Tag: pasta

Cajun Comfort Food: Shrimp and Tasso Pasta Recipe

Indulge in the irresistible flavors of the South with this Creamy Shrimp and Tasso Pasta recipe from Louisiana Cookin. This dish perfectly combines the richness of the creamy sauce, the smoky and savory notes of tasso, and the delicate sweetness of succulent shrimp. The tantalizing blend of Cajun and Creole influences in this recipe ensures a taste experience that is both comforting and vibrant. It’s a dish that brings warmth to the heart and a delightful kick to the taste buds.

Ingredients

Directions

  1. You’ll begin this recipe by preparing the pasta according to the package directions. Once cooked, drain and rinse the pasta. Transfer the pasta to a large bowl and toss it with some oil to ensure it doesn’t stick together. Set it aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients.
  2. Next, melt the butter over medium heat in a large skillet. Sprinkle in the Creole seasoning and let it cook for about 10 seconds, allowing the flavors to bloom. Add the white onion, bell pepper, and celery to the skillet, and cook them until they become tender, which usually takes around 5 minutes. Now, introduce the tasso and green onion, cooking them for an additional 2 minutes. Finally, add the shrimp and pour in the cream. Bring the mixture to a boil and stir constantly until the shrimp turn a delightful pink color and become firm, which should take approximately 3 minutes.
  3. Pour the creamy shrimp and tasso mixture over the pasta in the bowl. Toss everything together to ensure the pasta is evenly coated with the creamy sauce. If desired, sprinkle some freshly chopped parsley on top as a garnish. This step adds a touch of freshness and visual appeal to the dish.
  4. Your Creamy Shrimp and Tasso Pasta is now ready to be enjoyed. Serve it immediately for a warm and comforting meal, or if you prefer it chilled, cover the bowl and refrigerate it until you’re ready to serve. If you choose to reheat the dish, simply cook it over medium-low heat until it is thoroughly heated.

When serving Creamy Shrimp and Tasso Pasta, consider complementing it with some delectable side dishes. A fresh garden salad tossed in a tangy vinaigrette can provide a refreshing contrast to the creamy pasta. For a heartier option, try serving it alongside a bed of seasoned rice or a crusty French baguette, perfect for sopping up the flavorful sauce. Additionally, steamed vegetables like broccoli or asparagus make for a nutritious and colorful accompaniment to the dish. Remember, the goal is to create a well-rounded meal that satisfies both the palate and the senses.

Notes:

  • Choose a pasta shape that can hold onto the creamy sauce, such as penne, fusilli, or rotini. These textured varieties will enhance the overall dining experience.
  • To add a little extra depth of flavor to the dish, consider sautéing the shrimp briefly in some garlic-infused oilbefore adding them to the skillet. This will impart a subtle garlic-infused essence that complements the other ingredients.
  • If you prefer a spicier version of this recipe, feel free to add a pinch of cayenne pepper or a few dashes of hot sauce to the skillet along with the Creole seasoning. This will give the dish an extra kick of heat, characteristic of Cajun and Creole cuisine.

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Reliably Delicious and Convenient Blackened Chicken Alfredo Recipe

Sometimes the easiest and more simplistic recipes are what’s best for any particular weeknight or last-minute meal. This is due to the fact that they are reliably convenient, delicious, and consistently a crowd-pleaser. The same can be said about Louisiana Cookin’s outstanding recipe for blackened chicken alfredo, as its simplicity doesn’t make concessions when it comes to flavor, seasoning, or taste.

Ingredients for Blackened Chicken Alfredo: 

  • 1 (16-ounce) package of fettuccine, cooked according to individual package directions
  • 3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 6- to 8-ounce each)
  • 2 tablespoons of blackened seasoning mix
  • 1 tablespoon of olive oil
  • 2 cups of fresh cherry tomatoes
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped shallot
  • ½ teaspoon of finely chopped garlic
  • ¼ cup of dry white wine
  • 2 cups of heavy whipping cream
  • 1 cup of freshly-grated Parmesan cheese
  • 3 tablespoons of chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
  • ¼additional cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for garnish

Directions for Blackened Chicken Alfredo:

  1. In order to start this recipe, you’re going to want to preheat your oven to 425°F. While your convection oven is preheating, take a baking sheet and line it with an inner layer of aluminum foil.
  2. Take your 3 boneless and skinless chicken breasts out of their packaging and sprinkle them each with your blackened seasoning mix. Either while wearing gloves or with carefully-washed hands, rub the blackened seasoning mix into the chicken breasts, ensuring to coat all sides.
  3. Then, in a large skillet, pour in your olive oil, and place this atop your stove burner. Turn the stove to medium-high heat, and heat your olive oil in the skillet while being sure to spread the oil throughout the pan. Once the oil is properly heated, add your seasoned chicken breasts into the hot oil and cook them until they are nicely seared. This should take no longer than 4 to 5 minutes per side. Be sure to flip them together and not multiple times, in order to secure a strong sear. Once they’re seared, remove the chicken from the skillet and transfer them to the prepared pan that you lined with foil from earlier.
  4. Place the pan into your 425°F oven for approximately 10 minutes. The idea here is to bake the chicken until they are firm and an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the chicken breast registers at a safe internal temperature of 165°.
  5. Meanwhile, take the same skillet that you seared your chicken in from earlier and cook your tomatoes in it until they are slightly blistered and their skins have burst open. The process of blistering and bursting cherry tomatoes should take about 3 to 5 minutes maximum. Once the skins have burst, reduce the read of the stove burner to only medium, and add in your chopped shallot and finely chopped garlic. Continue to cook for an additional minute. Afterward, add in your ¼ cup of dry white cooking wine and use your cooking utensil such as a wooden cooking spoon to scrape the fond or browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir these bits into the white wine and vegetables and continue to cook the contents of the skillet for an additional 2 minutes.
  6. Afterward, stir in your heavy whipping cream and continue to cook until the contents of the skillet are thickened and bubbly. You can achieve this by stirring occasionally for approximately 8 to 10 minutes. Stir in your single cup of freshly-grated Parmesan cheese until it’s completely melted and well-combined. Next, add your fettuccine, which you cooked according to the package’s directions, into the skillet. Either using your wooden cooking spoon or tongs, toss the fettuccine with the cheesy mixture to fully coat the noodles.
  7. When you remove your chicken from the oven, slice each chicken breast in elongated strips or according to your particular preference and place them on top of the pasta. If desired, garnish the plates of this dish with fresh chopped parsley and freshly-grated Parmesan cheese to your liking.
  8. Enjoy your alfredo with your favorite side dish or just alone.

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Six Pasta Recipes You Must Know

The tried and true champion of dinnertime is, predictably, the last-minute pasta dish, and if you can equip your mental cookbook arsenal with these traditional Italian pasta recipes from Martha Stewart, you’ll be the celebrated champion of the delicious, authentic, and classic pasta dish that wins over the entire dining room.

Now, you may be particularly familiar with how to cook up a plate of bolognese from scratch or you’re the type of shopper to pick up some seasoning, noodles, and a couple jars of sauce for a last-minute concoction. Either way, the following classic recipes should be known by every chef as they introduce variety and breadth to your cooking catalogue.

Pasta Carbonara

Let’s start small with “Old Reliable,” or Carbonara, a quick dinnertime staple that is made from 6 everyday ingredients.  Honestly, if you know how to boil water, you’re not too far away from the easily-accessible pasta recipe for carbonara, as you need only crisp some pancetta in a skillet and whisk together eggs and creme on the side while the pasta cooks in your expertly-boiled water. Once al dente, simply combine it all together, and add bacon or other pork product, such as guanciale for a truly italiana plate.

Cacio e Pepe

Keeping in line with the theme of easy preparation, a simple plate of pasta doesn’t necessarily have to be a Bolognese sauce or lasagna, because it honestly doesn’t get much simpler or back-to-basic than Cacio e Pepe. This pasta recipe hits your tongue in a delightful way, as it’s made with Grana Padano cheese, black pepper, olive oil, and just a touch of lemon. It’s the fantastically simple, completely irresistible, and quintessentially Roman dish that you’ve been craving to prepare, cook, and enjoy.

Single-Pan-Pasta

Hailing from the region of Puglia (or Apulia), Italy is this revolutionary cooking method of placing dried pasta in a skillet along with the other ingredients to gradually cook and infuse with its accompanying flavors. This ensures that your noodles get the most flavor and you don’t have to dirty half the dishes in your kitchen just to get an italian meal on the table. Top it all off with fresh basil and grated parmesan for an easy and clean-cooking supper.

Classic Lasagna

It’s truly a must-know recipe that has a variety of takes from different regions across Italy, Europe, and the world at large. This particular recipe showcases a hearty meat sauce made with ground beef and pork sausage, and that sauce is sandwiched between layers of noodles and a rich cheese filling. Additionally, if you’re looking for a little added variety, feel free to substitute the normal protein-laden faire with fresh greens and vegetables for a dish that is less filling and more fulfilling .

Penne alla Norma

Speaking of vegetables, try out this hearty vegetarian penne recipe that takes advantage of the natural flavors and textures of eggplant, tomato, and ricotta. This dish comes from the heart of Sicily, and it’s rumored to have been inspired by Sicilian composer, Vincenzo Bellini’s opera, “Norma.” This aesthetically-appealing dish pairs well with fresh basil sprinkled atop your dollop of ricotta cheese for a creamy consistency found with every stir.

Spaghetti with Sicilian Pesto

Jazz up your tired old spaghetti with pesto sauce, and this isn’t the usual Genoese pesto you may be all-too familiar with. This dish features a Sicilian take on pesto that uses toasted red pepper, fresh tomatoes, anchovies, capers, and golden raisins for a combination that is simply enlightened by its stacking of sweet, acidic, and savory flavors. The pignoli found in basil pesto are instead replaced with toasted almonds, though the Parmigiano is a constant across variants, making for a wonderfully flavorful dish.

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