Description
Classic Shrimp Fra Diavolo Pasta is a spicy Italian seafood dish featuring succulent shrimp simmered in a fiery tomato sauce with garlic and red pepper flakes, served over perfectly cooked spaghetti or linguine. This flavorful pasta offers a delightful balance of heat and fresh basil, ideal for a quick yet impressive meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Seafood
- 1 pound Shrimp, peeled and deveined (Fresh or frozen, thawed and patted dry)
Pasta
- 12 ounces Spaghetti or linguine (Cook al dente)
Sauce
- 3 tablespoons Extra virgin olive oil (For sautéing)
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced (Sauté until fragrant)
- 1 teaspoon Red pepper flakes (Adjust for spice preference)
- 28 ounces Crushed tomatoes (Use high-quality canned tomatoes)
- 1/4 cup Fresh basil, chopped (Add at the end of cooking)
- Salt and pepper (To taste)
Garnish
- Grated Parmesan cheese (For serving, optional)
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve about a cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté Garlic: In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil and warm it. Add minced garlic and sauté for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.
- Add Red Pepper Flakes: Add red pepper flakes to the skillet and cook for an additional 30 seconds to release their flavor.
- Simmer Tomato Sauce: Pour in crushed tomatoes and let the mixture simmer for about 5 minutes to develop the sauce.
- Season Sauce: Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste, adjusting to your preference.
- Cook Shrimp: Add shrimp to the skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes until they turn pink and opaque, indicating they are done.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce and shrimp, adding reserved pasta water gradually as needed to achieve the desired sauce consistency.
- Finish and Serve: Stir in chopped basil for a fresh herbal note and serve immediately. Garnish with grated Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Adjust red pepper flakes according to your preferred spice level to make the dish milder or spicier.
- Use fresh shrimp if available for the best texture and flavor; thaw frozen shrimp completely before cooking.
- Reserve pasta water helps to loosen the sauce and helps it adhere better to the pasta.
- Serve immediately to enjoy the pasta at its freshest and avoid overcooking the shrimp.
- Parmesan cheese garnish is optional but adds a lovely umami richness.
