Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Penne Pasta Recipe
Our hearty Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Penne Pasta is not only flavourful but also super easy to make and only requires a handful of ingredients!
Ingredients
- 12 oz Pasta
- 4 cloves Garlic
- 12 oz Andouille sausage
- 1 lb Shrimp
- ½ Onion
- 1 Bell Pepper
- 1 tbsp Thyme
- 1½ cup Chicken broth
- 1 can Coconut Milk
- 1 tbsp Arrowroot Starch
- 1 tbsp Lemon Juice
- Spices to taste
- Vegetables
- 1 cup Cheese
Instructions
- In a big pot of salted boiling water, prepare the pasta al dente as per the package instructions. After the pasta has finished cooking, drain it and put it back in the pot. Set aside.
- Combine the shrimp with a little cajun seasoning in a small mixing bowl. Stir until the shrimp are well coated.
- Over medium-high heat, preheat a large skillet. When the pan is hot, pour in half the olive oil before adding the shrimp. Sauté the shrimp until cooked for a few minutes on each side. Take it out of the pan, then leave it aside.
- Then, fill the skillet with the remaining 1/2 cup of olive oil. Add Sausage slices to the pan and cooked for a few minutes until browned on each side. Add the onion, peppers, and garlic to the skillet after that. Once the peppers are soft and the onion is transparent, cook for another five minutes or so. From the skillet, take out the sausage, peppers, and onions, and put them in a dish that can withstand heat.
- Now prepare the sauce. Add the chicken broth, cajun spice, paprika, lemon juice, and fresh thyme to the skillet. Mix by stirring. Heat the sauce to a boil, then simmer it. Simmer the sauce. Once the sauce has simmered, combine 1 tablespoon of arrowroot starch with a little water to produce a slurry. Stir the slurry into the sauce to thicken it.
- Pour the sauce over the pasta in a large pot, then add the sausage, shrimp, and vegetables. Heat the pasta over low heat, and stir everything until mixed well.
- Last, add a little shredded cheese and some sliced green onion to the pasta to complete it. Serve with more green slices, and delight in!
Notes
- Avoid overcooking: Shrimp cook fast. As soon as the shrimp become pink, remove them and lay them aside. They could become tough and rubbery if you cook them for a long time.
- Shrimp: Buy peeled and deveined shrimp that is fresh or frozen. Put frozen shrimp in the refrigerator overnight to thaw them. You can also use a bowl of cold water to thaw frozen shrimp that are still in their sealed bag. It should take them 30-45 minutes to defrost.
- Perfect Pasta: Before the time indicated on the pasta packaging, check the pasta. You want to cook the pasta al dente. Drain it if it is tender with a slight chew.
- Store-brought Cajun Seasoning: It is best to taste the pre-made sauce. It's always a good idea to taste a spice mix before adding salt to suit your tastes. Since some seasoning mixes contain more salt than others. Spice is the same way. You should first taste the sauce before deciding whether to add more spice. Because each seasoning blend will vary in its level of heat.
- Vegetarian: Remove the sausage and shrimp from the recipe to make it vegetarian. Include an extra pound of vegetables and sauté them alongside the bell peppers and onions. These vegetables could include spinach leaves. Also sliced bell peppers, sliced mushrooms or zucchini, or other vegetables.
- Timing note: Plan to begin preparing the sauce. Cook the shrimp while the pasta is cooking for the best results. The final meal won't be as nice if the pasta gets cool down too much.