Description
A delicious Cajun shrimp pasta dish with a creamy sauce and fresh vegetables.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb raw, peeled, and deveined shrimp (preferably large or jumbo, 21–25 count)
- 8 oz fettuccine or linguine pasta (or penne/rotini)
- 1–2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 medium onion (yellow or white), chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1 yellow bell pepper, chopped
- 4 cloves fresh garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream (or whipping cream)
- 1 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 cup non-alcoholic white cooking beverage or additional chicken/vegetable broth
- Fresh chopped parsley or green onions (for garnish)
Instructions
- Prepare Your Pasta: Get a large pot of salted water boiling for your pasta. Cook your chosen pasta according to package directions until it’s al dente. Before draining, reserve about 1 to 1 ½ cups of that starchy pasta water.
- Prep the Shrimp: Pat your thawed shrimp completely dry with paper towels. Toss the shrimp with 1-2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning in a medium bowl.
- Cook the Shrimp: In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt 1 tablespoon of butter with 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the seasoned shrimp in a single layer and sear for 1-2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
- Sauté the Aromatics: Add another tablespoon of butter and a splash of olive oil to the skillet. Reduce the heat to medium and add the chopped onion and bell peppers. Sauté for about 5-7 minutes until softened, then stir in the minced garlic and cook for another minute.
- Deglaze and Build the Sauce: Pour in your non-alcoholic white cooking beverage or an equal amount of broth. Scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan and let it simmer for a minute until slightly reduced.
- Add the Cream and Seasoning: Stir in the chicken or vegetable broth, heavy cream, and another 1-2 tablespoons of Cajun seasoning. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer and let it cook for about 5 minutes to thicken.
- Melt in the Cheese: Reduce the heat to low and gradually stir in the freshly grated Parmesan cheese until melted and incorporated. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water.
- Combine and Serve: Add the cooked pasta and seared shrimp back into the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to coat. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh chopped parsley or green onions.
Notes
- This dish can be made with penne or rotini instead of fettuccine or linguine.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning to taste.
- For a spicier kick, add some red pepper flakes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sauté
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 150mg