Yes, I do love shrimp. Here’s another quick and easy weeknight meal. Shrimp pasta with an unbelievable basil cream sauce. Perfecto. Ideal for any dinner occasions from dates to friend get togethers.
Creamy Basil Shrimp Pasta
Quick and easy weeknight meal. Shrimp pasta with an unbelievable basil cream sauce. Perfecto. Ideal for any dinner occasions from dates to friend get togethers.
Ingredients
- 3 cups elbow or shell pasta
- 1 lb large shrimp, cooked and deveined
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp Cajun seasoning
- Kosher salt & ground pepper, to taste
For Basil Cream Sauce:
- 3 Tbsp unsalted butter
- 1 tsp garlic, minced
- 2 Tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
- 2 tsp dried basil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups baby spinach, chopped
- 1 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1 cup shrimp broth (from cooked shrimp)
- Kosher salt and ground pepper, to taste
Instructions
- In separate skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and season with salt and pepper to taste. Cook shrimp for about 5 minutes. Do not drain the shrimp broth. It will be added to the sauce later. Set aside.
- To make sauce, in a separate skillet, melt butter and add garlic. Stirring frequently until fragrant about 2 minutes. Whisk in flour until lightly browned.
- Add vegetable broth and dried basil. Cook, whisk constantly until well combined. Then, gradually add heavy cream and Parmesan cheese. Stir until it thickens. If sauce is too thick, add more vegetable broth as needed.
- Add spinach and fresh basil cook until it starts to wilt. Stir frequently for about 2 minutes. Add pasta, shrimp and shrimp broth. Mix together. Season with salt and pepper, to taste. Garnish with dried basil.
- Serve immediately.
