Rich tomato sauce without the addition of cream. How is that possible? Eggs. Can you believe it? They are mixed in with the Penne with Shrimp & Asparagus at the last minute to create a creamy textured tomato sauce. Without a lick of cream. Really.
This is a “Genius Recipe” featured on Food52 that was adapted from Craig Claiborne’s Pasta Con Asparagi, which appeared in the 1979 publication of The New York Times Cookbook.
I took it one step further by adding shrimp to the mix.
So glad I did. It created a delicious one-dish meal. If you prefer, the shrimp could be replaced with some Italian sausage or maybe some grilled chicken. You decide. As always …make it your own.
I especially love the way all of the ingredients are prepared and served from one large skillet or saute pan. Well …almost all ingredients. The pasta is cooked separately and added just before serving.
- Have all the ingredients for this recipe prepared and ready to cook before beginning.
- Bring about 3 quarts of salted water to a boil and have it ready for the pasta.
- Heat the butter in a large, deep skillet and add the shrimp.
- Cook until the shrimp are opaque and just cooked through.
- With a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer them to a large plate or platter.
- Cut the asparagus into lengths about 2 inches long.
- If the stalks are thick, cut them in half or quarter them.
- Leave the tips intact.
- Add the asparagus pieces to the skillet.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until crisp-tender and lightly browned.
- Transfer the asparagus to the plate holding the shrimp and reserve.
- In the same pan, add the oil and garlic.
- Cook until the garlic cloves are lightly browned.
- Remove and discard the garlic.
- Add the tomatoes, parsley and basil.
- Salt and pepper to taste.
- Cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water.
- When it returns to a boil, cook for about 7 minutes or until al dente.
- Or follow package directions. Do not overcook.
When the time comes to add the egg, the skillet must be removed from the heat so that you don’t end up with scrambled eggs in your sauce. The eggs must be vigorously stirred in to avoid curdling.
I always choose to temper the eggs a bit by stirring in a ladleful of the hot tomato sauce …then whisk the egg mixture into the pan with the rest of the sauce.
- Just before the pasta is done, turn off the heat under the tomatoes.
- Add the beaten eggs, stirring vigorously so that they blend without curdling.
- Do not boil the sauce after the eggs are added.
- Add the shrimp and asparagus to the tomato sauce and stir to blend.
If you’re nervous about curdling the eggs, you may temper them in, by stirring a ladleful of the hot tomato sauce into the eggs, then whisking the mixture back into the pan.
- Drain the pasta immediately.
- Add the pasta to the tomato sauce, shrimp and asparagus mixture.
- Toss with half the cheese.
- Serve piping hot with the remaining cheese on the side.
This Penne with Shrimp & Asparagus really is a complete meal.
Although, at my house we always enjoy it with a fresh green salad and some crusty bread.
penne with shrimp & asparagus
Adapted from Food52 Genius Recipes, from Craig Claiborne's Pasta con Asparagi
The New York Times Cookbook (1979)
Pasta with shrimp, asparagus and a rich tomato sauce.
Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons butter
- 1 pound jumbo shrimp, peeled & deveined
- 1 1/2 pounds fresh asparagus, trimmed
- salt & freshly ground pepper
- 2 1/2 tablespoons olive oil (1/2 tbsp. = 1 tsp.)
- 2 garlic cloves, whole
- 2 cups canned Italian plum tomatoes, roughly chopped or torn (about 18 ounces)
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh parsley
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped fresh basil, plus extra for garnish
- 3/4 pound penne, rigatoni or other tubular pasta
- 2 eggs plus one yolk, beaten well with a fork
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan, divided into two 1/4 cups
Instructions
-
Have all the ingredients for this recipe prepared and ready to cook before beginning. Bring about 3 quarts of salted water to a boil and have it ready for the pasta.
-
Heat the butter in a large, deep skillet and add the shrimp. Cook until the shrimp are opaque and just cooked through. With a slotted spoon or spatula, transfer them to a large plate or platter.
-
Cut the asparagus into lengths about 2 inches long. If the stalks are thick, cut them in half or quarter them. Leave the tips in tact. Add the asparagus pieces to the skillet. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 4 to 5 minutes, or until crisp-tender and lightly browned. Transfer the asparagus to the plate holding the shrimp and reserve.
-
In the same pan, add the oil and garlic. Cook until the garlic cloves are lightly browned. Remove and discard the garlic. Add the tomatoes, parsley and basil. Salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring, for about 10 minutes.
-
Meanwhile, add the pasta to the boiling water and, when it returns to a boil, cook for about 7 minutes or until al dente. (Or follow package directions) Do not overcook.
-
Just before the pasta is done, turn off the heat under the tomatoes and add the beaten eggs, stirring vigorously so that they blend without curdling. Do not boil the sauce after the eggs are added. (If you are nervous about curdling the eggs, you may temper them in, by stirring a ladleful of the hot tomato sauce into the eggs, then whisking the mixture back into the pan.)
-
Add the shrimp and asparagus to the tomato sauce and stir to blend.
-
Drain the pasta immediately. Add the pasta to the tomato sauce, shrimp and asparagus mixture and toss with half the cheese. Serve piping hot with the remaining cheese on the side.
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Love shrimp?
