This Creamy Shrimp Florentine Pasta recipe is quick and easy to make, full of great flavor, and oh-so-creamy and comforting and delicious.
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time25 minutesmins
Total Time40 minutesmins
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: 30 minute, pasta, shrimp
Servings: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
Creamy Shrimp Florentine Pasta Ingredients:
12ouncesuncooked pasta (I used penne)
1tablespoonolive oil
Kosher salt and freshly-cracked black pepper
1poundraw jumbo shrimppeeled and de-veined
1batch Creamy Parmesan Sauce (see below)
2large handfuls of fresh baby spinach
1(8.5-ounce) jar sun-dried tomatoesdrained and roughly chopped
1/4cuploosely-packed chopped fresh basil leaves
lots of freshly-grated Parmesan
Creamy Parmesan Sauce Ingredients:
1tablespoonolive oil or butter
4clovesgarlicpressed or finely-minced
3Tablespoonsall-purpose flour
1cupchicken stock
1cupwarmed milk
3/4cupfreshly-grated Parmesan cheese
1/2teaspoonsalt
1/4teaspoonblack pepper
optional: 1/2 cup half-and-half
Instructions
To Make The Creamy Shrimp Florentine Pasta:
Cook pasta al dente according to package directions, in a large stock pot of generously-salted water. Drain, and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a separate large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Season the shrimp with salt and pepper on both sides. Then add the shrimp to the pan and sauté for 3-5 minutes, turning once, until the shrimp are pink and cooked through. (Cooking time will vary on the size of your shrimp.) Transfer shrimp with a slotted spoon to a clean plate, and set aside.
Use the same sauté pan to prepare your Creamy Parmesan Sauce.
Once the pasta and creamy sauce are finished cooking and ready to go, combine them in the large stock pot. Add in the spinach, sun-dried tomatoes and basil, and toss together until everything is evenly coated with the sauce.
Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese.
To Make The Creamy Parmesan Sauce:
Heat olive oil (or melt butter) in the large sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add garlic and sauté one minute, stirring occasionally, until fragrant. Sprinkle evenly with the flour, and stir to combine. Sauté for an additional minute so that the flour can cook, stirring occasionally.
Then slowly add chicken broth, whisking to combine until smooth. Whisk in milk, and bring to a simmer for 1 minute, or until the sauce has thickened a bit. Add in the Parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and stir until the cheese has melted. If you'd like a creamier sauce (which is delicious), stir in the half and half as well.