Description
This creamy shrimp and broccoli pasta is a quick and very flavorful pasta dish. Shrimp and broccoli is a surprisingly great combination for pasta. The salty, sweet flavor of seafood naturally balances out the crunch and bitterness of the broccoli to produce a surefire crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 7 oz (200 g) smoked diced bacon
- 1 pound (500 grams) medium or large shrimp, peeled and deveined, tails on or off
- 6 cups broccoli florets
- 1 small onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups heavy cream ( half and half or evaporated milk)
- 1/2 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1 tablespoon corn starch ( mixed with 1 tablespoon of water), if needed
- 1/2 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 9 ounces ( 250 grams) uncooked pasta
- 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook bacon until crispy. Transfer to a plate. Drain off excess fat, keeping about 1-2 teaspoons in the pan.
- Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and add to the skillet. Cook for 2 minutes per side. You might need to cook the shrimp in batches not to overcrowd the pan. Transfer to a plate. Set aside.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions.
- Meanwhile, make the creamy sauce. Add the onion, garlic and broccoli florets to the same skillet and cook over low-medium heat for 3-4 minutes or until onion is soft and broccoli is tender. Season with salt and pepper. If the broccoli is too crisp for your liking, add 3-4 tablespoons of water (or chicken broth), cover the pan and cook further for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour in heavy creamy (or half and half) and chicken stock, and add in Parmesan cheese. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then add the bacon and cook further for 1 minute. Season with salt and pepper to your taste. If the sauce is to runny for your liking, add the corn-starch and cook until the sauce has thickened slightly. Remove from the heat.
- Drain the pasta and toss with the sauce. Add the cooked shrimp and mix well.
- Garnish with parsley.
- Serve immediately with extra Parmesan cheese if desired. Enjoy!
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 25 min
- Category: Pasta recipes
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Calories: 752kcal
- Sodium: 1069mg
- Fat: 38
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Carbohydrates: 64g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 52g
- Cholesterol: 163mg