Cajun Shrimp W/ Red Peppers Angel Hair Pasta and Cayenne Alfredo
- 1 lb pre-cooked shrimp
- 15 ounces alfredo sauce
- 2 teaspoons creole seasoning
- 1 -2 tablespoon lemon juice
- 8 -12 ounces angel hair pasta or 8 -12 ounces pasta, of your choice
- 18 lb butter
- 3 -4 tablespoons olive oil
- 12 medium yellow onion
- 1 -1 12 red bell pepper (use only fresh peppers, not frozen)
- 18-14 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper (use the kind without salt)
- 3 -4 garlic, gloves to taste
- 2 tablespoons chicken base (paste) or 4 bullion cubes in an 8-quart stock pot filled 3/4 with water
- Preparations: Defrost shrimp (if needed) in cold water (20-30 minutes), remove tails off the shrimp, drain and set aside.
- Dice onion and garlic.
- Cut the top off the bell peppers, remove seeds and interior meat and slice bell peppers into strips suitable for eating and set vegetables aside.
- Prepare water for boiling.the pasta and mix in chicken soup base in the water to flavor the pasta.
- Get the grill started and let it get hot.
- In a cup or small bowl combine 1/2 the butter, (melted) and lemon juice enough to brush both sides of the shrimp once on the grill.
- In a large pan pour about 1 tablespoon of olive oil into the pan.
- In a separate cup, pour the rest of the olive oil or as much olive oil into it as you think you need to coat the grates of your grill.
- I have a gas-fired grill, but electric or charcoal grills will work also.
- If you try to 'fry' the shrimp in a pan or stove-top grill it won't turn out as good because the shrimp will sit in too much moisture.
- Cooking: It takes about 10 minutes for the pasta to cook and about the same time to cook up the peppers and shrimp.
- You have to cook three things at once for a few minutes and move fast.
- I never seem to remember the sequence exactly but it goes something like this:.
- Get your pasta water boiling on high.
- Make sure your grill is hot.
- Turn the heat on your pan to high to heat up the olive oil.- don't let it burn.
- Brush the grates on your grill with olive oil - it helps to keep the shrimp from sticking to the grill.
- Allow the oil on the grates to heat up.
- Return to the pan.
- Once the olive oil in the pan is hot, toss in the garlic, onions and peppers.
- Turn down heat to medium-high heat and let the onions and garlic caramelize with the peppers.
- Sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste.
- Toss the pasta in the water and cook for required time.
- Usually 8-10 minutes - DON'T overcook or undercook it.
- Stir occasionally.
- Take shrimp and place on the grill.
- Quickly brush lemon butter over each piece of shrimp.
- Sprinkle (not to heavy here) with Creole seasoning and lemon pepper.
- Close the lid and let cook 3- 5 minutes on each side.
- Go back to the pan and turn pepper, union, garlic mixture.
- Don't let onion or garlic burn, but cook peppers until tender-crisp only.
- Turn down heat if necessary.
- It will take the peppers a little time 7-10 minutes) to start softening.
- Stir and check pasta.
- After about 3-5 minutes on the grill turn the shrimp over, brush again with lemon butter and sprinkle with spices, close lid.
- Usually the shrimp will get done before the other ingredients.
- Try not to overcook the shrimp here, it will still cook slightly after adding to the pan.
- If the other ingredients are done or getting done, take them off the heat until shrimp is done.
- Keep a watchful eye on your foods.
- Once the shrimp is done on the grill, the should be slightly firm, slightly browned, yet tender.
- Add grilled shrimp to peppers in the pan once the peppers are tender-crisp.
- Turn heat down to low-medium.
- Pour in enough alfredo sauce to coat all the shrimp and peppers.
- I use a store-bought sauce.
- If you know how to make your own Alfredo sauce - go for it.
- My preference when it comes to Alfredo sauce is to taste it without having my food swim in it.
- If you like your food to swim in the sauce- add more Alfredo.
- Stir.
- Bring sauce to a slight simmer then turn heat down to low.
- Sprinkle Cayenne pepper lightly over the mixture a little bit at a time.
- Stir.
- Taste.
- Add more cayenne if necessary.
- Too much cayenne and you spoil it, Too little cayenne and the dish lacks the flavor.
- It should be just enough to taste the cayenne pepper and alfredo sauce without it being too hot on the tongue.
- Once you have it just right, cover the pan with a lid but keep warm to let the flavors meld together while you get the pasta and serving dishes ready.
- Do not let the sauce simmer at this point or the shrimp will and peppers may be overcooked.
- Drain pasta and add butter (don't overdo it) as angel hair tends to stick together.
- Stir.
- Serving:.
- You can prepare each place individually to ensure each person gets an equal share of the shrimp and peppers with pasta or I like to place the pasta in one bowl and the shrimp, pepper mixture in a large serving dish.
- People can then take as much pasta as they want and then place the shrimp/pepper/sauce mixture over the top of the pasta.
- It may not look real pretty and people eating this for the first time may want just a "little taste" before they come back for more.
- Yet, despite appearances, the aroma, flavors and different textures will be good.
- Usually, this will serve 4 people.
- If you make a whole box of pasta, some of it gets wasted - that is why I suggest using half to 3/4 of the box.
- If you like more sauce, add it to the shrimp/pepper mixture when cooking so you have some extra.
- You can experiment with different pastas, but I have found that the angel hair is a nice compliment to the delicate shrimp and the pasta should have a slight flavor of its own than blends in nicely with the shrimp and peppers.
- The peppers, if good and fresh will have an almost sweet taste to offset the spices, but be an excellent match with the shrimp's texture.
- This goes great with a nice spring-mix type salad, crispy bread and a good bottle of Petite Syrah (red) wine or a quality (white) Chardonnay followed with a small amount of raspberry sorbet to cleanse the palate.
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shrimp, alfredo sauce, creole seasoning, lemon juice, pasta, butter, yellow onion, red bell pepper, cayenne pepper, lemon pepper, chicken base
Taken from www.food.com/recipe/cajun-shrimp-w-red-peppers-angel-hair-pasta-and-cayenne-alfredo-356505 (may not work)