A Unique Delight: Zucchini and Shrimp Pasta Recipe
A Recommended Zucchini Dish: Making Zucchini Shrimp Pasta
If you’re looking for a change from the usual cream or rosé pasta, we’ve got a special recipe for you! This ‘Zucchini Shrimp Pasta’ utilizes the readily available zucchini. It’s so easy to make with common household ingredients that it’s sure to become a favorite in your kitchen, right after our egg pasta recipe. By combining the Italian classic, pasta, with zucchini, a familiar vegetable in Korean cuisine, you’ll experience a freshness unlike any other. The subtle, natural flavor of the zucchini blends beautifully with the pasta sauce, creating a taste that is both familiar and delightfully new. If you want to enjoy an extraordinary Italian meal with ordinary ingredients, follow along right now!
Main Ingredients
- Zucchini 150g (thinly sliced into half-moons)
- Penne Pasta 70g
- Coarse Salt 1 Tbsp (for boiling pasta)
- Frozen Shrimp 100g (thawed in cold water, then drained)
- Onion 1/4 (finely minced)
- Butter 15g
- Minced Garlic 1 tsp
- Salt to taste (for seasoning shrimp)
- Lemon Juice 1 Tbsp (to remove shrimp odor and enhance flavor)
- Olive Oil 1 Tbsp
- Water 100ml
- Pasta Water 100ml
Optional Ingredients (For Extra Flavor!)
- Red Pepper Flakes (for a touch of heat)
- Grana Padano Cheese (for a rich finish)
- Red Pepper Flakes (for a touch of heat)
- Grana Padano Cheese (for a rich finish)
Cooking Instructions
Step 1
First, thaw the frozen shrimp quickly by soaking them in cold water. Once thawed, rinse them lightly under running water and drain well. This helps maintain the shrimp’s freshness.
Step 2
Wash the zucchini and slice it thinly into half-moon shapes. Mince the onion as finely as possible. Once your ingredients are prepped, get ready to boil the pasta.
Step 3
Bring a generous pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon of coarse salt. Then, add the penne pasta. Penne generally takes a bit longer to cook than spaghetti. For a chewy texture, cook for about 9 minutes; for a softer texture, cook for 11 minutes. I personally cooked mine for about 10 minutes until they were perfectly al dente. Remember, the pasta will cook a little more in the pan later, so don’t overcook it at this stage!
Step 4
While the pasta is boiling, prepare another pan. Melt the butter over low heat.
Step 5
Once the butter has melted, add the minced garlic and sauté over low heat until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic.
Step 6
Now, add the thawed shrimp to the pan and increase the heat to medium. Season the shrimp with a pinch of salt, then cook until they are nicely browned on both sides. Once cooked, turn off the heat, drizzle with 1 tablespoon of lemon juice for a fresh zest, and set them aside on a separate plate.
Step 7
Using the same pan you cooked the shrimp in, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the minced onion and sauté over medium heat until translucent. Sautéing the onion well will bring out its natural sweetness.
Step 8
Once the onion is translucent, add the sliced zucchini. Immediately pour in 100ml of water and stir. Continue to sauté over medium heat until the zucchini is lightly browned.
Step 9
Initially, the water helps the zucchini cook through and become tender. As you continue to sauté, the liquid will gradually evaporate, concentrating the zucchini’s flavor and giving it a nice golden-brown color. This step is key to developing the pasta’s depth of flavor.
Step 10
When the zucchini is cooked to your liking, add the pre-cooked penne pasta to the pan and toss it together with the zucchini.
Step 11
Add 100ml of the reserved pasta water (pasta cooking liquid) to the pan. Continue to stir over medium heat until the sauce is creamy and coats the pasta beautifully. Be mindful not to overcook the pasta; just cook until it reaches your desired consistency, then turn off the heat.
Step 12
Transfer the finished zucchini pasta to your serving plate. Arrange the sautéed shrimp attractively on top.
Step 13
Finally, for an enhanced presentation and flavor, sprinkle with red pepper flakes and freshly grated Grana Padano cheese, if desired. This completes your delicious and visually appealing Zucchini Shrimp Pasta!
