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Cajun Shrimp Pasta Recipe

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5 from 2 votes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 45 minutes
Yield 4 servings
Category Dinner
Cuisine Cajun, Creole
Author Lauren Grant

Description

Crispy pancetta, tender shrimp and penne pasta get tossed in a creamy tomato sauce that lightly coat everything and gives each bite big flavor. 

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Ingredients

  • ¾ pound dry penne pasta
  • 4 ounces diced pancetta, or Tasso ham (if you can find it)
  • 1 ½ pounds medium wild-caught shrimp, peeled and deveined
  • 4 teaspoons Homemade Cajun Seasoning
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
  • ½ cup finely diced onion
  • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
  • Kosher salt
  • 1 (14-ounce) can diced fire-roasted tomatoes
  • ¼ cup dry white wine, sherry or additional broth
  • 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
  • ½ cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves, or ¾ teaspoon dried
  • 1 teaspoon chopped fresh oregano, or ¾ teaspoon dried
  • 1 lemon, for serving
  • Grated parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

  • Bring a large pot of water to a boil and season generously with salt. Add penne and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes. Drain, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
  • Heat a large heavy-duty pot over medium-low. Add pancetta and cook until fat has rendered and pork begins to caramelize, 10 minutes. Transfer to a bowl using a slotted spoon; reserve drippings in pot.
  • In a medium bowl, toss shrimp with Homemade Cajun Seasoning.
  • Add shrimp to pot and cook until just cooked through, turning once or twice, about 3–4 minutes. Remove and transfer to bowl with pancetta.
  • Add butter to pot; once melted, stir in onions and garlic; season lightly with salt. Cook until onions begin to soften, about 5 minutes. Add tomatoes and cook until liquid evaporates, about 2 minutes. Stir in the wine and cook until liquid is reduced, about 2 minutes longer. Stir in chicken broth and heavy cream and bring to a simmer.
  • Fold in cooked pasta, pancetta, and shrimp. Taste and season with salt and pepper, adding pasta water as necessary to coat the noodles.
  • Remove from heat and gently stir in thyme, oregano, and lemon juice. Serve hot with grated parmesan cheese.

Notes

Tasso ham is a spiced, smoked meat (actually pork shoulder) that is typical in Cajun-style gumbos and stews. If you can find it, use it here to it lend smoky depth to the sweet Cajun-spiced shrimp.
Any size shrimp will work, but I like medium. They mix with penne pasta well.
Make this dairy-free by using olive oil instead of butter and using canned coconut milk instead of heavy cream.
A bit of dry white wine or sherry adds a nice bright acidity. Feel free to skip it and use additional broth.
Canned fire roasted tomatoes are just as convenient as canned diced tomatoes but add a lot more flavor. Either type of canned tomato will work.

Nutrition

Serving: 1/4 recipeCalories: 390kcalCarbohydrates: 17.5gProtein: 22gFat: 28gSaturated Fat: 16gCholesterol: 161mgSodium: 995mgFiber: 1gSugar: 2g
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