Shrimp Mozzarella Pasta
Adapted from Julias Album. Serves 4
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 oz Pasta of Choice
Shrimp
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 pound shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp salt
Sauce
- 4 oz sundried tomatoes (dry or packed in water)
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 cup shredded, mozzarella cheese
- 1 Tbsp dried basil (if using fresh, add 3 Tbsp)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/8 tsp paprika
- 1/2 cup reserved cooked pasta water (or more)
- 1/4 tsp salt
Instructions
Pasta
- Cook pasta according to package directions. Reserve some cooked pasta water. Drain the pasta
Shrimp
- Heat 1 Tbsp olive oil (or use cooking spray) in a large skillet on medium high heat
- Add the shrimp with the minced garlic. Cook the shrimp on one side for about 1 minute, until the shrimp turn pink on that side. While it cooks, sprinkle salt on shrimp.
- Do not crowd the shrimp in the skillet – otherwise there will be too much moisture and the shrimp will not sear.
- After 1 minute, flip the shrimp over to the other side and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute. The shrimp should be golden or pink on both sides and not overcooked.
- Remove the shrimp to a plate, being careful to leave all the oil in the skillet
Sauce
- To the same skillet, add the sun-dried tomatoes and more minced garlic
- Saute the tomatoes in the remaining oil on medium heat, stirring for 1 minute until the garlic is fragrant. The skillet should be hot.
- Add half and half to the hot skillet with the sundried tomatoes and bring to a boil.
- Add the shredded cheese to the skillet and quickly stir in while boiling. Immediately reduce to simmer
- Continue cooking the sauce on low simmer, constantly stirring, until all the cheese melts and the creamy sauce forms
- If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of the reserved pasta water.
- Add basil, crushed red pepper flakes, paprika. Stir
- Add 1/4 tsp of salt gradually, stirring on low heat and testing – you may need less salt.
Assembly
- Add cooked pasta to sauce and reheat gently on medium.
- Add the cooked shrimp, stir
- Taste and adjust seasonings, if needed
- If the sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water.
- Let simmer for a few minutes to heat through and for flavors to combine.
THIS WAS SOOOOO YUMMY!!!! I used the fresh basil that is chopped in the produce area and that made it very pesto like! My husband loved it and he doesn’t like his food mixed🙄!!
OOOOOOOO! What a great idea!