DIRECTIONS
In a medium-sized saucepan, boil water and salt. Add your pasta, and cook according to the package instructions until al dente. When the pasta is cooked, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain the pasta.
In a skillet over medium heat, melt the butter, and add olive oil. Cook the shrimp for a minute, then season with salt, pepper, and Old Bay Seasoning or paprika if using.
Continue to cook the shrimp until it’s pink. Do this in batches if you’re worried that you may overcook the shrimp. Remove the shrimp onto a plate and set aside.
In the same pan, melt butter and add garlic, cook for 30 seconds or until it’s fragrant. Add the heavy cream, and with the spatula deglaze the pan.
Add parmesan, let it melt then loosen the sauce with reserved pasta water and allow to simmer for a minute. Taste the sauce and see if more salt and pepper is needed.
Toss the pasta with the sauce until it’s well coated. Add the shrimp back in to reheat it gently, garnish with freshly chopped parsley and serve.
Notes:
If you cook the shrimp from frozen, you will have liquid coming out and that’s fine as it will take about a minute to simmer it down (not enough to overcook the shrimp). If possible, thaw the shrimp before cooking.
Don’t forget to reserve about a cup of the pasta cooking water, it’s quite starchy and great for loosening up the sauce. You will most probably need much less than a cup, but to stay on the safe side I always reserve 1 cup and drain the rest.
This pasta makes 4 normal servings, or 3 big ones.
Store in the fridge in a sealed container for up to 3 days.
Reheat the pasta in a skillet over low-medium heat, and add a splash of water to loosen the sauce. Do the same if using the microwave. I don’t recommend freezing this creamy shrimp pasta.