Shrimp Pasta with Creamy Mozzarella Sauce

Name: Shrimp Pasta with Creamy Mozzarella Sauce
Prep time: 30 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 1 h 10 min
Ingredients: 8 oz. penne pasta; 1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined); 2 tablespoons olive oil (drained from sun-dried tomatoes jar or just use regular olive oil); 3 garlic cloves minced; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded (do not use fresh Mozzarella, use pre-shredded Mozzarella); 4 oz. sun-dried tomatoes (without oil); 1 cup half and half; 4 garlic cloves minced; 1 tablespoon dried basil (if using fresh basil you can add more); 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed, add more to taste; 1/8 teaspoon paprika; 1/2 cup reserved cooked pasta water (or more); 1/4 teaspoon salt

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Shrimp Pasta with Creamy Mozzarella Sauce

Recipe by GenevaWatsonCourse: Main, DinnerCuisine: Italian, AmericanDifficulty: Medium

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

Total time

hour

minutes

Ingredients

For Pasta

8 oz. penne pasta
For Shrimp

1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined)
2 tablespoons olive oil (drained from sun-dried tomatoes jar or just use regular olive oil)
3 garlic cloves minced

1/4 teaspoon salt
For Creamy Sauce

1 cup mozzarella cheese shredded (do not use fresh Mozzarella, use pre-shredded Mozzarella)
4 oz. sun-dried tomatoes (without oil)
1 cup half and half

4 garlic cloves minced
1 tablespoon dried basil (if using fresh basil you can add more)
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed, add more to taste

1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup reserved cooked pasta water (or more)
1/4 teaspoon salt

Directions

Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve some cooked pasta water for later. Drain and set aside.
To Cook Shrimp
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil (reserved from sun-dried tomatoes jar or regular olive oil) in a large skillet on medium-high heat.

Add shrimp and minced garlic. Fry for about 1 minute on each side, until shrimp turns pink or golden brown. Sprinkle with salt.
Flip over and sear the other side for about 30 seconds or 1 minute more. Transfer shrimp to a plate, reserve oil in skillet.
To Make Creamy Mozzarella Sauce

Add sun-dried tomatoes and minced garlic to skillet. Stir-fry on medium heat for 1 minute, until garlic is fragrant.
Add in half and half and bring to boil. Stir in shredded cheese to combine.
Immediately reduce to simmer. Continue to cook until cheese is melted and sauce thickens. Add a bit more half and half or cooked pasta water, if needed.

Stir in basil, crushed red pepper flakes, paprika. Add 1/4 teaspoon of salt gradually, stirring on low heat and tasting.
To Assemble
Add cooked pasta to skillet, and reheat gently on medium heat. Return cooked shrimp and stir it in. Taste, and season with more salt, if needed.

Let simmer on low heat for a couple of minutes for flavors to combine.
Serve!