Description
Succulent Tomato Spinach Shrimp Pasta blends Mediterranean flavors with elegant simplicity, creating a perfect harmony of fresh ingredients. Seafood enthusiasts will savor this quick, nutritious meal that brings restaurant-quality dining directly to home kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins and Seafood:
- 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
Pasta and Starches:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) spaghetti or linguine
Fresh Produce and Seasonings:
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved
- 2 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Oils, Cheese, and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare a generously salted water bath in a large pot, bringing it to a vigorous boil. Submerge pasta and cook until it reaches a perfect al dente texture, typically 8-10 minutes. Carefully extract and preserve one cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Introduce shrimp seasoned with Italian herbs, salt, cracked pepper, and optional chili flakes. Sear each side for approximately 2-3 minutes until they transform into a vibrant pink and become translucent. Transfer cooked shrimp to a separate plate.
- Utilizing the same skillet, replenish with a touch of olive oil if necessary. Quickly toast minced garlic until aromatic, roughly 30 seconds. Incorporate halved cherry tomatoes and allow them to soften and caramelize for 2-3 minutes. Gently fold in fresh spinach leaves, watching them gracefully wilt within 1-2 minutes.
- Reunite the reserved pasta and shrimp with the vegetable medley in the skillet. Toss ingredients together, gradually introducing reserved pasta water to create a silky, cohesive sauce that elegantly embraces each pasta strand.
- Sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan, enhancing the dish’s richness. Taste and recalibrate seasoning with additional salt and pepper as desired. Shower with chopped parsley for a final flourish of color and freshness. Serve immediately while piping hot.
Notes
- Select quick-cooking shrimp like medium or small sizes to ensure even and fast cooking without becoming rubbery.
- Use fresh cherry tomatoes for vibrant color and bursting flavor, ensuring they are ripe but still firm when touched.
- Keep pasta water starchy and salty, which helps create a silky sauce and enhances overall dish seasoning.
- Consider gluten-free pasta alternatives like zucchini noodles or chickpea pasta for dietary restrictions while maintaining similar texture and taste profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 14 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg