Cajun Shrimp Pasta
A fusion of bold Cajun spices, juicy shrimp and creamy Italian-style pasta creates a satisfyingly zesty and richly textured dish perfect for any occasion.
Servings: 4 people
Ingredients
- 1 pound medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning or more to taste (recipe note #1)
- 8 ounces penne pasta or other short pasta
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 large garlic cloves finely chopped
- 1 14 1/2-ounce can fire roasted diced tomatoes with liquid
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 2 ounces grated parmesan cheese about 2/3 cup
- chopped fresh parsley for garnish, optional
Instructions
- In a medium bowl combine shrimp and Cajun seasoning; toss to coat. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta in boiling, salted water according to package directions until firm to the bite (al dente). Drain, reserving 1 cup of cooking water.
- While the pasta cooks, heat butter and olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high heat until sizzling. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add shrimp; cook and stir until shrimp is just cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce heat to medium and transfer shrimp to a clean plate.
- Add tomatoes with liquid to same skillet and bring to boil; cook and stir until liquid is reduced by half, 2-3 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low and stir in heavy cream and parmesan cheese; bring to simmer. Cook and stir until cheese melts and sauce has thickened, about 3 minutes.
- Add drained, cooked pasta and shrimp to skillet; cook and stir until well combined, heated through and sauce has thickened to your desired consistency. Or, if you prefer a thinner sauce, add reserved pasta water a little at a time as desired. Taste for seasoning and add more Cajun seasoning if needed. Transfer to serving platter or individual pasta bowls and garnish with parsley (if using); serve.
Video
Notes
- The amount of salt in Cajun seasoning varies a lot by brand, so start out with a tablespoon (or less if the brand you have is particularly salty) and add more taste. If you're using a salt-free seasoning (my preference), add 2 1/2 teaspoons of seasoning and 1/3 to 1/2 teaspoon of fine sea salt. This way, you can add more of each to taste.
Nutrition
Calories: 589kcal | Carbohydrates: 47g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 29g | Saturated Fat: 14g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 244mg | Sodium: 442mg | Potassium: 534mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 1598IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 241mg | Iron: 2mg
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