Description
Creamy cajun shrimp pasta with sausage blends spicy Louisiana flavors into a mouthwatering one-pot wonder. Zesty sausage and succulent shrimp dance with rich, velvety sauce, promising a culinary journey that satisfies deep hunger and bold taste cravings.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/2 pound smoked sausage (such as Andouille), sliced
- 8 ounces (226 grams) fettuccine or penne pasta
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
Sauce and Finishing Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional, for serving)
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Cook fettuccine or penne until al dente according to package instructions. Drain pasta, reserving a small amount of cooking water for potential sauce adjustment.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced smoked sausage and cook until golden and crispy, approximately 3-4 minutes. Remove sausage and set aside.
- Using the same skillet, sauté diced onions and bell peppers until softened, about 3-4 minutes. The vegetables will release their natural sweetness during cooking.
- Introduce minced garlic and Cajun seasoning to the skillet. Stir briefly, allowing spices to release their aromatic essence without burning, roughly 1 minute.
- Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Add to the skillet and cook until they transform into a vibrant pink color and become opaque, approximately 2-3 minutes. Transfer shrimp to the bowl with sausage, avoiding overcooking.
- Pour chicken broth and heavy cream into the skillet, creating a luxurious sauce. Simmer gently for 3-5 minutes, allowing the mixture to thicken slightly. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Reintroduce pasta to the skillet, coating each strand thoroughly with the creamy sauce. If the sauce appears too thick, incorporate a splash of reserved pasta water to achieve desired consistency.
- Gently fold the reserved shrimp and sausage back into the pasta, ensuring even distribution and complete heating throughout the dish.
- Plate the creamy Cajun pasta, garnishing with fresh chopped parsley. Optional: Sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese for an extra layer of richness. Serve immediately and relish the complex flavors.
Notes
- Select high-quality shrimp for the best flavor and texture, ensuring they’re fresh or properly thawed before cooking.
- Adjust Cajun seasoning intensity based on personal spice tolerance, starting with less and adding more gradually.
- Use smoked sausage with minimal moisture to achieve better browning and prevent steaming instead of searing.
- When cooking shrimp, watch carefully to avoid overcooking, which can make them tough and rubbery.
- Substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or whole milk for a lighter version of the sauce.
- For a gluten-free option, replace regular pasta with zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta alternatives.
- Keep extra pasta water handy to rescue the sauce if it becomes too thick or dry during cooking.
- Consider adding a splash of white wine to the sauce for enhanced depth and complexity of flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 675
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 34 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 60 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 36 g
- Cholesterol: 220 mg