Creamy Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

Cajun Shrimp Pasta is encompasses a spicy cream sauce (like cajun Alfredo sauce), juicy shrimp, and recent herbs. You’ll be able to tone tone the spice within the creamy sauce through the use of 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 recent 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 usually like creamy sauces on my pasta recipes. This shrimp scampi is way 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 nicely 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 available on the market 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. 

Substances 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 number of of my favorites. And there are even some nice gluten free pastas on the market now. Make sure to cook dinner the pasta al dente and reserve a few of the salted water in case it’s worthwhile to 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 in your pasta recipes. 
• Shrimp: Peeled and deveined, with their tails on or off! Massive recent shrimp work greatest, however frozen will work in a pinch. Make sure to thaw and press as a lot extra moisture out of the frozen shrimp as attainable. And if you happen to’re utilizing smaller shrimp, it’s possible you’ll need 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! Chances are you’ll want extra salt and pepper to season the dish later, however this can be a nice place to begin!
• Butter: I desire unsalted, however salted will work in a pinch! Simply scale back the salt referred to 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: Crimson and inexperienced bell peppers add crunch, taste, and a stunning pop of shade! In the event you 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: Crimson pepper flakes add spice to the creamy sauce! In the event you’re trying to reduce on the spiciness degree, you might omit this ingredient.
• Tomato Paste: Provides simply the correct amount of tomato taste and richness to the cream sauce! In a pinch, you should use a 1/2 cup of diced tomatoes as an alternative. This can 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. In the event you don’t devour alcohol, be happy to sub this with an equal quantity of hen broth. And a teaspoon of white wine vinegar. 
• Rooster Broth: I like utilizing hen bone broth, which provides unbelievable taste. However common hen broth will work advantageous. In a pinch, vegetable broth may even work. 
• Heavy Cream: Aka whipping cream. You shouldn’t substitute 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 a substitute, purchase a piece of parmesan and use a cheese grater to freshly grate the cheese. You received’t remorse it!
• Basil: Make sure to use recent basil right here! Dry basil ought to NOT be used. In the event you don’t have recent basil, skip it. 
• Parsley: Once more, recent is greatest. Truly, recent is a should. Don’t sub dried parsley right here. In the event you don’t have recent parsley, you’ll be able to 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 just a little pasta water for later. In case your pasta appears to be like too dry, add just a little 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. Ensure 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 may 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 nicely till you could have a clean 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 need to heat the shrimp and noodles, with out overcooking them, so timing is all the pieces right here. Toss nicely within the cream sauce to coat all the pieces. 
6. Style and Regulate:  Chances are you’ll want so as to add extra salt, pepper, and/or different spices to make it good. You too can style the cream sauce BEFORE you add the shrimp and pasta, and modify then.

If you need a spicer cream sauce, you’ll be able to add extra crushed purple pepper flakes, black pepper, or cayenne pepper. And if the sauce is simply too spicy, you’ll be able to all the time add a teaspoon of sugar – granulated sugar or brown sugar. Simply you’ll want to combine the pasta dish very nicely after including any additional spices or seasonings. 

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