Description
For the ultimate quick and easy dinner, coat Cajun Shrimp Pasta in a cream sauce infused with fresh lemon juice and garlic.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 lb raw frozen shrimp
- 2 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 4-½ tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 5 cloves fresh garlic
- 1 tablespoon grape-seed oil
- 1 tablespoon clarified butter or ghee
- 2 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- ¾ lb pappardelle pasta
- 13.66 oz canned unsweetened coconut milk
Instructions
- To prepare the pasta, generously salt a pot of water and follow the directions on the package. Save some of the pasta water in a cup before draining the pasta.
- Heat a skillet over high heat and add grapeseed oil and clarified butter. When the skillet is hot, sear the shrimp for 2 to 3 minutes on both sides. Don’t overcrowd the pan or the shrimp. If necessary, cook the shrimp in batches. Arrange the seared shrimp on a clean plate. Place aside.
- To make the sauce, start with a can of unsweetened coconut milk that has been gently shaken before opening. If necessary, add more oil or clarified butter to the skillet, then add the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant. Allow the Cajun spice blend to bloom in the skillet for about 10 seconds. Whisk in the can of unsweetened coconut milk slowly until everything is well combined. Add a pinch of salt to taste. Bring to a boil.
- Toss the cooked pasta in the cream sauce until well coated. Be mindful of the sauce-to-patio ratio, as too much pasta can absorb the sauce, leaving you with a pot of dried pasta and very little sauce, which you do not want.
- Return the seared shrimp to the skillet. If there are any remaining juices on the plate where the shrimp were served. Squeeze the juice of half a lemon or lime onto the plate and swirl it around. Then, pour the liquid into the skillet and gently toss until the shrimp are coated in the cream sauce as well.
- If necessary, adjust the seasoning with more kosher salt. Drizzle with a little more lemon juice and garnish with roughly chopped cilantro or parsley.
- Serve right away and enjoy.
- Remove the shell, de-vein the shrimp, and wash them in cold water before placing them on a baking sheet lined with layers of paper towels to dry completely. Also, pat dry the top of the shrimp with a couple of more paper towels. Removes and discards the wet paper towels. Season the shrimp liberally with Cajun seasoning, then season with kosher salt and black pepper to taste. Stir until the shrimp is evenly coated with the seasoning.
Notes
When searing shrimp, cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side, depending on the size of the shrimp; if cooked for too long, the shrimp will become dry and tough.
When searing the shrimp, do not overcrowd the skillet; instead, cook the shrimp in batches to avoid steaming.
To get that crusty outer coating on the shrimp, use a cast iron skillet or a heavy bottom skillet.
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 2 servings
- Calories: 740kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 2078mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 24g
- Carbohydrates: 69g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 38g
- Cholesterol: 367mg
Keywords: Cajun shrimp pasta, shrimp pasta recipe, cajun pasta recipe, main course