Pasta
1. Add cooked pasta to the sauce, and reheat gently on medium heat.
2. Add the cooked shrimp, stir it in.
3. Taste, and season with more salt, if needed.
4. If the sauce is to thick, add a small amount of half and half or reserved cooked pasta water.
5. Let everything simmer on low heat for a couple of minutes for flavors to combine.
6. ENJOY |
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