Description
Spicy Cajun shrimp and sausage pasta blends New Orleans flavors with creamy, zesty ingredients. Rich proteins and bold seasonings create a hearty meal that satisfies hungry diners with complex, authentic southern charm.
Ingredients
Scale
- 0.5 lb (225 g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 0.5 lb (225 g) smoked sausage, sliced
- 10.5 oz (300 g) pasta of your choice
- 3 tbsps Cajun seasoning
- 1.5 cups low-sodium chicken stock
- 1 cup half and half
- 2 tbsps tomato paste
- 0.25 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 large shallot, finely diced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, sliced
- 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped
- 1 handful fresh parsley, roughly chopped
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a generously salted water pot to a rolling boil and cook pasta until tender, reserving a cup of starchy liquid before draining.
- Protein Searing: In a large skillet, rapidly cook shrimp over medium-high heat until they turn coral pink, then transfer to a holding plate. Follow by browning sausage slices to a crisp golden state.
- Aromatic Foundation: Utilize the same skillet to sauté shallots and bell peppers in remaining pan juices, releasing their subtle sweetness. Introduce minced garlic, stirring briefly to awaken its pungent essence without scorching.
- Spice Layering: Dust the vegetable mixture with Cajun seasoning and tomato paste, allowing spices to bloom and intensify their complex profile. Deglaze with chicken stock, scraping up caramelized remnants from the pan’s surface.
- Sauce Development: Pour half and half into the skillet, creating a velvety sauce that simmers and thickens with gentle bubbling. Reunite shrimp and sausage with the developing mixture, ensuring complete flavor integration.
- Final Assembly: Incorporate cooked pasta into the spicy, creamy concoction, using reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency if needed. Finish by folding in Parmesan and parsley, seasoning to taste with additional Cajun spice, salt, and pepper.
- Serving and Storage: Plate immediately, garnishing with extra cheese and herbs. For optimal enjoyment, serve steaming hot. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to three days, gently reheating with a splash of liquid to maintain sauce’s luxurious texture.
Notes
- Pasta Water Preservation: Save some starchy pasta water before draining to help adjust sauce consistency and enhance overall dish creaminess.
- Searing Technique: Cook shrimp quickly over high heat to prevent rubbery texture, removing from pan immediately after turning pink.
- Spice Distribution: Bloom Cajun seasoning with tomato paste to intensify flavors and ensure even spice distribution throughout the sauce.
- Reheating Strategy: When storing leftovers, add a splash of cream or chicken stock when warming to restore sauce’s original creamy consistency and prevent dryness.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 570
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 63 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 27 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg