Quick Mediterranean Shrimp Pasta Recipe
Succulent shrimp are quickly cooked in a light, vibrant sauce of blistered tomatoes, onions, and briny green olives. This simple Mediterranean-inspired pasta dish is a fast, fresh and delicious weeknight meal. Best of all, it can be put together and on the table in about 30 minutes.
A well-stocked pantry and refrigerator can make dinner preparation easier when you come home after a long and tiring day. My go-to choices are pasta from my pantry and shrimp from the freezer. Even if frozen, shrimp defrost quickly and cook in a matter of minutes. Pasta can cook while you prep and prepare the sauce. Toss the shrimp, pasta and the tomato and olive sauce together for an easy meal.
Shrimp Pasta with Tomato and Olive Sauce
Serves 2, adjust the recipe accordingly
- 6 oz. casarecce, penne or pasta of your choice
- 3 Tbsp. olive oil
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 – 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 lb. large shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1/4 c. white wine
- 12 cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 c. sliced green olives
- a pinch of red pepper flakes, or to taste
- salt and pepper, to taste
- 1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining.
- While the pasta cooks, Add olive oil to a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Sauté the onion, garlic and crushed red pepper flakes and cook until softened, about 4 minutes. Pat the shrimp dry and season with salt and pepper. Add the shrimp and cook for 1 to 2 minutes per side, until pink and just cooked through. Remove the shrimp from the pan and set aside.
- Add the halved cherry tomatoes, sliced olives, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes until the tomatoes have slightly softened and blistered. Add the wine to deglaze the pan and reduce by about half.
- Return the cooked shrimp to the pan. Add the drained pasta and a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything together to coat in the sauce. If the pasta seems dry add a little more of the starchy pasta water and toss some more.
- Taste and adjust seasonings, if necessary. Plate the pasta and top with chopped basil.
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This super easy pasta features a flavorful light tomato-olive sauce with tender shrimp. Using cherry tomatoes creates a sauce as they soften and release their juices. The combination of fresh tomatoes, onions, briny olives, and sweet shrimp makes for a delicious Mediterranean dinner.
How fresh and delicious! Love the succulent prawns.
I’ve been needing some shrimp in my life lately. This sounds delicious.
That sounds delicious Karen and I’ve got loads of home grown cherry tomatoes looking for a recipe!
This looks so yummy!!
It looks and sounds delicious and I really like the Mediterranean flavors in it. I also like that it can be made so quickly. I’d never seen or heard of casarecce pasta so I’ll have to use a different one.
Delicious! Often the simple pasta dishes are best too. I cook something similar quite often and it’s one of my favourite suppers.
As always, Karen, the recipe reads so well and the photos make me drool.
Yummy and easy… the perfect combination!
Oh yum I do love prawns! If only hubby did too … :=)
cheers
sherry https://sherryspickings.blogspot.com/
My husband loves shrimps so I might well give this one a whirl xx
My idea of a yummy lunch.
Amalia
xo
I always have shrimp and pasta in the house. Shrimp is my go-to food. Just about everything in this is a staple for me so consider it saved!
My kind of dish! Looks delicious.
Karen, thank you for sharing this beautiful dish and recipe!
Vibrant flavors and seaside simplicity, yum!
This is the kind of meal we love — simple and quick but, most of all, packed with flavor! Love;y dish, Karen.
Excellent taste and easy to prepare🩷
This sounds like the perfect weeknight pasta, bright, briny, and satisfying without being heavy. I especially like the touch of olives for that Mediterranean flair, they really elevate the dish.
Karen, another delicious, easy to prepare dish. Love your recipes. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Velva
Another delicious looking recipe. Thank you Karen.
This sounds delicious. I like that it is so quick and easy to prepare.