Description
A quick and easy pasta dish featuring juicy shrimp, crisp asparagus, and delicate angel hair pasta tossed in a luscious creamy garlic sauce. Perfect for weeknight dinners or casual entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces angel hair pasta
- 1 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 bunch fresh asparagus (about 1/2 pound), trimmed and cut into 2-inch pieces
- 4 large garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for garnish
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes, optional, a pinch
- Chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Prep the Ingredients (10 minutes): Trim the asparagus by snapping off the woody ends. Rinse and pat dry the shrimp. Mince the garlic finely. Grate the Parmesan cheese fresh if not already done.
- Cook the Angel Hair Pasta (4-5 minutes): Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the angel hair pasta and cook for 2-3 minutes until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
- Sauté the Shrimp (3-4 minutes): Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium-high heat in a skillet. Season shrimp with salt and pepper. Cook shrimp until pink and opaque, about 1.5-2 minutes per side. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Cook the Asparagus (4-5 minutes): In the same pan, add remaining olive oil. Sauté asparagus pieces until tender-crisp, about 3-4 minutes.
- Make the Creamy Garlic Sauce (5-6 minutes): Lower heat to medium. Add butter to the pan with asparagus. Once melted, add minced garlic and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds to 1 minute. Pour in heavy cream and stir continuously. Let simmer until slightly thickened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in grated Parmesan until smooth. Add lemon juice and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes if using.
- Combine Pasta, Shrimp, and Sauce (2-3 minutes): Return shrimp and drained pasta to the pan. Toss everything together over low heat. Add reserved pasta water gradually to loosen sauce if needed. Adjust seasoning as necessary.
- Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley and extra Parmesan on top. Serve immediately while warm.
Notes
Cook the sauce on low to medium heat to prevent separation. Use reserved pasta water to emulsify the sauce for a silky finish. Avoid overcooking shrimp and asparagus to maintain texture. Freshly grated Parmesan and good quality cream improve flavor and texture. For dairy-free, substitute cream with coconut milk and Parmesan with nutritional yeast or dairy-free cheese. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (about 1/4
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 520
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Carbohydrates: 32
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 30
Keywords: asparagus shrimp pasta, creamy garlic sauce, angel hair pasta, quick dinner, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal, seafood pasta