Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Cajun Shrimp Pasta is incorporates a spicy cream sauce (like cajun Alfredo sauce), juicy shrimp, and contemporary herbs. You’ll be able to tone tone the spice within the creamy sauce by utilizing much less cayenne pepper and purple pepper flakes. Prepared in about half-hour, this pasta dish is a household favourite – and nice for weeknight meals. Use contemporary or frozen shrimp.

Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

My household goes wild over this cajun shrimp pasta recipe! And I can’t blame them as a result of it’s outrageously scrumptious… and I don’t even sometimes like creamy sauces on my pasta recipes. This shrimp scampi is far more in my “consolation zone”. 

BUT!!! Heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, black pepper, cayenne pepper, and pepper flakes make this creamy sauce past scrumptious. And shrimp, bell peppers, onions, basil, and parsley add a welcome pop of freshness. I can’t resist diving in for a second serving to once I make this pasta dish! 

We make this creamy cajun shrimp pasta recipe each Christmas Eve. We serve it as part of our seven fishes feast -and it’s all the time one of many first dishes to go! But it surely equally works effectively for weeknight meals, as a result of it’s prepared fairly quick. So good with a glass of wine, a Caesar salad, and a few crusty bread to sop up all of the scrumptious creamy sauce). 

Can I Make This a Gluten Free Pasta Dish?

Sure! There are tons of nice gluten free pasta recipes in the marketplace lately. My private favourite gluten free pasta is Jovial, particularly their fusilli and spaghetti. I recommend undercooking the gluten free pasta by 1 minute, then letting it cook dinner within the sauce till it’s the proper al dente texture. 

Elements for Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta

• Pasta: I used linguini right here, however virtually any pasta would work nice on this pasta dish. Farfalle (aka bow ties), penne, and spaghetti are a couple of of my favorites. And there are even some nice gluten free pastas on the market now. You should definitely cook dinner the pasta al dente and reserve a number of the salted water in case that you must skinny the creamy sauce. 
• Olive Oil: You’ll use this ingredient to cook dinner the seasoned shrimp and to cook dinner the pasta sauce. Use no matter olive oil you typical use on your pasta recipes. 
• Shrimp: Peeled and deveined, with their tails on or off! Massive contemporary shrimp work greatest, however frozen will work in a pinch. You should definitely thaw and press as a lot extra moisture out of the frozen shrimp as doable. And if you happen to’re utilizing smaller shrimp, you could wish to cook dinner the shrimp a minute much less.
• Cajun Seasoning: You’ll want garlic powder, cayenne pepper, paprika, salt, black pepper, onion powder, and dried oregano to make our do-it-yourself cajun spice! It’s possible you’ll want extra salt and pepper to season the dish later, however it is a nice place to begin!
• Butter: I desire unsalted, however salted will work in a pinch! Simply scale back the salt known as for within the recipe by 1/4 teaspoon.
• Onion: Diced purple onion provides taste and shade to this pasta dish! In a pinch, yellow or white onion will work advantageous. 
• Peppers: Purple and inexperienced bell peppers add crunch, taste, and a beautiful pop of shade! For those who solely have one number of bell pepper, that’s advantageous, too. 
• Garlic: Like virtually any good pasta recipe, this cajun shrimp pasta requires a ton of garlic! Don’t sub this with garlic powder or reduce on the quantity!
• Crushed purple pepper flakes: Purple pepper flakes add spice to the creamy sauce! For those who’re seeking to reduce on the spiciness degree, you may omit this ingredient.
• Tomato Paste: Provides simply the correct quantity of tomato taste and richness to the cream sauce! In a pinch, you should utilize a 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes as an alternative. It will change the feel and taste, however will nonetheless be scrumptious. I don’t recommend subbing crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce.
• White Wine: Use a dry selection, like Sauvignon Blanc. For those who don’t eat alcohol, be at liberty to sub this with an equal quantity of hen broth. And a teaspoon of white wine vinegar. 
• Hen Broth: I like utilizing hen bone broth, which provides unimaginable taste. However common hen broth will work advantageous. In a pinch, vegetable broth may also work. 
• Heavy Cream: Aka whipping cream. You shouldn’t exchange the heavy cream with milk, because it is a vital ingredient for the creamy sauce. 
• Parmesan Cheese: Skip the pre-grated selection, as a result of it’s handled with preservatives that can stop it from evenly incorporating into the sauce. As an alternative, purchase a bit of parmesan and use a cheese grater to freshly grate the cheese. You received’t remorse it!
• Basil: You should definitely use contemporary basil right here! Dry basil ought to NOT be used. For those who don’t have contemporary basil, skip it. 
• Parsley: Once more, contemporary is greatest. Truly, contemporary is a should. Don’t sub dried parsley right here. For those who don’t have contemporary parsley, you possibly can skip it. 

Cajun Shrimp + Creamy Sauce = Heaven

1. Cook dinner the Pasta: You’ll be able to place the drained pasta into a big bowl and canopy it with foil or a big plate till wanted. It can save you slightly pasta water for later. In case your pasta appears to be like too dry, add slightly little bit of the reserved pasta water till you obtain your required texture. The salted water will loosen the pasta. 
2. Cook dinner the Shrimp: Add the shrimp in a big deep skillet or dutch oven and cook dinner simply till pink. Be certain to not over cook dinner right here! Higher to undercook the shrimp than overcook. Because the seasoned shrimp will return into the pan on the finish and might end cooking then. 
3. Cook dinner the Bell Peppers: And onions, then toss within the garlic and crushed purple pepper flakes and cook dinner. Mmm… your kitchen ought to odor superb proper now!
4. Make the Creamy Sauce: Add the tomato paste and white wine, then pour within the hen broth. Combine effectively till you will have a easy and creamy sauce. Stir within the heavy cream, parmesan cheese, basil, and parsley. Use low warmth so your sauce can’t curdle.
5. Add the Shrimp: Toss the shrimp and pasta again into the skillet and cook dinner for only a minute or two. You wish to heat the shrimp and noodles, with out overcooking them, so timing is every thing right here. Toss effectively within the cream sauce to coat every thing. 
6. Style and Modify:  It’s possible you’ll want so as to add extra salt, pepper, and/or different spices to make it excellent. You can too style the cream sauce BEFORE you add the shrimp and pasta, and alter then.

If you would like a spicer cream sauce, you possibly can add extra crushed purple pepper flakes, black pepper, or cayenne pepper. And if the sauce is just too spicy, you possibly can all the time add a teaspoon of sugar – granulated sugar or brown sugar. Simply be sure you combine the pasta dish very effectively after including any further spices or seasonings. 

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