Creamy Tomato Pasta with Garlic Shrimp is a delicious, satisfying and well-balanced dish that’s perfect for those who enjoy bold flavors and comforting textures. The creamy tomato red sauce provides a smooth, velvety texture and a slightly sweet taste with a slight tang from the tomatoes. The garlic shrimp adds a burst of flavor with its juicy and plump texture, seasoned with the bold and aromatic taste of garlic. The pasta acts as the base for the dish, providing a soft and comforting texture that perfectly balances the creamy tomato sauce and the garlic shrimp. Let’s make it!
Some tips before cooking:
- Pasta. In this recipe, I like to use a “pieces-shaped” type of pasta, such as Farfalle. Moreover, to make it healthier I took whole-wheat type, it has a brown color but its taste is not worse than regular pasta.
The other good options can be Fusilli, Penne, or Rigatoni types. If you prefer Spaghetti types, such as Fetucini or Linuini, I believe it also will work well. - Tomato Cream Sauce. For the sauce, we use bell pepper, tomatoes, and onion, mixed with Marinara sauce and cream. We use cut fresh pepper and tomatoes as they add texture to the Creamy Tomato Pasta. If we replace them with a jarred sauce such as Basilic or Neapolitan sauces, they won’t give the dish such texture, so use fresh bell pepper and tomatoes.
- Shrimps. We need to take big ones. For this red pasta, I use untailed, and of course, they must be peeled. If you have frozen shrimp, make sure to unfreeze them, leaving them in a fridge for the night before cooking or placing them in warm water for 15 mins just before cooking. By the way, shrimp are low in carbs and calories and packed with nutrients, so they are an ideal choice if you’re trying to shed some pounds.
- For serving. For serving, we’ll use thorn Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. They add a nice finishing touch to the Creamy Tomato Pasta with shrimp.
How to make Creamy Tomato Pasta with Garlic Shrimp
Firstly, let’s deal with the shrimps. As I wrote before if you have them frozen, then you need to unfreeze them. Then Place them in a bowl and cover them with paprika, salt, chili and olive oil and mix. Set aside.
Now let’s prepare the vegetables for the Red Sauce and the Garlic Shrimp. Peel and chop the garlic cloves.
Then do the same procedure with the onion.
Well, now peel the bell pepper from the seeds and cut it into 1cm cubes. Then cut the tomatoes. I have small ones, so we’ll need 4 tomatoes.
When the vegetables are prepared it’s time to place water for the pasta. Place a saucepan with water on high heat, wait till it starts boiling, then add a pinch of salt and Farfalle. Cook till al dente, my pasta took 11 mins.
While pasta is being cooked let’s cook the shrimp and the sauce. Place a saucepan on low heat, add some olive oil and chopped garlic. Fry it till the garlic starts giving its aroma and becomes gold. Don’t burn it. Then decrease the heat to low and place shrimps to the pan. Fry for 1 min on each side.
Take the shrimp out of the pan and set them aside. In the same pan where the shrimps were add chopped onion and fry on on medium heat till golden. If needed add a bit of olive oil.
Then add cut tomatoes, pepper, Marinara sauce and the spices (dry basil, oregano, salt), mix.
Let it boil for 15 mins.
When the bell pepper got softer, add cream and mix. Look what a beautiful color of red sauce for the Creamy Tomato Pasta we got!
In the end add shrimps and Farfalle and mix so the sauce covers the added ingredients. Your Creamy Tomato Pasta with Garlic Shrimp is ready to be served!
Place it on the plates and serve with Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy your Creamy Tomato Pasta with shrimp!
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Garlic Shrimp
Ingredients
Pasta
- 140 g farfalle
- a pinch of salt
Tomato Cream Sauce
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 0.25 yellow onion
- 1 red bell pepper
- 4 small tomatoes
- 0.5 tsp dry basil
- 0.5 tsp dry oregano
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 100 g Marinara sauce
- 100 g cream (18% fat)
Shrimps
- 13-16 shrimps
- 0.5 tsp paprika
- 0.5 tsp salt
- 0.5 tsp chili flakes
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 garlic cloves
For serving
- Grated Parmesan cheese
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Let's deal with shrimps. Cover them with paprika, salt, chili and olive oil and mix. Set aside;
- Let's prepare the vegetables for the sauce and the shrimps. Peel and chop the onion and the garlic cloves, and cut the bell pepper and tomatoes into 1cm cubes;
- Place the water for pasta on high heat and wait till boiling. When the water is boiling, add a pinch of salt. Then and farfalle. Cook till al-dente, then put the pasta in a colander and set aside;
- Place a saucepan on low heat, pour olive oil and add chopped garlic. Fry till golden, add shrimp and fry them for 1 min on each side. Then take the shrimp out of the pan and set aside;
- In the same saucepan, place chopped onion and fry till golden on medium heat, then add tomatoes, pepper, and Marinara sauce. Let it boil then decrease the heat to low and cook for about 15mins, stirring occasionally;
- In the end, add cream, and mix. Then add shrimp and pasta. Mix all together, so the sauce covers the added ingredients;
- Place pasta on the plates and serve with finely grated Parmesan cheese and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!
If you like Italian cuisine and especially Easy Pasta Recipes, check out my other Pasta Recipes which are quick and easy to cook:
Tomato Pasta with Garlic Shrimp