Italian
Tuscan Shrimp Pasta
Penne is tossed with shrimp, burst cherry tomatoes, spinach, and a light Parmesan cream. The shrimp are cooked first so they stay at a safe temperature without turning rubbery in the sauce.
- Prep
- 15 min
- Cook
- 25 min
- Total
- 40 min
- Servings
- 4
- Difficulty
- Medium
Why you’ll love it
- Searing the shrimp first keeps them from overcooking in the cream.
- Cherry tomatoes give the sauce body without a long simmer.
- Spinach wilts into the pan so you do not need a side pot.
- Lemon juice at the end cuts the richness of the cream.
Ingredients
Ingredient amounts scale. Oven temperature and cook time do not. Salt, spices, and leaveners are a starting point after you scale. Taste and adjust.
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Instructions
- 1
Boil the penne in salted water until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup pasta water.
- 2
Pat the shrimp dry and season with 1/2 tsp salt and the black pepper.
- 3
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Cook the shrimp 1 to 2 minutes per side until pink and the thickest pieces reach 145°F. Transfer them to a plate.
- 4
Lower the heat to medium. Cook the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the tomatoes, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and remaining 1/2 tsp salt. Cook until the tomatoes soften, about 4 minutes.
- 5
Stir in the cream and simmer 2 minutes until slightly thickened.
- 6
Add the spinach and stir until wilted. Toss in the penne, shrimp, Parmesan, and lemon juice, adding pasta water if the sauce looks tight.
- 7
Serve hot, with the shrimp still at least 145°F.
Pro tips
- Pull the shrimp as soon as they hit 145°F so they do not curl into tight balls.
- Halve the tomatoes so they burst faster than whole ones.
- Add the spinach in handfuls so it wilts evenly.
Easy substitutions
- penne
- rigatoni
- heavy cream
- half-and-half
- baby spinach
- chopped kale, stemmed
Storage and reheating
Storage
Refrigerate in a covered container up to 2 days.
Reheating
Warm in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water until the shrimp reach 145°F again.
Nutrition
Estimates per serving, using standard ingredient averages and rounded to the nearest gram. This is not a lab analysis, and it shifts if you change brands or add sides.
- Calories
- 674
- Protein
- 38 g
- Carbs
- 72 g
- Fat
- 26 g
- Fiber
- 5 g
Moderate · Stovetop · High Protein
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