Shrimp pasta in cream sauce - step-by-step recipe

Shrimp pasta in cream sauce – is the perfect option for a quick yet delicious dinner. Tender shrimp, sautéed in aromatic garlic oil, combine with a rich cream sauce and al dente pasta. This shrimp pasta recipe will take you only about 30 minutes!

Yield: 2 servings.

Calories: 243 kcal per 100 grams of the dish.

Cooking time: 30 minutes.

Cuisine: Italian.

Ingredients

• pasta (spaghetti, fettuccine, or penne) - 300 g;
• shrimp (cooked-frozen) - 500 g;
• cream (10% fat) - 200 ml;
• parmesan - 100 g;
• olive oil - 75 ml;
• garlic - 3 cloves;
• nutmeg (ground) - 8 g;
• salt - 6 g.

Preparation

1. Place the necessary ingredients on the working surface.

2. Boil water in a saucepan, cook the shrimp (500 g) for 3 minutes.

3. Drain the water and peel the prepared shrimp from their shells.

4. Peel 3 cloves of garlic and slice them thinly. In a pan over medium heat, heat 75 ml of olive oil, add the garlic, and sauté until golden brown. Remove all garlic slices from the oil with a spoon.

5. Add the peeled shrimp to the garlic oil and sauté for 2–3 minutes over medium heat.

6. Reduce the heat to medium, pour in the cream (200 ml), add ground nutmeg (8 g) and salt (6 g). Stir with a spatula and bring the cream mixture almost to a boil.

7. Add grated parmesan (100 g) and thoroughly mix the sauce until the cheese is completely dissolved.

8. Meanwhile, cook the pasta (300 g) in salted water according to the package instructions. Drain the water through a sieve.

9. Add the cooked pasta to the pan with the cream sauce and shrimp, gently mix. Cover with a lid and let the pasta simmer on low heat for 4 minutes.

10. Serve the hot shrimp pasta in cream sauce.

Tips for perfect pasta

• Use high-quality cream: 10–20% fat is optimal for a delicate yet rich sauce.
• Parmesan can be replaced with another hard cheese, but it is the parmesan that gives the classic taste.
• Do not overcook the shrimp - they will become rubbery.
• A little pasta cooking water can be added to the sauce for a silkier texture.

Serving

Serve the shrimp pasta hot, sprinkling with additional parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Optionally, garnish with a sprig of parsley.

Frequently asked questions (FAQ)

Can I use frozen shrimp?
Yes, be sure to thaw them in advance and thoroughly drain excess water.

Which pasta is best to choose?
Classic options are spaghetti, fettuccine, or linguine. Penne or tagliatelle are also great choices.

Can I thicken the cream sauce?
Yes. Use cream with higher fat content or add a little grated cheese during the sauce preparation.