Shrimp / Prawn Pasta with Lemon Recipe

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Take your pasta up a notch through the use of the free flavour in prawn (shrimp) shells to make a fast inventory which is used as a sauce for this Prawn Pasta. This can be a restaurant secret!

A bowl of Prawn Pasta with cherry tomatoes and lemon

The primary time I attempted pasta made this manner was at a household dinner when my brother made it. I’ve by no means scoffed down a pasta so quick, and I’m fairly certain I went again for thirds. I couldn’t put my finger on it, however it was so good. So, so good. After dinner, he lastly revealed that the sauce he used was made utilizing the prawn heads and shells. And ever since then, I’ve been obsessive about making prawn (shrimp) pasta this manner.

“Use the prawn (shrimp) heads and shells to make a sauce that makes this a restaurant high quality pasta.”

So through the use of the prawn heads and shells to make a fast inventory, you can also make a pasta that may be a step up from the same old. It’s not a full blown fish inventory, only a fast one made utilizing the prawn heads and shells. And it doesn’t style fishy in any respect. I might describe it as candy with a deep flavour. The truth is, it’s really fairly laborious to choose why the pasta tastes so good, you simply realize it does!

That is greatest made utilizing uncooked entire prawns which you peel your self as a result of you’ll get essentially the most flavour within the inventory/sauce. However it may also be made utilizing pre cooked prawns, as lengthy as they aren’t peeled.

Oh, earlier than I log off, a fast tip for Sydney-siders! I bought these prawns from Harris Farm Markets on a whim as a result of I simply found at this time that every one their recent seafood is 50% off from 2pm on Sundays! I’ll most actually be making it a behavior to swing by Harris Farms on Sunday afternoons…..

Joyful cooking!

PS Have you learnt the right way to inform a prawn is completely cooked? A uncooked prawn hangs straight. A superbly cooked prawn curls right into a “C” form. An overcooked prawn curls into an “O” form. It’s so unhappy when that occurs!

 

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Shrimp / Prawn Pasta with Lemon Recipe

Shrimp / Prawn Pasta with Lemon Recipe

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Serves: 4 Prep Time: Cooking Time:
Nutrition facts: 603 calories 20 grams fat
Rating: 5.0/5
( 1 voted )

Ingredients

  • 1 lb / 500g large , raw, unpeeled prawns/shrimp
  • 2 garlic cloves , minced
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 cup chicken or fish stock/broth (or vegetable)
  • 1 1/2 cups water
  • 1/2 cup white wine (optional - sub with water)
  • 1/2 onion , roughly chopped
  • 400 g / 13oz spaghetti
  • 3/4 cup pasta cooking water (i.e. scoop it out once the pasta is cooked)
  • 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil , plus extra for drizzling
  • 1 garlic clove , minced
  • 1 1/2 punnets cherry tomatoes , cut in half (or 3 large tomatoes, diced)
  • 1 large lemon (or 1 1/2 small lemons), zest and juice
  • 3 tbsp fresh parsley , finely chopped
  • 2 tsp dried chili flakes (optional)
  • Salt
  • Black pepper
  • Extra lemon wedges
  • Extra fresh parsley , finely chopped

Instructions

  1. Peel and devein the prawns, keeping the tails in tact. (Note 1)
  2. Discard the vein and place the heads and shells in a saucepan or pot to make the stock. (Note 2)
  3. Cut the larger prawns lengthwise in half.
  4. Add 2 minced garlic cloves the minced garlic and 2 tbsp of olive oil. Use your fingers to gently coat the prawns. Cover and set aside to marinate while you make the stock.
  5. Add the remaining stock ingredients into the saucepan/pot and place over high heat. Bring to boil then turn down to medium / medium high and let it simmer rapidly.
  6. Get a potato masher and "crush" the prawn heads and shells (to extract maximum flavour). Do this a couple of times while it is simmering.
  7. When the liquid has reduced to around 1 to 1 1/2 cups, strain the stock into a bowl, then pour the stock back into the pot. (Note 3) Place lid on, then set the stock aside, keeping it warm until required.
  8. Bring a large pot of water with 2 tsp of salt to boil. Add pasta and cook until just before al dente (Note 4).
  9. While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large deep fry pan over high heat.
  10. Add the prawns and cook the first side for 1 minute, then turn and cook the other side for 1 minute. Remove onto a plate, loosely cover with foil and set aside. (Note 5)
  11. Add the remaining 2 tbsp of olive oil and 1 garlic clove (minced) into the fry pan. Scrape the residual oil and garlic from the bowl the prawns were marinating in as well. Return the fry pan to the stove and sauté until the garlic is fragrant.
  12. Transfer the cooked pasta into the fry pan (use tongs to transfer it from the pasta pot) along with 3/4 cup of the pasta water (this is a key step) and cherry tomatoes. Gently toss the pasta in the fry pan for around 1 minute. The water will thicken and turn into a glossy coating on the pasta.
  13. Add the lemon zest, lemon juice, parsley, chilli (if using) and prawns/shrimp. Quickly toss to combine, then pour over the stock and toss quickly to coat all the pasta. Then remove from heat immediately.
  14. Season to taste with salt and pepper (always do this last).
  15. Drizzle with extra olive oil, and serve immediately, with extra lemon wedges and fresh parsley if desired.
  16. Note: seafood pastas and risottos are not traditionally garnished with parmesan (in Italy), however, I say do as you wish!

Notes

1. This is how I peel prawns (I'm right handed): hold the prawn in your left hand and gently enclose your fingers around it so the prawn is almost straight. Break the head off with your right hand in a slight twisting motion, then gently pull it away and hopefully, the vein will be pulled out as you pull the head away from the body. If the vein breaks, just bend the prawn and the flesh will pull apart and expose the vein. Use a skewer or small sharp knife and to "hook" under the vein, pull it up then use your fingers to gently pull it out.
Then peel the shell off, leaving the tails in tact.
2. The larger the pot, the faster the stock reduces.
3. At this stage if you didn't reduce it enough, you can simmer it more until you get to the required 1 1/2 cups. If you reduced it too much, add a touch of water.
4. If the pasta packet says to cook for 8 minutes, I deduct 2 minutes so it is just before al dente. This is because the pasta finishes cooking in the sauce.
5. How to tell your prawn is cooked: A raw prawn hangs straight. A perfectly cooked prawn curls into a "C" shape. An overcooked prawn curls into an "O" shape. It's so sad when that happens!
6. I add the cherry tomatoes quite late so they are still holding their shape but are warmed through. You could add them into the pan before the pasta to soften them more. Another variation is to cook chopped tomatoes (or even crushed tomatoes) in the pan after cooking the prawns. Cook it down until thick then the pasta is extra saucy.
7. Nutrition per serving.

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Sarah Miller
Sarah Miller

Hi, I’m Sarah Millar!
I’m a food blogger who loves creating quick and easy recipes that bring big flavor without the fuss. Cooking doesn’t have to be complicated — and I’m here to share simple, fast food ideas that anyone can make at home. When I’m not in the kitchen, you’ll usually find me tasting new dishes, exploring cafés, or coming up with fresh food hacks to make everyday meals more fun.

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