Description
Bring the Pappadeaux experience home with this Festivité De Février Pasta! Succulent large shrimp and al dente fettuccine blend beautifully in a creamy Cajun sauce, starting with perfectly seared…
Ingredients
- Fettuccine pasta – 12 ounces
- Large shrimp, peeled and deveined – 1 pound
- Unsalted butter – 4 tablespoons
- Yellow onion, diced – 1/2 cup
- Green bell pepper, diced – 1/4 cup
- Garlic, minced – 3 cloves
- Cajun seasoning – 2 tablespoons
- Heavy cream – 1.5 cups
- Parmesan cheese, freshly grated – 1/2 cup
- Fresh parsley, chopped – 2 tablespoons
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the fettuccine pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, and set aside.
- Step 2: While pasta cooks, pat shrimp dry and season with 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until pink and cooked through. Remove shrimp from the skillet and set aside.
- Step 3: Reduce heat to medium, add the remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to the skillet. Add diced yellow onion and green bell pepper; cook for 5-7 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant. Sprinkle in the remaining 1 tablespoon of Cajun seasoning and cook for 30 seconds.
- Step 4: Pour in the heavy cream and bring to a gentle simmer, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to low and stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of reserved pasta water until desired consistency is reached.
- Step 5: Return the cooked shrimp and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss gently to coat everything evenly. Heat through for 1-2 minutes.
- Step 6: Serve immediately, garnished generously with fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days; note that the creamy sauce may thicken upon cooling.
- Gently reheat leftovers on the stovetop over low heat, adding a splash of milk, broth, or even water to revive the creamy sauce and prevent the shrimp from becoming tough.
- Serve this decadent pasta with a crisp green salad tossed in a light vinaigrette or some crusty French bread to soak up every last bit of that luscious Cajun sauce.
- To truly elevate the dish, never overcrowd your skillet when searing the shrimp to ensure a beautiful caramelization rather than steaming, and always use freshly grated Parmesan for the smoothest, most flavorful sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: food recipes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 large bowl (approx. 450g)
- Calories: 1150
- Sodium: 1850mg
- Fat: 85g
- Saturated Fat: 50g
- Trans Fat: 1.5g
- Protein: 7g