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Creamy Tuscan Garlic Shrimp Pasta

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A quick and easy creamy Tuscan garlic shrimp pasta recipe that combines tender shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, and fresh spinach in a luscious sauce, perfect for a savory dinner delight.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined (medium or large size recommended)
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter
  • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken broth or vegetable broth
  • ½ cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped (packed in oil)
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1 cup fresh baby spinach leaves
  • ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Juice of half a lemon
  • 8 ounces fettuccine or linguine (gluten-free pasta works well too)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 8 ounces of fettuccine or linguine and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10 minutes. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and set aside. Do not rinse the pasta.
  2. While pasta cooks, season 1 pound of peeled, deveined shrimp with 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, salt, and black pepper. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil or butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp in a single layer and cook for 2 minutes per side until pink and opaque. Remove shrimp from the pan and set aside.
  3. In the same skillet, reduce heat to medium and melt 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter. Add 4 minced garlic cloves and sauté until fragrant, about 1 minute, being careful not to burn the garlic.
  4. Pour in 1 cup heavy cream and ½ cup chicken broth. Stir in ½ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes and 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
  5. Stir in 1 cup fresh baby spinach and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Add ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese and stir until melted and creamy. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it.
  6. Return the cooked shrimp to the skillet, then add the drained pasta. Toss everything together to coat the noodles evenly in the sauce. Finish with the juice of half a lemon and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
  7. Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper. Optionally, sprinkle fresh basil or parsley for added freshness.

Notes

Do not overcrowd the pan when cooking shrimp to ensure proper searing. Use fresh garlic for best flavor and avoid burning it by keeping heat moderate. Reserve pasta water to loosen sauce and help it cling to noodles. Avoid overcooking shrimp to prevent rubbery texture. Simmer sauce gently to maintain creamy texture. Start sauce while pasta cooks for best timing. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream and Parmesan with vegan alternative. Gluten-free pasta can be used to make the dish gluten-free.

Nutrition

Keywords: Tuscan, garlic shrimp, creamy pasta, quick dinner, easy recipe, shrimp pasta, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, Parmesan

Find it online: https://sweetstirring.com/creamy-tuscan-garlic-shrimp-pasta-easy-recipe-for-savory-dinner-delight/