Description
Creamy Tomato Shrimp Pasta is a quick and delicious 25-minute dinner recipe that combines succulent shrimp with a rich, creamy tomato sauce served over your choice of short tubular pasta. Perfect for a weeknight meal, this dish features a flavorful blend of fresh cherry tomatoes, garlic, white wine, and Parmesan cheese, finished with fragrant basil for a comforting Italian-inspired plate.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 8 ounces short tubed pasta (penne, mezzi rigatoni, or ziti)
Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely minced
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, cut in half
- 3 cloves garlic, finely minced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon pepper
- 1 pinch chili flakes
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ¾ cup whipping cream
Protein & Garnish
- 1 ½ lbs shrimp, peeled and deveined
- ¼ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of the pasta cooking water and then drain the pasta.
- Start Sauce: While waiting for the pasta water to boil, heat olive oil in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add the finely minced onion and cook until translucent, about 3 minutes.
- Add Tomatoes and Aromatics: Increase heat to medium-high and add the cherry tomatoes, garlic, salt, pepper, and chili flakes. Cook while stirring occasionally until the tomatoes soften and break down easily when pressed with a wooden spoon.
- Caramelize Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for about 3 minutes to caramelize it, enhancing the depth of flavor. Pour in the white wine and scrape the bottom of the pan to deglaze, letting it boil until the wine evaporates.
- Cook Shrimp in Cream: Add the whipping cream followed by the shrimp. Return the pan to a boil and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the shrimp turn pink and are cooked through.
- Combine and Serve: Stir in the drained pasta, Parmesan cheese, and fresh basil. Add reserved pasta water a little at a time to loosen the sauce to your desired consistency. Serve immediately while hot and creamy.
Notes
- For best flavor, use fresh cherry tomatoes and fresh basil when possible.
- If you prefer a spicier dish, increase the amount of chili flakes or add fresh chopped chili.
- You can substitute shrimp with chicken or scallops if desired.
- White wine can be omitted or replaced with chicken broth for a non-alcoholic version.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining as it helps to loosen and bind the sauce perfectly.