A wonderful Shrimp Spinach Alfredo Pasta that everyone will love. Made with sauteed shrimp, spinach and rich creamy sauce, this delicious pasta brings both the best of texture and flavor.
Despite loving traditional recipes, I sometimes go with what I have left in the fridge. Some of my recipes were born while I was cleaning out the fridge and I call them masterpieces. You’d have a clean and empty fridge and a delicious meal at the same time. It’s no doubt that clean-out-the-fridge meals are the winner! This shrimp spinach alfredo pasta is such in that category of meal that has won our hearts.
SPINACH
When it comes to cooking, I usually use up the ingredients that are going to expire soon. We want to eat them at their best, plus we can avoid wasting our food. Spinach is a kind of veggie that has a short life span in the fridge, that’s why I want to use it in the recipe today. When you cook with fresh spinach, make sure to cook them in a very short time, like seconds! This green immediately begins to wilt once it hits the heat, so I will add it in the last step right before serving. You can replace spinach with any other veggies such as bell pepper, the cooking time will vary.
WHAT IS ALFREDO SAUCE
Alfredo sauce is a white sauce made with heavy cream, butter and parmesan cheese. You can prepare it separately from the pasta or add each ingredient to pasta until the whole mixture is tossed to coat the pasta. I usually whip up a large batch of alfredo sauce and store it in the fridge for later use, but you can always find pre-made alfredo sauce in jars for sale at stores.
To make alfredo sauce, cook butter, heavy cream and cream cheese in a small saucepan over medium heat and whisk until melted. Add minced garlic, garlic powder, parsley or Italian season, salt and pepper to taste and whisk until smooth. Next, add the grated parmesan cheese and bring to simmer, let it cook until the mixture becomes thickened. This homemade hearty, cheesy sauce is enough to bring any pasta dish to the next level.
HOW TO MAKE SHRIMP SPINACH ALFREDO PASTA
Cook Pasta: In a large boiling water, add some salt and cook 1/2 pound (1/2 regular pasta box) under package instructions and drain. Wash spinach carefully and set aside.
Sauté Shrimp: In a large skillet, heat the butter (or olive oil) over medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic and sauté until lightly golden and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Add shrimps, season with salt, pepper, paprika, oyster sauce and honey and cook on both sides until pink, fully cooked. Make sure the shrimp are cooked in a single layer, so they cook evenly on both sides. Take them out of the pan and set them aside in a bowl.
Make Alfredo Sauce: Using the same pan, heat butter and garlic until lightly golden. Pour the heavy cream into the pan and increase the heat to medium-high. Allow the cream to reach a simmer, then remove from heat and add the grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper, Italian seasonings to taste and stir to combine.
Add Shrimp, Spinach and Pasta: Once the sauce is done but still hot, add in cooked shrimps, spinach and drained pasta and toss to combine. Garnish with parsley, grated parmesan if desired.
Craving for more? Try These Recipes:
Shrimp Spinach Alfredo Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 pound (454g) shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 2 tablespoons (4 garlic cloves) chopped garlic
- 2 tablespoons (1/4 medium onion) finely diced onion
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) oyster sauce
- 1 tablespoon (15ml) honey
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 4 tablespoons (1/4 stick/57g), unsalted butter, you can substitute 2 tablespoons of olive oil for sauteing shrimps
- 2 cups (480ml) heavy cream*
- 1/2 cup (45g) grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 pound spaghetti pasta, or any long pasta
- Parsley, Italian seasoning, a pinch of paprika
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: In a large boiling water, add some salt and cook pasta under package instructions and drain. Set aside. Wash spinach carefully and set aside.
- Sauté Shrimp: In a large skillet, heat the butter (or olive oil) over medium-high heat. Add the onions, garlic and sauté until lightly golden and fragrant, stirring occasionally. Add shrimps, season with salt, pepper, paprika, oyster sauce and honey and cook on both sides until pink, fully cooked. Make sure the shrimp are cooked in a single layer, so they cook evenly on both sides. Take them out of the pan and set them aside in a bowl.
- Make Alfredo Sauce: Using the same pan, heat butter and garlic until lightly golden. Pour the heavy cream into the pan and increase the heat to medium-high. Allow the cream to reach a simmer, then remove from heat and add the grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper, Italian seasonings to taste and stir to combine.
- Add Shrimp, Spinach and Pasta: Once the sauce is done but still hot, add in cooked shrimps, spinach and drained pasta and toss to combine. Garnish with parsley, grated parmesan if desired.
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