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Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

A delightful Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta combining succulent shrimp with flavorful spices and creamy sauce.
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Course main dish
Cuisine Cajun
Servings 4 servings
Calories 550 kcal

Equipment

  • Large bowl
  • large deep skillet
  • Food Processor
  • large pot

Ingredients
  

Seafood

  • 1 lb large shrimp, peeled, deveined, tails removed, patted dry

Seasoning

  • 2 teaspoon Cajun seasoning store-bought or homemade
  • Kosher salt

Oils

  • 6 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided

Vegetables

  • 1 small yellow onion, coarsely chopped
  • 1 red bell pepper, seeds and ribs removed, coarsely chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves

Pasta

  • 12 oz linguine

Dairy

  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 3 oz Parmesan, finely grated (about 1 ½ cups), plus more for serving

Herbs

  • ½ cup finely chopped fresh parsley
  • ½ cup thinly sliced chives

Instructions
 

Preparation Steps

  • In a large bowl, toss shrimp, Cajun seasoning, and 2 Tbsp. oil; lightly season with salt.
  • In a large, deep, 12" skillet over medium-high heat, heat 2 Tbsp. oil. Working in batches, cook shrimp, making sure shrimp is touching skillet, until browned and cooked through, about 1 minute per side. Transfer to a plate. Wipe out skillet.
  • In a food processor, pulse onion, bell pepper, and garlic, scraping down sides if needed, until very smooth and a puree forms, about 1 minute.
  • In a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta, stirring occasionally, until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
  • Meanwhile, in same skillet over medium heat, heat remaining 2 Tbsp. oil. Cook onion mixture, stirring frequently and adding a splash of water if browning too quickly, until most of the liquid is evaporated and mixture becomes drier and thicker, 7 to 10 minutes.
  • Add cream to onion mixture, scraping any bits stuck to bottom of pan. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Whisk Parmesan into sauce until thick and homogenous. Add shrimp, pasta, parsley, chives, and ¾ cup pasta water, stirring and adding more pasta water if needed, until sauce is smooth and glossy. Top with more Parmesan.

Nutrition

Serving: 1servingCalories: 550kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 30gFat: 25gSaturated Fat: 10gPolyunsaturated Fat: 0.5gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 600mgPotassium: 800mgFiber: 3gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 15IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 25mgIron: 10mg
Keyword Cajun, Creamy, Dinner, pasta, quick, shrimp
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