Description
This Shrimp and Angel Hair Pasta recipe features tender shrimp cooked in a flavorful tomato and garlic sauce, tossed with delicate angel hair pasta. Finished with fresh basil and Parmesan, it’s a quick and elegant seafood pasta dish perfect for a satisfying weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 8-12 ounces angel hair pasta (cooked and drained)
Sauce
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 7 medium roma or plum tomatoes (seeded and roughly chopped)
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter
- 1/4 cup fresh basil (chopped)
- Salt & pepper (to taste)
Protein and Garnish
- 1 pound medium raw shrimp (peeled and deveined)
- 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the angel hair pasta according to package directions until al dente, about 3-4 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water before draining the pasta.
- Prepare the sauce base: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- Simmer tomatoes and broth: Add the chopped tomatoes, salt, pepper, and chicken broth to the skillet. Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop the sauce.
- Cook the shrimp: Nestle the peeled and deveined shrimp into the simmering sauce. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes, turning halfway through, until the shrimp turns pink but remains tender.
- Finish the sauce: Add butter and chopped fresh basil to the skillet. Stir until the butter melts completely. Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked angel hair pasta to the skillet and toss to coat well in the sauce. Add reserved pasta water little by little to moisten the pasta to your desired consistency.
- Serve: Plate the pasta and shrimp mixture and garnish with extra chopped basil and a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately.
Notes
- Be careful not to overcook the shrimp to keep them tender and juicy.
- Reserving pasta water helps adjust the sauce consistency and binds the pasta and sauce together better.
- Use fresh, ripe tomatoes for the best flavor in the sauce.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth for a lighter taste or to accommodate dietary preferences.
- Adjust crushed red pepper flakes according to your spice tolerance.
