Description
Sizzling Calabrian chili pasta with shrimp brings Mediterranean heat to your dinner table, dancing with spicy, succulent flavors. Seafood lovers will savor each perfectly balanced bite of this quick, zesty Italian-inspired dish that promises restaurant-quality excitement at home.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Seafood:
- 1 lb spaghetti or linguine
- 1 lb large shrimp, peeled and deveined
Chili and Flavor Base:
- 3 tbsp calabrian chili paste
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
Finishing and Garnish:
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
- 2 tbsp lemon juice
- 1/4 cup parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil, preparing to cook the spaghetti or linguine until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat, creating a fragrant base with minced garlic and red pepper flakes.
- Add Calabrian chili paste to the skillet, stirring quickly to prevent burning and develop a rich, spicy foundation.
- Introduce shrimp to the skillet, cooking for 2-3 minutes per side until they turn pink and develop a slight golden edge.
- Drain pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, then transfer noodles directly into the skillet with the spicy shrimp mixture.
- Toss pasta thoroughly, using reserved water to help create a smooth, clingy sauce that coats every strand.
- Squeeze fresh lemon juice over the dish, adding brightness and cutting through the rich, spicy flavors.
- Sprinkle chopped parsley and grated parmesan cheese, stirring gently to distribute evenly.
- Season with salt and black pepper, giving a final toss to ensure perfect flavor balance.
- Plate immediately, serving hot with additional parmesan and parsley as optional garnish.
Notes
- Choose fresh, deveined shrimp for the best texture and fastest cooking time.
- Adjust Calabrian chili paste quantity based on personal spice tolerance, starting with less and adding gradually.
- Gluten-free alternative can be achieved by using zucchini noodles or gluten-free pasta varieties.
- Reserve pasta water strategically to control sauce consistency, adding splashes as needed for silky, clingy texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 75 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg