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Shrimp Pasta Recipes
I love Italian recipes and this recipe is one of the best shrimp and pasta recipes ever!
This proper Italian shrimp spaghetti is exactly like how it’s served in restaurants in Italy.
I spoke to chefs, home cooks and restaurateurs while traveling in Italy. I have learned so much about cooking pasta and how to make easy shrimp pasta, just like the Italians!
The recipe is 100% authentic, homemade and takes less than 20 minutes.
The taste is spot on and this is the BEST pasta I have ever made in my life!
Other Shrimp Pasta Recipes You Might Like
How to Make Shrimp Spaghetti?
For the most amazing shrimp and pasta recipes, here are my cooking tips and techniques:
- Cook the spaghetti al dente. Al dente in Italy is completely different from al dente in America. You want to under cook the spaghetti pasta slightly so every strand of has a firm bite.
- For the best results, use big shrimp or jumbo prawn. Shrimp imparts a sweet and briny taste to the sauce, making this recipe absolutely delicious.
- Do not use frozen shrimp in a bag. They are mostly tasteless and had been treated with chemicals. Buy fresh shrimp with shells and heads, if you can. I used frozen shrimp in a paper box from Asian stores, imported from Central America. I shelled and deveined the shrimp and butterflied them. They are sweet and briny, very close to the amazing sweet and fresh shrimp found in Italy.
- You may cut the shrimp into big pieces or butterfly the shrimp. I chose to butterfly them as they look pretty.
- Use Campari tomatoes for the best flavors as they are high in sugar level and low acidity.
Red Sauce (tomato Sauce)
I love healthy pasta with tomato red sauce, with sweet and fresh taste of tomatoes.
Now, how do you make red pasta sauce? Here are the ingredients to make the pasta tomato sauce:
- Extra virgin olive oil.
- Minced garlic.
- Ripe and red fresh tomatoes, preferably Campari tomatoes for the sauce. Ripe tomatoes are juicier and sweeter. The sweetness of the tomatoes will make the pasta sauce red in color and full of flavors.
- Chicken broth.
- Chicken bouillon powder. This is the secret ingredient that chefs used in Italy, to complete the taste of the pasta. I used Knorr Chicken bouillon powder.
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Traditional Italian Meal Structure
Italians take their meals very seriously. Traditional Italian meals start with Antipasti (starter or appetizer).
Your main course begins with Primi, which includes various kinds and shapes of pasta, risotto, polenta and gnocchi. The course of meal continues to Secondi, which is a meat or seafood option.
The rest of the meals include Contorni (Side Dishes), Insalata (Salad), Formaggi (Cheese), Dolce (Dessert), Caffe (Coffee) and Digestivo (Alcohol Drinks).
Eating is a serious business in Italy and I absolutely love that. That’s why Italy is my #1 European country. I absolutely love Italy!
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shrimp and Pasta Healthy?
Yes, this recipe is very healthy because the ingredients are healthy, for examples: olive oil and tomatoes.
Can I Make This Recipe Creamy?
Yes, you can.
To make this into creamy shrimp pasta, add 2 tablespoons of whipping cream to the tomato sauce.
How Many Calories per Serving?
This recipe is only 298 calories per serving.
What Dishes to Serve with This Recipe?
This Italian dish is best served with focaccia bread, garlic bread. For a wholesome Italian meal and easy weeknight dinner at home, I recommend the following recipes.
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Italian Shrimp Pasta
Ingredients
- 4 oz. spaghetti pasta
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic (finely minced)
- 4 oz. Campari tomatoes, cut into thin wedges
- 1/4 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 teaspoon chicken bouillon powder
- 4 oz. peeled and deveined shrimp or jumbo prawn, butterflied
- 3/4 teaspoon salt or more to taste
- freshly ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon chopped Italian parsley
Instructions
- Bring a pot of salted water to boil. Cook the spaghetti al dente, according to package instruction.
- In a skillet or pan on medium-low heat, add the extra virgin olive oil. Saute the garlic until sizzling but not browned. Add the tomatoes, chicken broth and chicken bouillon. As soon as it bubbles, add the shrimp. Cook and stir until the shrimps are cooked and the tomatoes break down.
- Add the spaghetti, salt and generous dose of freshly ground black pepper. Stir to combine well. Turn off the heat.
- Top the Shrimp Pasta with chopped Italian parsley and serve immediately.
Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
Hi. You never mentioned when to add Spaghetti sauce. Or did I miss something?
Hi Adrian. There is no added sauce in this recipe. The instructions show you how to create sauce by cooking down the tomatoes, garlic and chicken broth along with the shrimp/prawns. There is a video on this page which you can refer to on the method of cooking.
This recipe was delicious! I never go by exact recipes but i did with this and omg so good. Thank you so much.
Hi Sherree. Thank you for your comment. I’m very happy to hear that you loved the recipe.
This dish is one of the easiest and most delicious dishes I have run into. I have made it a few times now and delicious every time. The Campari tomatoes are the master of this dish. I think this evening I will be adding fresh basil. I do love basil.
Thank you so much!
This is one of the best shrimp pasta recipes ever!